Fish Oil and Weight Loss: Fats That Make You Skinny

Oh yes, it's true -- not all fats make you fat. Some fats can even make you skinny! Well, they can help you lose weight and keep it off when combined with exercise and a healthy diet and attitude.

And "which fats are these miracle fats?" you ask. They're the omega 3 fatty acids that you get from fish oil and fish oil supplements .

Actually, fish oil and weight loss is a one-two punch because the other benefits of fish oil (in addition to weight loss) are through the roof and necessary for a fit, healthy body and lifestyle. Basically, each and every cell in your body needs the omega 3s in fish oil to run smoothly because your body can't produce these fatty acids on its own. If you don't get the omega 3s, your cells have a rough ride and can become diseased -- cancer, immune system disorders, diabetes, and skin problems are just a few of the potential issues that can arise. So basically you need omega 3s to for your body to function properly, and when you take them for that you automatically get the added benefit of weight loss. Pretty nifty! And pretty simple.

So what's the skinny on fish oil and weight loss?

In addition to the multitude of studies that show how fish oil benefits heart health, brain development and overall healthy cell functioning (to name a few), recent studies also show that fish oil and weight loss go hand in hand, especially when combined with exercise. Exercise is a very important part of the equation as found in a study at the University of South Australia, which showed a synergistic effect between fish oil and exercise when it comes to weight loss. The group of people taking fish oil combined with exercise showed a greater loss of weight than those taking fish oil but not exercising or those just exercising but not taking fish oil

Here are some ways that fish oil helps in weight loss:

Fish oil helps you lose weight by helping you burn fat... by decreasing insulin levels.

Insulin discourages your body from burning stored fat as fuel and encourages your body to store more fat, especially when you eat too much. Taking fish oil lowers insulin levels and promotes fat burning instead of fat storage. A study published in the International Journal of Obesity showed that supplementing the diet with omega 3 fish oil increases the number of fat calories burned per day by up to 26%!

Technically speaking, insulin inhibits the enzyme lipase which breaks down stored fat and readies it to be used as fuel. A study from the Kao Corporation in Tochigi, Japan, and published in the July 2008 Journal of Nutrition, showed that lab mice that received supplements of fish oil and ate a diet high in fat metabolized more fat and gained less weight than mice eating a high fat diet but not getting the fish oil supplements.

Omega 3s also promotes burning fat (and therefore weight loss) by increasing levels of the hormone leptin. Leptin is decreases appetite and aids in the burning of fat.

Fish oil helps you lose weight by helping your body store carbs as glycogen instead of body fat.

Fish oil helps weight loss by making you less hungry. A recent study showed that when obese subjects took omega 3 fatty acid supplements in addition to following a weight loss program, they tended to feel fuller longer. And who doesn't want that? Researchers at the University of Navarra, University of Iceland and University College Cork went on to say that if additional studies support this, fish oil will become a heavy hitter when it comes to weight loss. But we say, why wait if you can feel full now?

Feeling full from fish oil may be attributed to omega 3s increasing the levels of the hormone leptin.

Fish oil seems to support good circulation, brain health and good mood. Some individuals report that fish oil helps them feel satisfied so they don’t crave fatty foods as "feel good" comfort foods. Being happy can go a long way when it comes to weight loss!

Fish Oil and Weight Loss: Get Your One-Two Punch Today

Fish Oil and Weight Loss: 5 Step Plan Checklist 1. Get your fish oil and take up to 1000 mg daily. 2. Set up an exercise plan and stick to it. 3. Set up a healthy meal plan and stick to it, only eating when you're hungry (let your fish oil decrease your appetite!). 4. Get a skinny attitude and cheer yourself on. ("Good mood" fish oil can help with this too as it benefits your mental health.) 5. Enjoy your weight loss and repeat these steps to maintain a fit you.

To summarize, fish oils are an incredible weight control and weight loss aid, especially when combined with exercise. Since your body needs the omega 3s found in fish oil to thrive, it’s actually a no-brainer. Take your fish oil supplements for general good health and reap the benefits of losing weight and feeling satisfied. Hunger be gone. Skinny be here!