Benefits of fish oil and exercise on fat loss
For years, you’ve heard that eating fat makes you fat. But recent research has shown that eating certain types of fat can actually help you lose weight. Australian researchers have found that fish oil benefits those who want to lose excess fat, especially when combined with an aerobic exercise program.
Participants in the Australian study were asked to consume 6 grams of tuna (the equivalent of 1.9 grams of fish oil) a day and exercise aerobically for 3 times a week for 45 minutes each session. While both of these decreased body fat by themselves, the results were magnified when combined. The combination of fish oil and exercise not only lowered the participants’ body fat levels, it also increased levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and improved circulation.
A British study published in the March 2002 issue of Diabetologia found that substituting a diet rich in saturated fats (like those found in red meat) with diets rich in polyunsaturated fats (like those found in fish and fish oil) not only improved insulin sensitivity but also decreased abdominal fat levels. This should be especially encouraging for those who have increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, since abdominal fat interferes with insulin function, which in turn leads to increases in blood sugar levels.
Finally, the last benefit of fish oil in weight loss is that healthy fats increase your food satisfaction level because fats take longer to digest and makes you feel fuller longer. So you may consider taking a high quality supplement that supplies fish oil benefits just before your meals to take advantage of this fact, and include it as part of a healthy diet and regular exercise program.
