Posts Tagged ‘fish oil’
How Do You Lower Triglycerides With Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids?
January 7th, 2010 | 
Author: It is now firmly established that there is a wide range of heart health benefits to increasing the amount of omega 3 essential fats (DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)) in your diet. One of these important heart benefits, for anyone with high triglycerides, is that increasing your intake of DHA and EPA can help lower triglycerides.
Research has established that almost all of us have levels of Omega3 fats that are too low. Omega 3 fats are found in fish oil and the research also shows that by increasing our intake of fish oil in our diet by way of supplementation we also attract a range of heart and other health benefits.
Some of the important heart health benefits from increasing omega 3 in the diet include reducing blood pressure, reducing the growth of plaque in the arteries, reducing the risk of fatal heart attack and now also helping to lower triglyceride levels.
Triglycerides are a form of fat that can be manufactured in the body from the food you eat and exist in the blood. Having high triglycerides increases the risk of blood clots and can also lead to a lowering of your HDL (good) cholesterol. Basically high triglycerides are linked to coronary artery disease. And high triglycerides can also be a risk factor in some other diseases, for example diabetes.
By eating a diet with a high level of saturated fat and sugar you may be contributing to higher than normal triglyceride levels. And other risk factors are being overweight and excess alcohol consumption.
So for many people lowering triglycerides is very important, and they want to know how to lower triglycerides.
There’s a range of things that you can do to help lower triglycerides. If you eat less sugar and saturated fat in your diet, lose weight and reduce your alcohol intake these will all help lower triglycerides.
But it is now clear from the research that increasing your intake of omega 3 essential fatty acids by way of fish oil supplementation is an important part of a strategy to help lower triglycerides.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition publishes many of the studies about the benefits of omega 3 and a statement on the website says that “A dose-response relationship exists between omega-3 fatty acid intake and triglyceride lowering” and also that “omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil decreased serum triglyceride concentrations by 25% to 30%,”.
The role of an increase in intake of omega3 essential fatty acids is sufficiently established so that the American Heart Association specifically recommends that patients who need to lower triglycerides take 2 to 4 grams of DHA and EPA every day, as fish oil supplements, under a physicians care.
This is excellent news for anyone struggling with high triglycerides and who wants to lower triglycerides naturally.
And there is also powerful evidence of a wide range of other health benefits from increasing your intake of omega 3 essential fatty acids, and for these reasons everyone, including people with high triglycerides, should seek to maintain a minimum level of fish oil in the diet.
Of course it is simple to eat more fish but unfortunately fish is contaminated with mercury and is generally very expensive. There are excellent fish oil supplements available which are not contaminated and which can be taken daily very cost effectively. Note however that not all fish oil supplements are of high quality.
I take Omega 3 capsules every day. To find out which ones I consider to be the best visit my website.
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The Omega3 Omega 6 Ratio, And Why It Affects Your Health?
Perhaps you’re already aware of the health benefits of essential fatty acids, and in particular Omega 3 fatty acids. There’s been plenty of news lately about these health benefits and many people now understand about the importance of maintaining an adequate intake of Omega3 fats, in which most of us are deficient. But have you heard about Omega 6 fats, and do you know what the Omega 3 Omega 6 ratio is?
Essential fatty acids are important for good health. We cannot manufacture these in our body and so we rely on a daily intake of these in our diet. Omega 3 fats are primarily found in fish and research has shown that most of us are deficient in Omega 3 in our diets.
Omega 6 fatty acids, on the other hand, are found in only plant based sources. They are found in vegetable oils like peanut oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil and corn oil are high in Omega 6 and soy oil is almost totally comprised of Omega 6 fat.
Because many of these vegetable oils are very cheap they are used extensively in processed foods, particularly in margarine, for this reason our intake of Omega 6 fats, though important for our diet in limited amounts, is excessive.
In the past, according to research, we ate roughly as much Omega 3 as Omega 6 fats. This produced an Omega 3 Omega 6 ratio around 1 to 1. But because of our dietary reliance on food sources such as vegetable oils and processed foods there are estimates suggesting that our Omega 6 Omega 3 ratio has changed to around 10 to 1, and some estimates are that it is now as high as 30 to 1. Most of us are eating way too much Omega 6 fatty acids.
Whilst 6 is important to our health increasing the ratio between the 2 as we have done over the last hundred or so years is not. There are a range of health implications from eating too much Omega 6 fatty acids and too little Omega 3. In particular it is thought that we are exposing ourselves to an increased range of lifestyle diseases including cancer, coronary artery disease and various inflammatory related diseases such as arthritis.
