Fresh fish, or particularly the oils in fish can help lower cholesterol. A 16-year-old study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health upon female nurses, had found that eating fish at least 4 times a week could reduce the chance of having a heart disease by 45%. The Omega 3 fatty acid found in fish oils, if consumed regularly can reduce the risk of sudden death due to cardiac problems in 81% according to another study where 275 men were examined. Dr. JoAnn Manson of Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital specifically mentions Fresh oil fish as a strong agent in lowering cholesterol, significantly reducing the risk of heart disease by prevent the blood clots, among its many other properties.

Best sources of fish that contain the most Omega 3 fatty acids are the fish with higher concentration of fat. Lowering cholesterol through Omega 3 fatty acids can be achieved by consuming any of the following cold deep water fish: albacore tuna, yellow fin tuna, lake trout, pink salmon, Pacific mackerel, halibut, swordfish and Atlantic herring. All these fish are extremely oily, but contain great quality Omega 3 fatty acid, which is highly beneficial for reducing cholesterol levels.

If you’re allergic to fish, or just don’t feel like consuming fish regularly, the benefits of Omega 3 to lower cholesterol can take Omega 3 supplements that can be found in almost any health store or pharmacy, however, bear in mind that the Omega 3 fatty acid in supplements, has many benefits such as reducing the risk for a heart disease (according to recent study heart disease risk was reduced by 42 percent among participants who took Omega 3 supplements on a daily basis), but is not as effective as the Omega 3 fresh fish to lower cholesterol. Soy products and green leafy vegetables also contain Omega 3, but again it won’t be as effective for lowering cholesterol as the Omega 3 from fresh cold-water fish.

Unlike fats that can “kill” you, like saturated fat and trans fatty acids, Omega 3 is a polyunsaturated fat an considered a good fat that heals as it helps lowering cholesterol by preventing the build up of plague in the arteries. It does that by loosening the blood platelets.