For those who have been waiting or at least wondering why there hasn't been a well being article for the past month it's because I was on leave (vacation/holiday) for the past month.  It was actually for two weeks, but it took a total of another two weeks for traveling to and from my home in the US and here in Afghanistan.  But fear not, I'm "publishing" these again regularly.

Let get started by saying this is the final article in Essential Oils series.  At least for a long time, as there are other things you all can benefit from rather than hearing about oils that most of you probably don't take anyway.  I will say, however, that the first oil in this topic is by far the most popular oil people know about, right up there with olive oil: Fish oil.  And even more so, the Omega-3 fatty acid that goes along with it.  But there is a lot more to it than just the Omega-3.  This week's topic is copied from fishoiladvice.com and OrganicFacts.


Fish Oil


Fish oil, made from the tissue of oily fish-such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, lake trout and sardines-has many health benefits. Fish oil contains important Omega-3 fatty acids , most notably eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and decosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to have health benefits ranging from reducing the risk of heart attack and coronary heart disease to combating depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.  Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil are extremely important to the overall health of our minds and bodies. For that reason, it is important to understand how our bodies obtain these important fatty acids. The human body cannot make Omega-3 fatty acids, and therefore is dependent on outside sources for the essential fatty acids. In all circumstances where these fatty acids are believed to be medically beneficial, we must get it through either food (i.e. eating the recommended 2 servings of fish per week) or through a fish oil supplement.  Benefits of fish oil include:

-Eases Depression
As far back as the early 1990s, researchers started seriously looking at fish oil as an antidepressant – or, even better, a depression prevention supplement.
While researching other benefits of fish oil, scientists began to notice a repeating trend: people in countries where cold-water, fatty fish are a staple of a regular diet had lower instances of depression.
This trend was repeated so regularly that scientists had no choice but to explore these unexpected benefits of fish oil and how they were connected to depression–alleviating and preventing it.
Andrew Stoll, M.D., suggests that since cell membranes are partially comprised of omega-3s, increasing the levels of omega-3 in the blood allows serotonin, an antidepressant chemical produced by the body, to more easily transport between cells, thus explaining the benefits of fish oil, higher levels of omega-3s and connection to lower rates of depression.

-Lowers Cholesterol
The Mayo Clinic and the American Heart Association both recommend fish oil supplements to help reduce cholesterol. Through research, the American Heart Association has seen benefits of fish oil in subjects with and without coronary disease and cholesterol issues.
They recommend different levels of fish oil supplements for different conditions, but indicate that fish oil is beneficial to individuals no matter what their current heart health.

-Lowers Triglyceride Levels
The Mayo Clinic as well as several other researchers have found that the benefits of fish oil include lowered triglyceride levels in the blood.
This is particularly significant for those with HIV and AIDS, as antiretroviral medications have been shown to increase triglycerides thus making coronary disease and blockages much more common.
Reduced triglycerides mean reduced risk of coronary disease for those taking antiretrovirals. Fish oil supplements also benefit other systems of the body, so patients with lowered immunity and other symptoms caused by HIV or AIDS may see additional benefits as well.

-Reduces Inflammation In The Body
One of the many benefits of properly purified fish oil supplements is reduced inflammation in the body. Inflammation can present itself in many ways, from lupus to thyroid inflammatory disease to psoriasis.
As little as three grams of fish oil supplements per day is enough to reduce inflammation in many forms.

-Eliminates Joint Pain
While the benefits of fish oil include relief from chronic inflammation, they also help those who suffer from other types of joint pain including osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis.  The Albany Medical College conducted a research study that confirms fish oil may be used in place of pharmaceuticals for pain relief from Rheumatoid arthritis.  The researchers also specifically suggested those seeking relief from Rheumatoid arthritis should seek pure, non-synthetic fish oil supplements to experience the greatest relief.

-Improves Your Skin
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are two of the essential fatty acids (EFA) provided by fish oil supplements, and EPA is directly related to skin health.
The Journal of Lipid Research announced in 2005 that a few benefits of fish oil regarding skin condition are oil production regulation, increased hydration, reduced acne and fewer wrinkles.
EPA has also been proven to help protect our skin from UVA sun damage, which causes wrinkles, lines and permanent skin damage.
And there are probably many more reasons why omega-3 fatty acids help your skin look great that scientists haven’t even discovered yet.

-Promotes Weight Loss
Moss Greene, editor of women’s online health website Bella Online, reports that fish oil promotes weight loss and fat burning better than diet and exercise alone.
The University of Georgia reported in the Journal of Nutrition that one of the benefits of fish oil is its ability to prevent pre-fat cells from converting to fat cells in the body by effectively causing them to die, thus reducing overall accumulation of fat.
Additionally, scientists in Australia discovered that fat loss benefits of fish oil combined with diet and exercise were significantly greater than diet and exercise alone.
A recent study in Japan demonstrated that mice who experienced the benefits of fish oil had faster metabolisms and gained less weight in the first place than mice who did not experience the benefits of fish oil (these researchers believe the same benefits of fish oil should hold true for humans, too).

