BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Fish oil has long been lauded as a great source of heart-healthy fat and new research from Harvard University has shown that it also helps the body reduce inflammation.

The body converts an active ingredient found in fish oils, known as DHA, into a chemical called Resolvin D2.

Researchers studied the effects of this chemical on mice suffering from full-body inflammation and found that Resolvin D2 was able to dramatically reduce this inflammation and increase survival rate.

Inflammation occurs when the body's natural defenses against infections are mistakenly directed at healthy tissue. This means that in order to combat inflammation, most drugs currently used must also suppress the immune system, something that can be dangerous for patients whose bodies are already weakened by infection.

In the study, they found that Resolvin D2 was not only a powerful anti-inflammatory, but it was able to reduce inflammation without affecting the immune system.

Because of this, researchers felt that this active ingredient in fish oil has great potential as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and stroke.