Oils and fats tend to send health-conscious people running for the hills. They don't realize that not all fats are created equal.They would be doing more harm than good by completely cutting out oils and fats from their diet.

We can't afford to go a day without eating them, so essential fatty acids are necessary. Omega-6 EFAS and omega-3 EFAS are the two types of essential fatty acids.

Despite the fact that the differences between the two classes of essential fatty acids are minimal, research has shown that an excessive intake of omega-6 EFAs can cause inflammation, blood clotting, and tumor formation. However, omega-3 EFAs are the complete opposite. Foods rich in omega-6 EFAs include vegetable oils, while omega-3 EFAs can be found in Fish oils and other sources.

Doctors and researchers agree that an imbalance between omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs is to blame for the rise in chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, senescence, and some types of cancer.

Vegetable oils are a good source of omega-6 EFAs, as was discussed earlier. Corn oil and soy oil, both of which are rich in linoleic acid, are examples of such oils. On the other hand, walnut and flaxseed oils, as well as marine plankton, are also good sources of omega-3 EFAs. The fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), found in fatty fish and fish oils, have been shown to have several positive effects on human health. One of the key reasons why Greenland Eskimos rarely experience cardiac illnesses is due, in large part, to their high-fat diet, as was discovered in the early 1970s (mainly composed of fish).

Both EPA and DHA are important fatty acids that have been linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, major depression, and certain types of cancer. Diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, Raynaud's syndrome, and ulcerative colitis have all shown improvement with fish oil supplementation in the diet.

There are many more diseases and conditions for which taking fish oil has been shown to have positive effects.

The heart is undeniably a vital organ, and if it isn't functioning properly, we can expect to die quite young. In order to maintain a happy and healthy cardiovascular system, it is to our best advantage to consume foods rich in fish oil.

For example, research was conducted in Athens, Greece, to see if a high-fish diet was associated with increased vascular inflammation. C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, two indicators widely used to gauge the possibility of blood vessel inflammation, were shown to be lower in those who consumed more fish than the others. These benefits persisted despite the many potential drawbacks of a fish-heavy diet.

Fish consumption has been found to be effective in treating hypertension and obesity, according to research conducted in Perth, Australia. According to studies conducted at the University of Western Australia (UWA), a weight loss strategy that incorporates regular fish eating can significantly lower blood pressure and improve glucose tolerance.

Asthma sufferers and others who have breathing problems are often stigmatized as unfit and sick. Now they can rejoice because research has shown that fish oil helps those with asthma. Twenty-five percent to thirty-five percent of today's youngsters experience asthma at some point in their lives, according to the statistics. And there's mounting proof that a diet rich in linoleic acid is to blame.

University of Wyoming (UW) researchers fed some kids a diet high in fish while feeding others their typical fare. A higher intake of fish was associated with fewer asthma attacks and better lung function among study participants.

In the same way that too much of anything is bad for you, so is too little of something. If you want to know how much fish is healthy for you to eat, talk to a nutritionist.