Earlier studies have shown that supplementing the diet with generous amounts of fish oil (which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids) decreases bodyfat deposition. However, it hasn’t always been clear whether fish oil works its magic by actually stimulating fat burning or by simply decreasing food intake. (Fish oil often does cause people to eat less.

Recently, scientists from the Division of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Texas and from the Baylor School of Medicine set out to determine if fish oil reduces fat deposition independent of food intake.

Although the study wasn’t carried out on humans, laboratory animals often react very similar to humans when it comes to treatment with various nutrients and even exercise. And the findings may well come as good news to humans.

According to the researchers, it seems fish oil partitions fuel substrates away from fat storage and toward lean muscle growth. So indeed, it appears fish oil helps decrease body fat by mechanisms independent of food intake.

The best sources of fish oils are high-fat (10 percent to 15 percent) cold-water fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel, and trout.

Dr. Udo Erasmus, one of the world’s foremost experts on dietary fats and author of the book Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill, recommends people consume fresh cold-water fish, at least, every two weeks to maintain beneficial effects, since the oils from the fish take about two to three weeks to be completely metabolized in our body after being consumed.

Of course, if you can’t stand fish, there are a number of dietary fish oil supplements you can take that will also get the job done.