Supplementing with Fish Oil

Supplementing with fish oil is great for your health. Why? Because fish oil contains essential omega 3 fatty acids.

Important for good human health, omega 3 fatty acids are a form of polyunsaturated fats that are not made by the body, and must be obtained from the diet or through supplementation. Omega-3’s are comprised of alpha-linoleic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Both the omega 3 (ALA) and omega 6 (linoleic acid) fatty acids are essential nutrients which must be obtained from food or supplements. The omega-6:omega-3 ratio will significantly influence the ratio of certain bodily hormones (eicosanoids) such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes; and will alter the body’s metabolic function.
Omega 3 versus Omega 6

Unfortunately, omega 3 and omega 6 compete for the same metabolic enzymes, and when the ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 is too high in the body, synthesis of omega 3 is crippled.

This is why it is very easy to end up with a deficit of omega 3 fatty acids if additional omega 3s are not ingested through omega 3 supplementation. Thus accumulation of long-chain omega 3 fatty acids in tissues is more effective when they are obtained directly from supplements or when competing amounts of omega 6 analogs do not greatly exceed the amounts of omega 3.
In fact, this ratio is so important that if you currently have an imbalance of omega 3 to omega 6, fixing the imbalance could have a profound effect on your body composition and workout recovery. Let’s see what others have to say about it.
However I consider fish oil to be an essential supplement for fat loss.

Data from the University of Western Ontario shows that fish oil supplementation increases lean body mass (during non-dieting conditions), increases BMR (by up to 400kcal/day), decreases inflammation, and improves the ratio of fat/carb oxidized (sparing carbs, burning fat).

Recommended dose: Start with 6-10g per day of total fish oil (assuming 30% EPA and DHA).”