Fish Oil

I noticed my HDL was lower recently and want to try to improve my cholesterol. Ability to exercise is limited. We eat some fish but should probably increase it.

Anyone here take fish oil? Benefit? Any negatives? Thanks.

Fish oil in general is pretty great. My dad is diabetic and noted that it did raise his HDL when he started. I like Nordic Naturals brand. Go w/ a quality brand, some of them can be oxidized undoing any benefit

if your diet is generally good and you don't drink in excess or smoke the driver lowering HDL - and typically raising LDL - and generally upsetting the balance and increasing total cholesterol is usually oxidative stress and damage to the cells that line the blood vessels

one of cholesterols primary functions in the body is to act as a temporary sticking plaster on damage to cells in these linings - until the body can replace and heal them.
when the damage is ongoing and chronic the body ramps up the production of cholesterol to patch up more damage - so its a symptom rather than a cause.

bart in particular but also lyme and mycoplasma likes these endothelial cells - and so its common for these measures to go up while these infections are active

buhner recommends knotweed and red sage root in particular for this - but i have been taking these for quite some time and doesn't seem to be quite enough to normalise it - though its come down from where it was.

i do also take fish oil and eat a small portion of oily fish most days - and also consume grass fed beef and lamb and free range eggs most days (all have better omega 3 balance than factory / lot raised products)

industrial seed oils are another source of inflammation for the blood vessels - eg corn oil, canola etc etc - and palm oil used in processed foods is a big hidden one.

high blood glucose due to metabolic syndrome is another source of damage to these same cells - so again another reason to use diet to get that under control if you are not doing so already

Biggest risk I've experienced with fish oil is that it can make things worse if it isn't fresh/good quality. If you get prominent fish burps, or cut a pill open and it smells very fishy, then it's suspect. Good quality oil shouldn't have much odor or taste.

Second issue is potentially increasing acetylcholine too high and having depressive symptoms. Moreso a concern if taking other cholinergic supplements (e.g., quercetin, alpha lipoic acid, curcumin, bacopa).

Otherwise, it is generally a good experience. Fights inflammation, and boosts mood.