-May Prevent Schizophrenia
Yes, you read that correctly. Fish oil may prevent schizophrenia. Several studies have been conducted on this theory, and a recent study conducted by Dr. Patrick McGorry in Australia showed a statistically significant correlation between fish oil supplements and the prevention of schizophrenia.  The study was comprised of 81 teens and young adults who had shown early signs of schizophrenia.
Research indicates that if young people who show early indications and have a relative with schizophrenia are not treated, approximately one-third will develop the disease.  The study demonstrated that only three percent of those treated with fish oil developed schizophrenia, while 28 percent of those taking placebo developed the illness.  This is incredibly important to the medical community and those suffering with mental illness, because the benefits of fish oil are numerous and the side effects are minimal, especially when compared to traditional antipsychotic medications.

-Improves Brain Function In Babies
Studies have shown that the benefits of fish oil are numerous for infants when taken by a pregnant woman.
Not only do fish oil supplements promote brain development and macular health, the specific benefits observed through research are quite astonishing.
Pregnant women who took a high-quality fish oil supplement had babies with higher IQs and fewer learning disorders, and were less likely to develop mental retardation or cognitive delays.
Additionally, the Associated Press reports that some nutritionists believe that omega-3s are the primary building block for human intelligence, so babies who receive omega-3s through fish oil supplements when mom is pregnant and nursing are statistically likely to be more intelligent children and adults.

-Increases Your Focus
Edward Hallowell, M.D., founder of the Hallowell Center for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in Massachusetts, recommends omega-3s in the form of fish oil supplements for patients with trouble focusing.
He notes that the benefits of fish oil are most noticeable for mental focus, not as much with hyperactivity. Dr. Hallowell indicates that it may take up to six weeks for patients to notice a difference, but that the improvement may be quite substantial.
Two separate small studies revealed that children with ADHD are likely to have lower levels of omega-3 in their blood than children with no ADHD symptoms, and that omega-3s tended to break down easier in children who suffer from ADHD.
This could explain why the benefits of fish oil are so noticeable in children with ADHD, and could also stand to reason that adults with ADHD might see similar benefits of fish oil.

-Reduces Post-Partum Depression
The benefits of fish oil are not only for babies when a pregnant or nursing mom takes the supplements.
While noted above that fish oil eases the symptoms of depression, post-partum depression deserves a category all its own because past treatments have either been ineffective, complicated or have required moms to stop nursing their newborns.
Fish oil is in a class of its own, since it not only reduces and helps prevent post-partum depression (if taken throughout pregnancy), but it allows moms to continue nursing, which is discouraged because antidepressants are not healthy for babies to ingest (via breast milk).
The Associated Press reports that this may open a new door for physicians struggling to help mothers eliminate post-partum depression and still breastfeed and bond with their babies.

-Improves Vision
Several independent studies in the US and Australia indicate that not only are there benefits of fish oil when eyes are developing in babies in utero, but that adults taking fish oil are less prone to macular degeneration as they age.

-Reduces Soreness From Weight Training
Bodybuilders have recently discovered that due to the benefits of fish oil concerning inflammation, fish oil can dramatically reduce soreness from strength training.
Not only is this beneficial for bodybuilders, but to anyone incorporating strength training in their lives.
The reduced soreness will allow more enjoyable exercise, and more frequent exercise due to less recovery time.

- Reduces Risk Of Heart Disease
As stated previously, the benefits of fish oil extend to the blood and circulatory system by reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.
This in turn helps protect your heart and you, more importantly, from heart disease and other cardiovascular problems, as stated by the American Heart Association.
Some say that taking a fish oil pill a day may even be better than taking pharmaceutical drugs, but no one can say that, because then the big companies would come after them, wouldn’t they?

-May Slow Breast Tumor Growth
Omega-3 essential fatty acids have been proven by research to slow cancer growth, as stated by the American Association for Cancer Research at its 2009 annual meeting.
Further studies have been conducted specifically regarding breast cancer and fish oil, and while the results have varied, there are positive indicators that the benefits of fish oil include slowing of cancerous cell growth, particularly in breast cancer.

-Provides Relief From Crohn’s Disease And Colitis
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are two digestive diseases that cause much suffering for those they afflict.
Often, the treatments are extremely expensive and can include surgery to remove sections of the intestines and colon, which is painful and life-altering.
Benefits of fish oil when taken to treat Crohn’s disease and colitis have been found in that the fish oil actually heals the ulcers in the colon and intestines. This is a huge leap in the search for a cure for these terrible diseases.

