Understanding the Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acid

You would almost have to be marooned on a tropical island to miss all the buzz about Omega-3 fatty acid these days. Almost every doctor is recommending it, every supplement company is selling it and all the while many health professionals still insist we can get plenty of Omega-3 in our diet by eating fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines. If you haven't really looked at what Omega-3 fatty acid is and what is can do, I would like to provide concise information on Omega-3 that you can “digest” in 3 minutes or less.

Make It Simple:

Ideally we should have a balance between the two.

The U.S. Diet:

• Typically has 14-24 times more Omega 6 than Omega 3
• Healthy Omega-6 can be found in avocados, seeds and nuts and eggs.

However, overuse of vegetable oils such as corn oil, soybean oil, and sunflower oil in cooking and processed foods has led to a pro-inflammatory imbalance of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids in our diets.

Foods that Contain Omega 3 oil:

• Salmon
• Herring
• Mackerel
• Sardines
• Albacore Tuna

While these fish may be quite tasty, is also important to recognize that due to high levels of toxins such as mercury have led to the recommendation of two or fewer, 3-ounce servings per week. Because the process of digestion impedes absorption and delivery of Omega 3 oil to the body, this amount is probably not sufficient to produce significant health benefits

Vegetarian?

You may read labels on food such as walnuts, flax seed that say “vegetarian source of Omega 3 ”.

While hese foods and others like them are very healthy and good for you, the type of fatty acid they contain is short chain ALA (alpha linoleic acid) This has to be converted by the body to the long chain Omega-3 fatty acid. It is not known how much of these foods one has to eat in order to produce adequate levels of Omega 3.

A few of the benefits of Omega-3:

• Heart and Circulation – Decreases Triglycerides, Cholesterol, Atherosclerosis, Blood Pressure, Risk of Stroke
• Brain Function – Improves Depression, Bi-polar disorder, ADHD, Memory, Mood, Blood Flow, Neuro-conductivity
• Autoimmune Disease- Reduces Symptoms
• Arthritis – Decreases Pain and Improves Range of Motion 
• Cancer-Fights inflammation associated with tumor growth
• Menopause – Supports healthy transition through menopause and Improves discofort associated with menopause

Are you Omega-3 Deficient?

Do you experience:

• Fatigue
• Poor Memory
• Dry Skin
• Dry Eyes
• Heart Problems
• Mood Swings
• Depression
• Poor Circulation

Absorption is important!

The process of digestion reduces the rate and ability of the body to absorb Omega-3 . This means that how and when you get your Omega-3 is important in order to see benefit from it.

Source Time to see benefit Decrease in inflammation

• Gel Caps 8 grams/day 5 months 24-38%
• Gel Caps 2.1 grams/day 8 months 8-13%
• Liquid Omega-3 oil 1 month 26-51%
• Super Omega-3 liquid 14 days or less more than 25%

To enhance absorption Omega-3 is best first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Wait 10-15 minutes before ingesting anything.

Worried about fish-burp? Yuck! I highly recommend the Omega-3 oil from Maine Natural Health. It is high quality oil, absorbs well and NO Fish Burp! Click here for a discount of 25% on your first order and 10% thereafter.

Resources:

• Dr. Jeff Leighton, CEO Chief Scientist – Maine Natural Health http://mainenaturalhealth.com
• Harvard School of Public Health - http://www.hsph.harvard.edu
• University of Maryland Medical Center - http://www.umm.edu
• Anticancer, A New Way of Life, New Edition by Doctor David Servan-Schreiber P.H.D.

If you are interested in learning more about how Omega-3 fatty acids and a healthful diet can truly impact your quality of life, I highly recommend Anticancer, A New Way of Life, New Edition by Doctor David Servan-Schreiber. It is easy to read and understand and will give you a greater understanding of the importance of our food choices and how simple choices can significantly impact your health and well-being.