Heart disease is one of the biggest killers in the developed nations. Heart disease is a multifaceted problem, but there are four undeniable factors that definitely play a role in its development and progression:

1. High LDL cholesterol. This cholesterol is mainly created by your liver and is transported to the blood vessels to repair damage. So in reality, it is a good thing. However, when too much of the substance is being produced and not enough is being removed from the bloodstream, this can result in the excess cholesterol sticking to the blood vessel walls and causing them to narrow. This, in turn, can cause blockages and therefore heart disease.

2. High triglycerides. Triglycerides are fats that work in a similar manner to cholesterol when it comes to causing heart disease and are in fact more dangerous that LDL cholesterol. In order to remain healthy, your ratio of triglycerides to LDL cholesterol, the so-called "good" cholesterol, should be below two.

3. The balance of omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids in the blood. Most people today consume excessive amounts of omega 6 fats and not nearly enough omega 3 fats. Over 100 published studies have shown that the higher the levels of omega 3, the lower the levels of heart disease in a given population. This is not surprising, given that, hundreds of years ago, our ancestors consumed about 20 times more omega 3 fatty acids than the average North American or European does today. This is the diet that we were meant to consume.

4. Stress and aggression. The so-called type A personality has a much higher probability of getting heart disease. Anxiety, anger and aggression cause large amounts of hormones to be dumped into the blood, they imbalance the endocrine system and cause havoc in our biochemistry. Stress and anger management are important components of any heart disease prevention protocol.

The good news is that taking pure concentrated fish oil capsules can help with all four of the above. Concentrated fish oil has been proven again and again to decrease both LDL cholesterol and triglycerides very effectively over time. It also rectifies the balance of omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids, and brings it back to more natural levels.

One of the omega 3 fatty acids, known as DHA, is also been shown to nourish the brain and decrease stress and depression. In fact, the brain is built with DHA as its bricks and mortar. A deficiency in DHA can cause a whole assortment of psychological problems, including depression, cognitive deficits and lack of attention.

For these reasons, after having studied biochemistry for many years, I believe that it is essential that all health-conscious people take concentrated fish oil capsules every day and that they select a brand that is both potent and pure. If possible, you should select a product that has an independent certificate of analysis and that also contains the synergistic ingredients lycopene and coenzyme Q10, both known to help prevent heart disease.

Author's Bio: 

Sector rotator. Natural health and biophysics devotee. I enjoy mountaineering, baguazhang, learning interesting things and the music of Piazzolla.

Get more in-depth information on the extensive benefits of fish oil, or check out my blog post at what to do about depression.