- Eases The Effects Of Alzheimer’s Disease
The brain of a person with Alzheimer’s disease benefits from fish oil supplementation in that the EFAs in fish oil help fight the plaque in the brain that causes Alzheimer’s disease in the first place.
UCLA researchers also discovered that not only do the benefits of fish oil include prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, they may include helping to manage and reduce symptoms in those already afflicted with the memory disease.

-Helps Treat Ulcers
The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends the benefits of fish oil to individuals suffering from peptic ulcers, as the fish oil reduces inflammation and boosts immunity to prevent recurrence of the ulcers.
Fish oil may also reduce depression, anxiety and stress, which are sometimes contributing factors for peptic ulcer development.

-Stabilizes Mood
The benefits of fish oil regarding bipolar disorder are significant in that those with milder forms of bipolar disorder are often misdiagnosed with depression, and prescribed antidepressants, which not only have unpleasant side effects but can actually worsen the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Additionally, those with milder forms of bipolar disorder that are properly diagnosed have limited treatment options available, and many have different yet still unpleasant side effects.
Jim Phelps, M.D., a leading mental illness researcher and respected psychiatrist, observed these benefits of fish oil in his bipolar patients and noted that their manic and depressive symptoms were greatly improved.

-Even Helps Man’s Best Friend
Iams, a respected international dog food manufacturer, has conducted conclusive research that puppies experience benefits of fish oil when supplemented during their first months of life.
Fish oil has been shown to improve puppies’ brain function, vision and trainability, which leads to happier, more well-behaved and good-tempered dogs.


Coconut Oil


The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc.  The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia. As a result of these various health benefits of coconut oil, though its exact mechanism of action was unknown, it has been extensively used in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicinal system.
Coconut oil consists of more than ninety percent of saturated fats (Don’t panic! First read to the last word. Your opinion may change), with traces of few unsaturated fatty acids, such as monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Virgin Coconut Oil is no different from this. Let us have a bit detailed study of this.

-The Saturated Fatty Acids: Most of them are Medium Chain Triglycerides, which are supposed to assimilate well. Lauric Acid is the chief contributor, with more than forty percent of the share, followed by Capric Acid, Caprylic Acid, Myristic Acid and Palmitic.
-The Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Linoleic Acid.
-The Monounsaturated Fatty Acids: Oleic Acid.
-The Poly-phenols: Gallic Acid, which is phenolic acid. These poly-phenols are supposed to be responsible for the fragrance and the taste of Coconut Oil and Virgin Coconut Oil is rich in these poly-phenols.
-Certain derivatives of fatty acid like Betaines, Ethanolamide, Ethoxylates, Fatty Esters, Fatty Polysorbates, Monoglycerides and Polyol Esters.
-Fatty Chlorides, Fatty Alcohol Sulphate and Fatty Alcohol Ether Sulphate, all of which are derivatives of Fatty Alcohols
-Vitamin-E and Vitamin K and minerals such as Iron

Health benefits of Coconut oil are:

-Hair Care:
Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrition for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair providing them a shiny complexion. Regular massage of the head with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff, lice, and lice eggs, even if your scalp is dry. Coconut oil is extensively used in the Indian sub-continent for hair care. It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged hair. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. It is therefore used as hair care oil and used in manufacturing various conditioners, and dandruff relief creams. Coconut oil is normally applied topically for hair care.

-Skin Care:
Coconut oil is excellent massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including dry skin. The benefit of coconut oil on the skin is comparable to that of mineral oil. Further, unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin with the application of coconut oil. Coconut oil therefore is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Therefore coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of various body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care. Coconut oil also helps in preventing premature aging and degenerative diseases due to its antioxidant properties.

-Heart Diseases:
There is a misconception spread among many people that coconut oil is not good for the heart. This is because it contains a large quantity of saturated fats. However, coconut oil is beneficial for the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in preventing various heart problems including high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The saturated fats present in coconut oil are not harmful as it happens in case of other vegetables oils. It does not lead to increase in LDL levels. It also reduces the incidence of injury in arteries and therefore helps in preventing atherosclerosis.

-Weight Loss
Coconut oil is very useful in reducing weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. Further, it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on pancreases, thereby burning out more energy and helping obese and overweight people reduce their weight. Hence, people living in tropical coastal areas, who eat coconut oil daily as their primary cooking oil, are normally not fat, obese or overweight.

-Digestion
Internal use of coconut oil occurs primarily as cooking oil. Coconut oil helps in improving the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have anti microbial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc., that cause indigestion. Coconut oil also helps in absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

-Immunity:
Coconut oil is also good for the immune system. It strengthens the immune system as it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia.

