Depression is slowly becoming a common ailment amongst people leading a busy lifestyle. Tackling depression could be a hefty task because it is a neuronal disorder, so one needs to take proper care in treating it. Recent studies have suggested the health benefits of fish oil in treatment of depression which could be promising in the field of medicine.
Depression and its causes:
Depression is a neuronal disorder in which a person has feelings like Sadness, Loneliness, Anxiety, Anger, Frustration, Low self esteem and Dejection. However there are several types of Depression which are classified usually basing on the symptoms and causes. Usually the causes of depression have are linked to various factors such as:
- Stressful life
- Health conditions like Cancer
- Insomnia
- Hypothyroidism
- Steroidal medication
- Alcohol abuse
So basically depression is treated by medication and cognitive therapy. The medication includes a whole range of drugs like the Tricyclic Antidepressants, and the SSRIs. These drugs usually have side effects and so scientists are looking out for alternative treatment methods which are safer.
Recent studies suggest that Omega 3 Fatty acids present in the fish oil has a role to play in treatment of depression. The Omega 3 Fatty acids have EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) which are the main ingredients in it. Studies conducted on women with postpartum depression showed that women who consumed Omega 3 Fatty acid had fewer symptoms of depression. This opens the new doorways to the treatment of depression using the fish oil.
Further studies have also suggested that Fish oil containing Omega 3 Fatty acid can be used as an adjunct therapy along with SSRIs given for treatment of depression. The SSRIs increase the levels of Serotonin in human body which is inturn is related to regulation of the person’s mood. Even the Omega 3 Fatty acids have shown to regulate the levels of Serotonin like the SSRIs, so the fish oil can be taken along with the medication to improve the prognosis of depression.
Fish oil has other benefits too along with this, such as: It reduces the chances of getting a heart stroke, Reduces the chances of Atherosclerosis, and on the whole one can say it is beneficial for a good heart health. So you could either consume Fishes to get Omega 3 fatty acids or go for Fish oil capsules which are available in the markets with various brands.
Some of the side effects which you may face due to Fish oil consumption:
The fish oil has potential benefits rather than side effects but then it is also important for you to know some of the side effects which may be produced due to its consumption. Here are the main ones:
- Abdominal discomfort
- Diarrhea
- Nose Bleeding in rare cases
- Some of patients also report allergy to the fish oil. Usually seen with pregnant women.
