Fish Oil and Cholesterol: Benefits, Omega-3s, and Triglycerides

Fish oil is beneficial for your heart health as well as your cholesterol levels. Fish oil supplements should be purified and contain an undetectable level of toxins. Before beginning supplements of fish oil, it is important to consult your doctor.

Omega-3s

• Omega-3s are unsaturated fatty acids that are essential. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil, namely EPA and DHA, are beneficial to your cholesterol and overall heart health.

Triglycerides

• Triglycerides are a storage form of fats in your blood that spike after a meal heavy in saturated fats or simple carbohydrates. Higher doses of fish oil (3 to 5 grams daily) can bring down your triglyceride levels by 25 to 30 percent, according to "Cholesterol Cures: The Breakthrough Menu Plan to Slash Cholesterol" by The Editors of Rodale Health Books and Dr. William P. Castelli.

"Good" Cholesterol

• Fish oil boosts levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). This is "good" cholesterol, because it transports cholesterol to the liver to be disposed of instead of allowing it to remain in your tissues and arteries.

"Bad" Cholesterol

• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the "bad" cholesterol. It transports cholesterol through your blood to your tissues and arteries. Fish oil improves your ratio of good to bad cholesterol.

Arteries and Blood Clots

• One of the effects of high cholesterol is blood clots. Fish oil reduces the formation of blood clots when taken in amounts of at least 1 gram daily. Fish oil also reduces inflammation in your arteries.