The Facts

• The American Heart Association recommends eating a variety of fish, preferably fatty fish at least twice a week. Fatty fish includes herring, salmon, mackerel and tuna. Fish oil supplements are often recommended for people who dislike the taste of fish.
  
  

Benefits

• Fish oil has many benefits to your heart. It is known to lower triglycerides, slow the buildup of plaques (hardening of the arteries) and reduce the risk of death from heart attack or stroke. It also lowers blood pressure slightly. Fish oil is thought to improve learning ability in children and enhance immune function.
  
  

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

• The main benefit of fish are their omega-3 fatty acids, a type of unsaturated fat. They are essential fatty acids, and are important to human health but can't be manufactured by the body. Substituting unsaturated fatty acids for saturated fatty acids can lower your cholesterol. These essential fatty acids are thought to reduce inflammation throughout the body.
  
  

Considerations

• According to the Mayo Clinic, there is more evidence supporting the benefits of eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids compared with using supplements. But if you have heart disease, you may benefit from supplements of omega-3 fatty acids. Discuss this with your doctor.
  
  

Warning

• Don't take more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids from supplements except under a doctor's care. High intakes may cause gastrointestinal bleeding or bleeding in the brain.