The beneficial ingredients of fish oil are two fatty acids EPA and DHA. These are Omega 3 fatty acids which are important in the maintenance of a healthy heart, helping to maintain joint mobility and keeping a healthy skin .Latest studies also show it helps in neuro-developmental disorders ,reduces the risk of asthma in children and acts as a guard against prostate cancer.

Latest research shows that we could be eating an imbalance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in our diets. These essential fatty acids  are crucial for the human body to survive. We cannot create them in the right proportions though due to the nature of modern diets i.e. low intake of oily fish(omega3) but higher intakes of sunflower oil (omega6) "the flora effect" phenomenon. The average person consuming seven to eight times more of the latter than the former. Omega 3  tends to moderate while 6 tends to stimulate the immune system, therefore adding omega3 to the diet helps conditions such as heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and kidney disease. As a major part of the brain(25% of its solid matter) is made from long chain PUFAs, brain composition could also be altered. Eating Salmon, Herring or Mackerel (2 to 3 portions a week) or a  fish oil supplement containing at least 0.5gm of Omega3 fatty acids per day can help beat depression, aggression, stress, problem solving in infants (see link above) and eyesight development in very young babies. For a therapeutic effect, for example in rheumatoid arthritis, intake should be increased to 3 to 4gms a day. vegetarians are advised to  decrease their intake of omega-6 PUFAs by eating less sunflower and sesame oils and consuming more omega3 PUFAs. Sources include flax oil, walnuts, rapeseed oil and maritime algae. Eating Vitaquell Omega3 a vegan margarine can also help.