Omega-3 fatty acids: Vital nutrients for men’s health
11/30/2022 // Olivia Cook // Views

For functional medicine expert and two-time New York Times best-selling author Dr. Amy Myers, omega-3 fatty acids are among the most vital nutrients for men's health. They can provide considerable benefits – the most recently discovered being a reduction in colorectal cancer risk.

Sexual health

A study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that healthy men may benefit from intake of fish oil supplements. In a cross-sectional study that included 1,679 young men in Denmark, fish oil supplements were associated with higher semen volume and total sperm count, larger testicular size, a higher calculated free testosterone to luteinizing hormone (LH) ratio and lower follicle-stimulating hormone (FHS) and LH levels after adjusting for confounders.

In the testes, LH stimulates testosterone synthesis and FSH helps in the production of sperm.

Testosterone biosynthesis is essential for the development of internal/external male genitalia, the establishment of secondary male characteristics, including facial and body hair growth and voice change, and spermatogenesis, or the production and development of mature spermatozoa. (Related: The benefits of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for men.)

A study published in Mount Sinai Health System reports that high FSH levels in men may mean the testicles are not functioning correctly due to advancing age (male menopause), damage to testicles caused by alcohol abuse, chemotherapy or radiation, problems with genes (such as Klinefelter syndrome), treatment with hormones and certain tumors in the pituitary gland.

Brighteon.TV

Low FSH levels in men may mean parts of the brain (the pituitary gland or hypothalamus) do not produce normal amounts of any or all of its hormones.

Males make more androgens than females, with testosterone as the most common androgen that gives men their "male characteristics."

Reduced serum testosterone is associated with a number of metabolic and quality-of-life changes, including infertility, erectile dysfunction, obesity, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. (Related: Omega-3 fatty acids can treat male infertility.)

Experts say some of the causes of androgen deficiency in males include conditions affecting the following:

  • Testes – Some conditions are present from birth. Klinefelter’s syndrome, for example, is a genetic disorder where there is an extra sex chromosome in the body’s cells. Other conditions may occur at various stages of a boy’s or a man’s life, such as undescended testes, the loss of testes due to trauma or "twisting off" of the blood supply (torsion), complications following mumps and side effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
  • Pituitary gland – The presence of a benign tumor (adenoma) is the most common condition that affects the pituitary gland and leads to low testosterone levels. The tumor may interfere with pituitary gland functions or it may produce the hormone prolactin, which stops the production of gonadotropins, which are the hormones needed to signal the testes to produce testosterone.
  • Hypothalamus – Tumors or a genetic order like Kallmann's syndrome can prevent the hypothalamus from prompting the pituitary gland to release hormones – inhibiting testosterone production by the testes. This is a rare cause of androgen deficiency.

Mental Health

Scientists have linked men's mental disorders, such as bipolar disorder and depression, with low testosterone levels – a topic most overlooked by modern science, said Myers.

A study published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry provided strong evidence that bipolar depressive symptoms may be improved by the adjunctive use of omega-3 supplements. The evidence, however, does not support its adjunctive use in lessening mania (mental illness marked by periods of great excitement like euphoria, delusions and overactivity).

Heart health

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women and people of ethnic groups in the United States.

The build-up of fatty plaques in the arteries (atherosclerosis) is the most common cause of coronary artery disease in men.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to reduce triglycerides and the risk of developing an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias), as well as slow the buildup of plaque, cholesterol and calcium, which hardens and blocks arteries.

How to get more omega-3 fatty acids

Myers noted that a poor diet, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, high bad cholesterol (LDL), uncontrolled diabetes, obesity and smoking are some of the modifiable factors that increase the risk of men developing heart conditions.

Since the body does not naturally produce omega-3 fatty acids, it is important (for men, especially) to get them from heart-healthy, nutrient-dense foods like fruits (avocado, berries, mangoes, muskmelons, tomatoes), vegetables (Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach), nuts and seeds (flaxseeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, hazelnut), dark chocolate (preferably organic), whole grains, poultry, wild-caught fatty fish (salmon) and vegetarian or vegan sources, such as seaweed (nori) and algae (chlorella, spirulina).

Men can lower the number of modifiable risk factors they have by making lifestyle changes, such as regularly engaging in aerobic activities (walking, light jogging, biking, swimming), managing their weight and relieving stress.

Health experts say the more you work out, the stronger your heart becomes. If you live a sedentary life, your heart is going to deteriorate and become weak, just like other muscles in your body.

Watch the video below for a closer look at the health benefits of omega fatty acids.

This video is from the Natural News channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Omega-3 fatty acids slash colorectal cancer risk in men by 66 percent.

How to naturally boost your libido without drugs.

Omega-3 fatty acids boost bone density in men.

Sources:

AmyMyersMD.com

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

MountSinai.org

ScienceDirect.com

BetterHealth.vic.gov.au

PubMed.NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

CDC.gov

Brighteon.com



Take Action:
Support Natural News by linking to this article from your website.
Permalink to this article:
Copy
Embed article link:
Copy
Reprinting this article:
Non-commercial use is permitted with credit to NaturalNews.com (including a clickable link).
Please contact us for more information.
Free Email Alerts
Get independent news alerts on natural cures, food lab tests, cannabis medicine, science, robotics, drones, privacy and more.
App Store
Android App
eTrust Pro Certified

This site is part of the Natural News Network © 2022 All Rights Reserved. Privacy | Terms All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing International, LTD. is not responsible for content written by contributing authors. The information on this site is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice of any kind. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. Your use of this website indicates your agreement to these terms and those published here. All trademarks, registered trademarks and servicemarks mentioned on this site are the property of their respective owners.

This site uses cookies
Natural News uses cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using this site, you agree to our privacy policy.
Learn More
Close
Get 100% real, uncensored news delivered straight to your inbox
You can unsubscribe at any time. Your email privacy is completely protected.