Many patients I see in my practice are taking fish oil supplements and don’t really understand why they are beneficial but just that everyone seems to recommend taking them.
Fish and certain plant and nut oils are common natural sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Fatty acids are special molecules that have a wide array of function in the body are are thought to have beneficial effects in the prevention of cancer, heart disease, boost immune function and may even help in the prevention of neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease.
How much should an individual take? I recommend my patients take 1,000 mg (1 gram) of fish oil twice daily if they are in general good health without any evidence of Insulin Resistance.
If a patient has one of the disorders associated with Insulin Resistance, I recommend they take 2-3,000 twice daily. The reason for this is that a growing body of research suggests that one of the unifying pathological elements of Insulin Resistance is inflammation and many studies have shown this range of fish oil supplement to be helpful in reducing this inflammation.
If you are really interested in reducing the inflammation associated with Insulin Resistance, focus on reducing your carbohydrate intake to about 25% of your total daily calories (125-150 grams of carbohydrates). This will have a tremendous effect on reducing the inflammation and will maximize your ability to prevent further progression of serious medical conditions associated with Insulin Resistance.
