Can you tell me if Omega 3 fish oil is a good supplement to take?
I recommend three to four grams per day of fish oil per day. This provides a sufficient amount of the omega-3 fatty acids that are highly protective without the excessive amounts of fat that may be detrimental.
The omega-3 fatty acids have many benefits. One of the most important is that they stabilize the electrical system of your heart, thereby reducing the incidence of sudden cardiac death by 50-70%. Also, omega-3 fatty acids may reduce inflammation, lower triglycerides, and have other benefits as well.
Flaxseed oil also is rich in the omega-3 fatty acids, but a few studies suggest that flaxseed oil may promote the growth of prostate cancer in men (but not breast cancer in women). Until these studies are sorted out or confirmed, I think the better part of valor would be to go with fish oil rather than flaxseed oil, at least in men.
Much of the pioneering work on omega-3 fatty acids was done by Alexander Leaf, MD, who was chief of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital when I trained there and has been a mentor and a source of inspiration for me for many years. He is a true visionary.
The easiest way to take fish oil is in one-gram capsules, which are sold in most pharmacies or health food stores.