| ||
| ||
|
||
|
|
|
Omega 3s... Fish Oil, and DHA...
There is no doubt that Omega 3's can not only help your heart and joints but it will also help your brain. Most people are aware of this, but do the benefits of Omega 3's apply across the board for all types of Omega 3's? There are now many Companies in the world market today trying to capitalize on the Omega 3 'boom' with such a wide range of products and so many claims that it is hard for the consumer to sift out fact from fiction. The purpose of today's newsletter is to try and concisely as possible give you the facts about Omega 3. I will try to explain the most important ones by dealing with each of them individually. Important Point # 1 Your prime objective for consuming Omega 3 should be to get DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) into your body. The scientific evidence supporting the benefits of DHA is now overwhelming. It is much more important than EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) which is the major Omega 3 component of most fish oils. Important Point # 2 Not all Omega 3's will provide you with DHA and EPA. This is because these essential fatty acids are not present in a lot of Omega 3 products. For example, ground flax seed is an excellent oil for certain uses and contains Omega 3's but does not actually contain any DHA or EPA at all. Instead it contains alpha linolenic acid which your body has to convert to DHA and EPA. In many people, particularly the elderly this conversion process is very inefficient. To give you an idea, it is estimated that most adults would have to consume 10 - 40 grams of flaxseed oil to produce just 0.2 grams of DHA. So, if you want to get the proven benefits of DHA don't rely on getting your Omega 3's from vegetable oils such as flaxseed. Note: There is however now some products being produced from algae which contain good levels of DHA and do not require the body to convert the ALA to the DHA. But, they are still not readily available and they are expensive. Important Point # 3 The best source of DHA is from fish oil. However, there are some drawbacks with many fish oils: 1. The amount of DHA is low in most fish oils. A typical level is 12% DHA and 18% EPA. The popular 'salmon' oils (which are not really salmon) are usually of the 12/18 type. 2. Many oils on the market today are from questionable sources and some have high levels of heavy metals or other contaminants such as PCB's. To ensure that you don't ingest these contaminants, either use oils which have been molecularly distilled, or are from impeccable sources with a reliable certificate of analysis. This basically rules out any oil which is processed from fish caught in the Northern Hemisphere. 3. Most fish oils are of the triglyceride form which does not easily pass through the cell membranes. (More on this later) Important Point # 4 Some suppliers of fish oil claim that it does not matter that the EPA is higher than the DPA because the body will convert part of the EPA to DPA. This is indeed true but like the conversion of ALA to DHA the percentage of conversion is very low. This is due in part to the high consumption of Omega 6 in the typical Western diet. Enzymes needed for the conversion are in 'short supply' in the bodies of those people who have a reasonably high level of Omega 6 intake (via vegetable oils). This is because the enzymes needed are 'used up' in having to deal with the processing of Omega 6 oils. As a result, the conversion in most people is quite negligible which further supports ingesting the DHA directly. Important Point # 5 As I indicated earlier most fish oils are in the triglyceride forms. A triglyceride consists of 3 fatty acids attached to a glycerol backbone. It does not pass easily through the cell membrane as it is changed. It also requires two enzyme steps to 'release' its fatty acids. Sometimes because of the structure of the triglycerides the fatty acids are not released but rather stay attached to the glycerol backbone. In contrast, if the oil is esterified during the concentration and purification processes the resulting substance can easily enter the body's cell membranes. The esterified molecule has no charge and only requires one enterase enzyme to release the fatty acid. (DHA). This enables the body to use it as an immediate energy source, or store it for later use. In Summary: To receive the many benefits of DHA you have to consider ensuring that you do as follows: 1. Find a source of fish oil that is high in DHA or alternatively be prepared to take much higher doses of conventional fish oil. 2. Ensure that the fish oil you use is molecularly distilled. 3. Try to find the oil in the Ester form for better bio-availability. In conclusion, try to find a quality fish oil supplement that meets these three criteria and your benefits will far outweigh the cost. Warren Matthews is the Chairman of Xtend Life Natural Products, the manufacturer of a pure molecularly distilled fish oil ester with NO CONTAMINANTS and with exceptionally high levels of DHA! It is caught in the pristine Southern Ocean and is naturally free of contaminants. XTEND-LIFE's 'Omega 3 / DHA Fish Oil Esters' is available at ? http://healthybody.xtend-life.com/default.asp?id=270030
MORE RESOURCES:
Supplements - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
