Many health buffs are familiar with the heart health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends the weekly minimum consumption of two servings of fish. However, not many know exactly how this component works in battling heart disease.
A new research has been aimed to answer specifically that and has recently found out through a study on 67 adult volunteers that one way omega-3s may help is by counteracting the detrimental effects of mental stress on the heart. The volunteers who took fish oil supplements for several weeks had a blunted response to mental stress in several measurements of cardiovascular health.
Moreover, participants who took the fish oil supplements presented lower heart rates and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) — part of the “fight or flight” response — compared to volunteers who took olive oil instead.
For more on the study of the effects of fish oil, click here.