Benefits Of EPA

Benefits Of EPA

EPA is the abbreviated form of Eicosapentaenoic acid and is sometimes also known as icosapentaenoic acid. It is an omega-3 fatty acid, which humans can obtain consuming a diet constituting of oily fish, fish oil, cod liver, mackerel, herring, salmon, sardine and menhaden. EPA is also found in the breast milk of humans. EPA is present in every cell of the body and thus an additional regular intake of EPA is extremely beneficial for the body. Some of the benefits of EPA include:

Maintains a healthy heart.
Regular intake of sufficient amounts of EPA helps prevent the occurrence of atherosclerosis, heart attack, angina, congestive heart failure, stroke, arrhythmia, and peripheral vascular disease. EPA actually maintains the elasticity of the walls of arteries, reduces blood pressure, prevents internal blood clotting, stabilizes the heart rhythm, thus maintains a healthy heart.

Provides relief in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Regular intake of EPA in the form of supplements provides relief in rheumatoid arthritis. The morning stiffness and tenderness in joints is relieved in patients with arthritis.

Benefits to infants.
The human breast milk contains DHA and EPA in the ratio of about 4:1. This ratio shows the significance of EPA in the development of a child and his mental functions. Regular intake of EPA supplements helps to supply the EPA needs of brain cells, thus improving the mental development in children.

Aids in treating asthma.
Regular intake of supplements containing EPA helps in treating asthma among children.

Aids in treating inflammation.
EPA supplements help in treating various kinds of inflammatory diseases such arthritis and osteoporosis.

Beneficial for tissues and joints.
Sufficient intake of EPA helps to maintain the production of prostaglandin, leukotriene and cytokine thus supporting the integrity of connective tissues and cartilage. It also promotes motility and comfort in joints. Regular supplementation markedly reduces the occurrence of tenderness in joints and delays the onset of fatigue.

Aids in weight control.
Loss of excessive fat stored in the body and prevention of storage of fat is the key to weight control. Regular intake of omega 3 fatty acids in the form of EPA supplements helps in burning these extra fats before they get deposited and result in weight gain.

Reduces the risk of cancer.
Research and study in the field show that a high level of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood reduces the risk of the occurrence of various kinds of cancers such as breast cancer and colon cancer

Beneficial for the brain.
Regular and sufficient intake of EPA improves the brain function and keeps people away from psychological problems like anxiety and depression.

Fish oil is a good source of EPA and should be a part of your regular diets. Apart from this, many kinds of EPA supplements are available in the market and should be consumed regularly to maintain a healthy body and mind.

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