Fish oil is an unsaturated fatty acid chemical that is known to help with the health condition of arthritis.
Many sufferers, who take a omega 3 fats regularly, find that it greatly helps with their joint pain.
Research has shown and proven the benefits of omega 3 essential fatty acids and many doctors and health care experts recommend it for arthritis sufferers.
The main reason why fish oil actually helps relieve the symptoms of arthritis is because of the conversion process it goes through when in the body.
Studies show that the fatty acids, mainly DHA, contained in fish oil convert into a powerful, and highly effective, anti-inflammatory chemical known as resolvin D2.
Of course arthritis (particularly rheumatoid) is heavily associated with inflammation of the joints so this will obviously help.
This property of fish oil has made it very useful in treating many diseases, from inflammation in the body to certain heart conditions.
The figures show that the UK recognizes the importance of fish oil and health benefits associated with consuming it on a regular basis.
The UK spends an estimated £63 million every year on fish oil supplements.
This is due to research having shown that fish oil can be useful for the brain, bones, heart, eyes and even fights against cancer.
The main role of omega-3 fatty acids in preventing cancer is due to the anti-inflammatory properties.
In fact, chronic inflammation can lead to autoimmune disorders that are responsible for a lot of health conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and IBS.
Many doctors even prescribe fish oil supplements in serious cases of rheumatoid arthritis, which is an auto-immune disorder, as its benefits are so well known and proven.
The resolvin D2 anti-inflammatory chemical is said to be very powerful and can greatly reduce the degree of inflammation, so it is effective in such diseases.
Arthritis can be a very painful and severe disease and requires that the medicine used to treat it to often be very strong.
This can be quite dangerous in some cases, as the side effects in consuming strong prescription medicines are quite high.
Using good quality fish oil to control and treat the arthritis can reduce the amount of medicine that the patient needs to use, thereby reducing the risk of adverse side effects.
Of course, not every patient with arthritis will respond the same to fish oil supplements but if you are taking a good quality fish oil supplement and the correct dosage there is no reason you will not see some positive change; I have a friend who had high blood pressure and cholesterol levels and his slender frame actually belied this problem.
He began to use omega 3 supplements primarily for these health conditions.
Over months of use, he says he has seen a substantial reduction in his cholesterol levels but the change in his blood pressure levels has been almost insignificant.
So as you see, some will feel a better right away and some will feel just the same for extended periods of time.
But studies have shown its benefits are great for people suffering from arthritis and it should definitely be explored as an option if you are a sufferer yourself or if you know anyone who is suffering from it.
The advantage with trying the omega 3 fatty acids is that unlike medicines that are prescribed, these dietary supplements do not have any adverse side effects.
However, it is always better to check with your health practitioner, before deciding on the dosage of the omega 3 capsules, if you plan to add them to your daily diet.
It is also important that you consume omega 3 supplements that are pure and that they contain the optimum amount of DHA and EPA components.
So be sure to check the ingredients and dosage recommendations before you purchase them.