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The Effects of Fish Oil Supplements and Sun Exposure

Sun exposure and fish oil supplements don't have anything in common except for the effects they have on your body. Your health may improve mentally and physically from small doses of either treatment. However, you would benefit from talking to a physician before using sun exposure or fish oil to treat any condition. Some people may experience a dangerous or allergic reaction to fish oil. And sun exposure may lead to premature aging and skin cancer. Your family doctor will help with determining if sun exposure or fish oil will be of any benefit to your health.

  1. Cholesterol

    • Fish oil was found to decrease blood fats like triglycerides and increase high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, which is the good cholesterol. According to Mayo Clinic, omega-3 fatty acids found in either fish oil capsules or fish may increase high-density lipoprotein while decreasing triglyceride levels. HDL can assist with getting rid of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) in the bloodstream, and can reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis is the restricting of the arteries. You are more likely to develop atherosclerosis depending on the amount of triglycerides in your bloodstream. Continuously decreasing triglycerides levels will lower your chances of suffering a stroke or heart attack.

    Arthritis

    • Fish oil supplements have been shown to improve rheumatoid arthritis. You may experience a decrease in irritation associated with the condition when consuming more of essential fatty acids. Fish oil contains omega-3, and adding more to your diet will alleviate symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Symptoms of the disease include stiffness, joint and muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite and loss of energy. Treating the symptoms will reduce the pain, stiffness and tenderness of the joints. Using fish oil capsules can improve mobility and the overall quality of life.

    Depression

    • Depression may occur at the same time each year, which is also known as seasonal affective disorder. Evidence suggests that sun exposure can help combat this type of depression. According to Mayo Clinic, evidence suggests that lack of sunlight may cause changes in mood, sleep cycle and hormones. Getting more sunlight may assist with counteracting the changes.

    Vitamin D

    • Exposing your body to the sun may provide some benefits like helping the body produce vitamin D. Vitamin D may help prevent cancer, decreasing joint pain and improving bone density. Harvard Medical School suggests a relationship between aging and exposure to sunlight. As a matter of fact, too much sunlight is hard on your skin. When exposing the skin, timing and the amount of sunlight is crucial. Exposing your body to the sun doesn't mean sun tanning every day; instead, enjoy sunlight in moderation to enjoy the health benefits without the sun damage.

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