On top of this is an issue with our meat. In the past our meat came from animals raised on grass. Grass fed meat is reasonably high in Omega 3. However most of our meat now comes from grain fed animals, and grain fed animals have virtually no Omega 3 and are high in Omega 6 fats. So as you can see we are all eating plenty of Omega 6 and there is absolutely no need to supplement our diets with more.
Whilst it is extremely important to get an adequate intake of Omega 3 fatty acids in our diet, and most of us are deficient in these, it is equally important to ensure that we reduce our intake of Omega 6 fats to maintain a healthy Omega 3 Omega 6 ratio. We can do this by reducing the amount of processed foods and vegetable oils in our diet and changing to healthier oils for cooking such as olive oil. And equally important is to increase our intake of Omega3 fats by dietary supplementation with fish oil supplements.
However, although all of us should be taking daily fish oil supplements, you need to be aware that there are wide variations in the amount of the Omega 3 fatty acids found in the different brands of fish oil supplements, and you need to know how to make an informed choice when choosing your fish oil supplements.
Find out how to make this comparison between the different fish oil supplement brands on my website.
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Posted in fat burning food | 
Tags: fatty acids, fish oil, fish oil supplements, omega 3, omega 3 omega 6, omega 3 omega 6 ratio, omega 6, omega 6 omega 3 ratio | 
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Do You Have Children? Fish Oil Should Feature Prominently In Their Diet.
For some time science has understood the health benefits of omega 3 essential fatty acids, and this now extends to our children. Omega 3 fats should be an essential part of the diet of any child right from conception.
You find Omega 3 essential fatty acids in fish oil. Kids are just like adults. They have a minimum requirement for levels of omega 3 in their diet to ensure adequate development and health. The importance of omega 3 in children has now been underscored by the release of a study from the University of Wollongong’s School Of Health Sciences in Australia. In this study it was found that Australian children were hugely deficient in omega 3. Children in the US will be no different.
In fact the study found that on average the intake of omega 3 fats in 3-year-olds was just 47 milligrams which the professor describes as “desperately low”.
The 2 essential fatty acids that are commonly found in fish oil are DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). And it is well known that the levels of these essential fatty acids in adults in the US are way too low. This now applies to kids. Omega 3 levels in our children are also way too low and there are a range of health implications from this.
A child’s requirement for omega 3 fats starts right at conception. The study noted that brain development was extremely fast during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and that for adequate brain development an adequate level of DHA was essential. And it also noted that the first 2 years of infancy was equally important for brain development and placed an equal demand on DHA levels.
A child cannot supplement its diet own with omega 3. Children have these decisions made for them by their parents. Parents should consider increasing their own intake of fish oil as well as increasing the amount of fish oil in children’s diets because their own health and the health of their kids depends on it.
And it’s not just the brain development of our children that is negatively affected by a low intake of Omega 3. Kids have a range of other developmental and health issues, all of which can benefit from increasing their intake of fish oil. Kids with inadequate levels of omega 3 have a higher risk of asthma, slower brain development, slower visual development, in some cases lower IQ and also an increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as other health issues.
Clearly there are serious issues involved when considering the supplementation of omega 3 in children. This can be achieved by increasing their intake of fish however there are various issues associated with this including mercury contamination, the price of fish and the well known dislike of fish by children.
In fact I supplement the diet of my own children with omega 3 fish oil capsules. If children are too young to take capsules it is a simple matter to cut the top off and pour the fish oil onto their breakfast. Children are not even aware that the fish oil is there.
The decisions of parents about what their children eat are important ones affecting the development of their children. Omega 3 supplementation is cost effective and simple and is important right from the conception of the child. Even during breastfeeding omega 3 supplementation by mothers increases the amount of DHA available to the infant in the breastmilk.
However not all Omega 3 capsules are as good as others. There are many issues relating to the quantity of DHA present in the capsules, the freshness of the fish oil used, (fish oil oxidizes quickly) and the effectiveness of the fatty acids.
On my website I seek to educate my readers about how to compare the different fish oil supplements available and to tell them which omega 3 supplements I have chosen for myself and my children.
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Posted in fat burning food |
Tags: children, children fish oil, children omega 3, fish oil, fish oil kids, kids fish oil, kids omega 3, omega 3, omega 3 kids |
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The Benefits of Krill Oil
While people have always appreciated a healthy body and smooth skin, we have seen a dramatic increase in interest in recapturing youth. Instead of going under the knife or loading up on medication, you should consider a special type of fish oil, which has been shown to make vast improvements. Krill Oil has become one of the most popular supplements and for good reason. In addition to improving the skin’s texture, this oil also improves overall heath to include the immune system, cardiovascular system, and joints, while boosting stamina.