-Healing and Infections
When applied on infections, it forms a chemical layer which protects the infected body part from external dust, air, fungi, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil is most effective on bruises as it speeds up the healing process by repairing damaged tissues.
Infections: Coconut oil is very effective against a variety of infections due to its antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. According to the Coconut Research Center, coconut oil kills viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, SARS, etc. It also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, etc. Coconut oil is also effective on fungi and yeast that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, etc.

Other benefits of Coconut oil are:

-Liver: The presence of medium chain triglycerides and fatty acids helps in preventing liver diseases as they substances are easily converted into energy when they reach the liver, thus reducing work load on the liver and also preventing accumulation of fat.

-Kidney: Coconut oil helps in preventing kidney and gall bladder diseases. It also helps in dissolving kidney stones.

-Pancreatitis: Coconut oil is also believed to be useful in treating pancreatitis.

-Stress Relief: Coconut oil is very soothing and hence it helps in removing stress. Applying coconut oil to the head followed with a gentle massage helps in removing mental fatigue.

-Diabetes: Coconut oil helps in controlling blood sugar, and improves the secretion of insulin. It also helps in effective utilization of blood glucose, thereby preventing and treating diabetes.

-Bones: As mentioned earlier, coconut oil improves the ability of our body to absorb important minerals. These include calcium and magnesium which are necessary for development of bones. Thus coconut oil is very useful to women who are prone to osteoporosis after middle age.

-Dental Care:Calcium is an important element present in teeth. Since coconut oil facilitates absorption of calcium by the body, it helps in getting strong teeth. Coconut oil also stops tooth decay.

-HIV and Cancer: It is believed that coconut oil plays an instrumental role in reducing viral susceptibility of HIV and cancer patients. Preliminary research has shown indications of the effect of coconut oil on reducing the viral load of HIV patients (Reference).

Finally, coconut oil is often preferred by athletes and body builders and by those who are dieting. The reason behind this being that coconut oil contains lesser calories than other oils, its fat content is easily converted into energy and it does not lead to accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries. Coconut oil helps in boosting energy and endurance, and enhances the performance of athletes.


That concludes this week's topic.  I chose to do coconut oil randomly, but it seems there;s a hell of a lot of things that go with it.  As for fish oil, you should now know most of the rest of the benefits to the oil with a celebrity status.  You can easily find fish oil pills in a lot of stores with pharmaceutical or supplement items.  The are pretty big, but most, if not all, are gel capsules which are very easy to swallow.  And I've yet to find a fish oil pill that isn't a gel capsule.  Hope you got something of this.  Next week I'll be doing a random health facts topic that I found on Yahoo yesterday.
As always, add your input here for others to learn about.

Click here to go to "Well Being" week 7

Click here to go to "Well Being" week 9

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I love that you're doing this. I could go around and research this stuff, but I don't care about it a ton. Just the fact that you compiled it makes it easier for me, so I'm more likely to read it and try it out. I'm also trusting that you found reliable sources which reinforces how much I appreciate this.


I did know that Fish Oil was good for dogs. Apart from what was mentioned, I know that it is good for their skin and it generally makes their coat shinier. A shinier coat actually does mean that they are healthier. It's also fun since my dogs enjoy chewing the pills until they pop. Oil tastes good to them and the quick pop is funny for us.

Is there any standard for how much Fish Oil a person should take to get these benefits? Fish Oil is, in my opinion, the simplest improvement out of all tips from this entire Well Being series. Ingesting Fish Oil is as simple as swallowing a pill. I'm just curious about how much should be taken and how often.


I don't think I've ever heard of Coconut Oil. How does one even acquire Coconut Oil and how is it taken? Is there any way apart from cooking with it and massaging your head? I live in New England, so I'm not sure about the availability of Coconut Oil.


Would it be possible for you to put links to the previous and next week at the end of each of your posts? Basically, put a link to Week 7 at the end of your post in this thread. Go back to Week 7 and edit in links to Week 6 and Week 8. I like going back and reading the previous articles, but it can take a while to scroll through and find the threads. Adding links would make it a lot easier for me the reader.

BNuge : I created links to the previous and next week's topic for each Well Being thread going all the way back to the first week, so you can now access them with out having to search for one. And I'll put a week 9 link in this one when it gets put up on Monday.

Cyro Xero :

Awesome thanks. That could also help for people who haven't been following, but might still be interested in the older weeks.


We keep Fish Oil for my dogs, so that's something I can start taking without any extra effort. I like how most of what you pick are things that people could actually do without too much effort. Fish Oil capsules are fairly cheap and available anywhere that has vitamin supplements (drugstores, etc).

Another good thread, more interesting information is now stored in my mind thanks to you Cyro. Thanks for keeping the updates on the Well Being threads.