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The Case for Fish Oil Supplements |
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The evidence is mounting almost
daily. Fish and seafood contain
vital nutrients that we're just not getting anywhere else. The
most important of these are essential omega 3 fatty acids, the
building blocks of new cells. Over the past few years, research
has uncovered links between deficiencies in omega 3 fatty acids
and diabetes, heart disease, depression, bipolar disorder,
psoriasis, stroke, obesity, eating disorders, ADHD,
schizophrenia, osteoporosis, inflammatory bowel disease, macular
degeneration, colon cancer, breast cancer, asthma and prostate
cancer. That's a whopping list of most |
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of the health conditions and
diseases besetting the modern Western world - and
increasingly, our Eastern counterparts. Unfortunately, our best source for this important nutrient
has been contaminated to the point of toxicity. Omega 3 is
found in high quantities in cold water and fatty fish like
salmon and tuna – and not much else. Those fish – our best
source for omega 3 – have been poisoned by heavy metals like
mercury. Eating enough of those fish to get enough omega 3
in your diet can bring your levels of mercury to poisonous
levels. Yet the importance of omega 3 to the body can’t be
overstated.
What does omega 3 affect? Take a look at a summary of recent
research that used fish oil supplements to test the effects of
omega 3 fatty acids on various conditions.
** In a study on memory, omega-3 supplements were fed to
mice with a gene that induces Alzheimer’s. The mice fed a
diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids suffered far less memory
loss. Mice in the same study who were fed omega-6, a similar
compound with a slightly different makeup, showed no
difference in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
** Researchers at McLean's Hospital in Belmont, MA
supplemented the treatment of 30 patients suffering from
bipolar disorder with either olive oil, or fish oil
supplements, which is high in the fatty acid, omega-3. Depression was improved in 65% of the patients taking a fish
oil supplement as compared to 19% of those taking the olive
oil. The results were so clear that the study was ended
early so that the placebo group could take fish oil if they
wished. Notably, patients showed in change in mania
symptoms.
** In a 2002 study, researchers at Louisiana State
University gave fish oil supplements containing DHA to
overweight men and women who suffered from insulin
resistance – a precursor of type 2 diabetes. After 12 weeks,
70% of the participants showed a decrease in insulin
resistance – a significant statistical difference.
** In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration approved fish
oil supplements for the prevention of heart disease.
How can one little compound have such a profound effect
on so many systems? While all the research is prefaced
with the ubiquitous more research is needed, scientists
think they have an answer to that question. Essential fatty
acids are what our bodies use to create cell walls when
building new cells. That includes the neural pathways used
by our brains to transmit messages about the world around
us, and trigger the release of hormones, endorphins and
other natural chemicals that help regulate moods, appetite
and activity.
Cells built of omega 3 fatty acids are strong, flexible,
resilient and provide excellent transmission. If omega 3
isn't available, then the body will substitute omega 6 (from
vegetable oils, cereal and grain and meat) fatty acids
instead. The cells formed with omega 6 fatty acids are
shaped differently, and have a different level of electrical
conductivity. While they work, there are significant
differences in the WAY they work. It's not the omega 6 acids
are BAD for us - it's just that they're being forced into
doing jobs that they weren't meant to do.
So how do we fix this? First, don't get the
impression that omega 6 fatty acids are BAD. Our bodies need
both kinds. The problem is that our diets tend to favor
omega 6 over omega 3 by an overwhelming 20:1 ratio. With 20
times the omega 6 available to our bodies, they naturally
choose it to build new cells rather than the more optimal
omega 3. The logical solution is to reduce our intake of
omega 6 and increase our intake of omega 3. Again, the
experts vary on suggested ratio, of omega 6:omega 3 but it
ranges from 5:1 to 1:1.
How much omega 3 should we be getting? Despite the
mounting evidence of the importance of omega 3 in our diets,
there's no 'official' recommendation for daily intake.
Researchers and scientists are divided on what an 'adequate'
intake is, with suggestions from 1/2 gram of omega 3 EFA
daily to 2.6 grams of omega 3 daily Because our fish supply
has become contaminated, the best way to ensure an adequate
intake of omega 3 is to supplement your food sources with a
high quality, pharmaceutical grade fish oil. What we
use is
Xtend-Life Omega 3 / DHA Fish Oil Esters.
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