I Love My Glyconutrients In today's modern world most people, like us, just do not feel well and have no energy! Everybody around us is either getting sick, has some terrible disease or is dying! What in the world is going on, why is all this stuff happening to us, and what can we do about it?This world that we live in is becoming more diseased every day. Thirty to forty years ago society suffered from four known autoimmune diseases. Immune System Supplement Your Immune system Needs BalanceTaking an immune system supplement daily is very important. However most of us don't do it until we get sick or don't feel good. The Importance of Taking a Calcium Supplement Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body and also an important supplement to take. Calcium is needed to form bones and teeth and is also required for blood clotting, transmission of signals in nerve cells, and muscle contraction. Vitamin E Three Important Nutrients - Vitamin E, Selenium, and Sodium and Potassium - for good healthVitamin EThere is has been a lot of controversy about vitamin E lately. In the news last month, the news media was pushing a story that "Vitamin E can cause you to die. Minerals for a Normal Life Minerals are essential nutrients that serve the body in many ways. So important in the function of the human body that insufficient supply, or even over supply, of these can lead to numerous health problems and complications not to mention a disrupted life. Dietary Supplement Vitamin Dietary Supplement Vitamin - why is it important?Dietary supplement vitamin or vitamins are very important to our health because if we do not intake enough vitamins necessary for our bodies, the dietary supplement vitamin will substitute for the shortage of the amount of vitamins in our system. Still, a good diet based on foods with high concentration of vitamins is always a better solution than supplements. Vitamin C Is Useless In Fighting The Common Cold And Could Be Dangerous For Smokers Those who start eating lemons at first symptoms of the common cold should slow down. According to a recent study, Vitamin C does nothing to prevent the common cold. Side Effects of Hyaluronic Acid Products Currently, there are no known side effects for most hyaluronic acid products including pills, serums, creams and liquids. However, there are some side effects associated with knee and facial injections. Ways to Maximize Vitamin Absorption 1. Do not refrigerate vegetables and fruits (raw and uncut) for more than two days. Know Your Bodybuilding Supplement - BCAAs BCAA stands for branched chain amino acids and is increasingly being recognized as an important supplement in the field of sports nutrition. In short the term refers to three essential amino acids - leucine, isoleucine and valine. Dietary and Nutritional Supplements: Know More About Supplements At times, due to your busy and fast life, we tend to miss out on the essential nutrients such as protien, vitamins and minerals which are responsible for our good health. Good nutrition is the most important factor in achieving optimal health. Will Your Vitamins Be Banned? Imagine this scenario by the end of next August.. Safer And More Effective Than Botox? Shocking Results Are the new Argireline Wrinkle Relaxing Creams as effective as Botox?For many women, wrinkles and fine lines are the bane of their lives. Looking into the mirror and seeing a face filled with wrinkles, sagging skin, and fine lines can be very disheartening, but it's all a part of growing old, right?Well, yes and no. Take Back Your Life 2 In part one of this series, titled "Take Back Your Life"; we discussed the importance of proper cell function as it relates to wellness. Here in part 2, we will discuss why it is important to feed the organs of your endocrine system to further insure and maintain a state of wellness and optimum health. Health Benefits of CoQ10 - A Powerful, Important Heart Compound Coenzyme Q10 (also known as ubiquinone, but most widely referred to as CoQ10) is a substance that can be found in every cell of the body, where it is used to produce the large amounts of energy needed for healthy cell growth, repair after damage, and maintenance.CoQ10 also functions as a powerful antioxidant, which protects the cells and the entire body from damage caused by harmful molecules. About Liquid Vitamins and Minerals and the New Nutritional Paradigm Liquid vitamins are the same vitamins that you find in any supermarket or health store, but are suspended in a liquid mixture. This new method of taking liquid nutritional supplements is becoming extraordinarily popular in today's progressive healthcare marketplace. Vitamins for the Recovering Alcoholic I have frequently heard alcoholics who are in early recovery remark that, "If this is what recovery is like, I'd rather go back to drinking." Vitamin deficiencies, particularly of the B vitamins and vitamin C, may be responsible for much of the lethargy, skin irritation, memory loss and depression experienced by people who are newly recovering from an addiction to alcohol. Whey Protein - Natures Amazing Muscle Builder Are you concerned about taking care of your body before and after strenuous activities or workouts? Do you try to avoid supplements that contain additives and possible side effects?If you are interested in better health and improved physical fitness you have surely heard that bodybuilders and other athletes are turning to a simple, natural supplement called whey protein.WHY DO ATHLETES USE WHEY PROTEIN?Protein levels are depleted through exercise. Taurox SB: A Balanced Immune System Leads to Increased Energy Taurox is an excellent way to find true and healthy energy; a new, highly effective formula that boosts your vitality by strengthening and balancing your immune system.Taurox is a homeopathic formulation, composed of the amino acids taurine and beta-alanine, which helps balance the immune system's cytokine activity. Vitamin for Boosting your Immune System Turmeric, in all honesty is not a vitamin, but it can certainly help to boost your immune system. Of course Turmeric is a herb and in recent years has become quite popular in the Spice Rack of modern day kitchens.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
