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Benefits of fish oil for arthritis

Posted at 6:18 PM, Oct 23, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-23 18:18:21-04

If you have arthritis you may be seeking better joint mobility. Fish oil could be the natural remedy you’re looking for.

Fish oil is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and contains high levels of DHA and EPA.  It’s these fatty acids that can help reduce inflammation in joints. 

When it comes to arthritis, there are two common types, Rheumatoid arthritis and Osteoarthritis. 

I point this out because research supports that fish oil effectively relieves and reduces joint pain and swelling for Rheumatoid arthritis. But with Osteoarthritis, more studies are needed before we can say it helps this type but the research does look promising.

I would recommend you eat fish over supplements because you’ll gain other nutrients like calcium, vitamin D and selenium.  But I realize not everyone likes fish so here are my prescriptions:

  1. When shopping for fish, choose the smaller types as they contain less mercury. Try mackerel, salmon, sardines, halibut and cod.
  2. To reduce inflammation, eat a serving of fish 2 to 4 times a week.  One serving is roughly 3 to 6 ounces. 
  3. If you prefer supplements, you can take up to 2.6 grams twice a day.  Check the ingredient list to make sure it contains 30 percent of EPA and DHA.
  4. If you take anti-inflammatory drugs you should talk to your doctor first before taking supplements.  They may interact with them.

Cod liver oil also contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids but it’s different from fish oil. 

Fish oil is made from a variety of fish whereas cod liver oil comes from pressed cod livers. It’s very high in Vitamin A and D, so if you take this in large quantities, it can be harmful. 

I would stick to eating fish or taking supplements from trustworthy companies.