What Is EPA Fish Oil?

Not all fats are bad for your health; in fact, studies show that there are good fats necessary to your healthy diet. These good fats are polyunsaturated fats known as omega-3 essential fatty acids. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, omega-3 fatty acids can help in a number of health problems such as high cholesterol, diabetes, depression and heart disease. You can obtain a high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, in particular EPA, from fish oil.

What Is EPA?

• The scientific name for EPA is eicosapentaenoic acid. It is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that is found in oily fish like salmon and tuna and also makes up the supplement fish oil.

What Is Fish Oil?

• Fish oil is the oil extracted from the tissues of oily fish such as salmon, lake trout and tuna.

What Does It Do?

• According to the American Heart Association, consuming oily fish at least twice a week or taking an EPA fish oil supplement can be beneficial in the fight against coronary heart disease. It is also shown to aid in preventing high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.