Omega 3

If you engage in intense and sustained exercise – things like wrestling, or boot camp, or martial arts – you know that sometimes it’s hard to “catch your breath”. Your lungs are working as hard as they can, but you wonder if they’re really going to give you the oxygen you need or collapse and land you in the hospital. However, the Lung Health Institute shows that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can actually improve lung function.

The benefits of Omega-3 fats found in fish oils play a major role in reducing our body’s state of stress and also our vulnerability to illness. This article explains why.

Increased Oxygen Intake

When it comes to sports performance, oxygen intake is vital. The Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport indicates that Omega-3 may boost lung function and reduce the risk of exercise-induced asthma, probably due to its anti-inflammatory benefits.

Increased muscle protein synthesis

If you have suffered injury and are in recovery then it is essential to stimulate muscle protein synthesis. Recent studies in the Clinical Science Journal have shown that Omega-3 increases the rate of muscle protein synthesis when taken in combination with the right proportions of protein and carbohydrates.

Increased concentration

A winning strategy in sport demands a continuous ability to concentrate on the task in hand. A daily intake of about 2g of Omega-3 has been shown by clinical studies to improve cognitive function, influence our behaviour and mood and allow us to maintain our concentration.

Finding the right oil supplement

Here are some tips on finding the right amount of oil supplement:

  • Always check labels, specifically look for mentions of EPA.
  • Look at the quality not the price.
  • Also remember Omega-9 promotes a healthy heart.
  • Do some shopping around for professional sports oil supplements.
  • Avoid excessive Vitamin A.
  • Balance any supplements with dietary oily fish.

It is very easy to take in too much fish oil so be very careful with your Vitamin A intake especially if you take cod liver oil tablets. Our bodies do not flush Vitamin A and excessive intake can cause toxicity. You can get what you need from eating oily fish such as salmon, trout and mackerel but you should always regularly check the Food Standards Agency guidelines.

If you do have breathing difficulties, you may also find inspiratory muscle training to be beneficial as it will strengthen your breathing muscles to help reduce shortness of breath.