July/August 2004
HEALTH BYTES

Fish oil lowers stress hormones

      Fish oil has been found to reduce levels of stress hormones, including cortisol, which increase heart rate and blood pressure. In a study conducted in France , researchers gave seven healthy men 7.2 grams a day of fish oil for three weeks. When the volunteers were subjected to mental stress, their stress hormone levels were significantly blunted. Researchers have long noted that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil and certain other foods, is associated with reduced risks of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, but the mechanisms have not been completely understood.

More HEALTH BYTES