If you have read about fish oil then you already know the advantages. You will enjoy better taste and results by using Krill Oil. Antarctic Neptune Krill Oil provides protection for a healthy heart and joints. Women have claimed to feel younger, have fewer PMS symptoms, and increased stamina.
You might be asking what makes Neptune Krill oil so unique. The answer is that this particular type of fish oil is rich in antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids, and phospholipids. Working as a team, these natural ingredients go to work in increasing muscle mass, improving joint function while reducing pain, and boosting the body’s cardiovascular system.
Interestingly, many creatures of the sea have taught us so much, such as the whale. The favorite food of whale is Krill due to being rich in phospholipids, a substance rich in omega 3 fatty acids. These fish live in Antarctic waters and when used for making supplements, the body can absorb the oil easier and faster than other fish oil supplements. As a result, cell membranes begin to rebuild, becoming stronger and working in a more efficient manner.
The antioxidant rich Neptune Krill Oil helps guard the cell’s membrane. Krill oil supplements give you 1.5 mg of astazanthin, an immune booster, and 100 IU of vitamin A. People who enjoy a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables and supplements live longer, healthier lives. By taking the recommended dose of Neptune krill oil each day you will boost your energy, immune system, and have a strong and healthy heart.
Strong cell membranes guard your cells from being destroyed. Your entire body contains cells, including brain cells and skin cells. If the cell deteriorate so does your health, body and skin. Krill oil can alleviate some of the symptoms of aging such as wrinkles, lack of energy and chronic illness. Compared to fish oil, krill oil does not go bad quickly and also, does not have that awful aftertaste. Krill oil is also over 40 times more effective than fish oil and over 30 times more so than Coenzyme Q10.
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How to Make Omega 3 Work in Your Beauty Routine
We have known for a very long time that we need omega 3 fatty acids for good cardiovascular health. In later years there has been a lot of hard evidence indicating that omega 3 fatty acids play a very important role in memory function. Even more exciting is the potential of these essential nutrients to stave off juvenile diabetes and other auto-immune disorders.
It may not surprise you that this very important nutrient also helps with the health of your skin. Many have overlooked this slighty more unexciting issue since it has more important abilities.
I will list a few things omega 3 can do to your skin below:
• Reduce acne: The Omega 3 fatty acid compound is an anti-inflammatory. Sensitive skin can be eradicated if you use this natural skin care.
• Fight psoriasis and eczema: These supposedly untreatable skin problems appear to have something to do with your immune system. When used as a dietary supplement, Omega 3 not only reduces inflammation but also can reduce the risk of re-occurance.
• Skin stays soft and flexible: Omega 3 fatty acids play a role in skin rejuvenation. Have you noticed more wrinkles? You probably need more omega 3 in your diet. Without this fatty acid, your skin cannot repair and replenish itself as effectively as it should even if you treat it with other beauty products.
Omega 3 fatty acids are found in so many different places. Walnuts are a good snack that is high in omega 3. Adding really fatty fish, such as tuna and salmon can help. You will have to eat so many nuts and a lot of tuna in order to get the necessary amount of omega 3 in your diet. Instead of eating so much, most opt for an omega 3 supplement.
The best omega 3 supplement will be made from fish oil. Experts agree that this is the best source for omega 3. When shopping for a fish oil supplement look for one that has been molecularly optimized. Look for a supplement that has been molecularly optimized.
Omega 3 could be whats being left out of your beauty routine. You most likely have an omega 3 deficiency if you are living in the United States. Adding omega 3 to your diet will help improve your chances of not getting wrinkles.
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How to Use Omega 3 Fatty Acids to Your Best Advantage
It has been accepted for a very long time that omega 3 fatty acids are necessary for cardiovascular health. Omega 3 fatty acids may also play a very large role in memory function. Even more exciting is the fact that these essential nutrients can help prevent certain auto-immune disorders.
Its probably not very surprising to discover that this dietary supplement can also play a role in the overall health of your skin. But, although this dietary supplement does many things, this slightly more “mundane” issue is often overlooked by many.
See below for the potential benefits of omega 3 on your skin.
• Lessen breakouts: The Omega 3 fatty acid compound is an anti-inflammatory. It can help alleviate problems with sensitive skin.
• Omega 3 fatty acids will help to diminish psoriasis and eczema: Skin conditions appear to be connected to your immune system. While decreasing inflammation, Omega 3 also helps to reduce occurrences.
• Skin stays soft and flexible: Omega 3 fatty acids help to revive skin. You are really asking for wrinkles if you aren’t getting enough omega 3 in your diet. Without this very important fatty acid, your ski will not be able to revive itself as effectively.
You can get omega 3 from a variety of sources. Walnuts are a good snack that is high in omega 3. If you like to eat tuna, salmon, and mackerel, add more to your diet. However, to get enough omega 3 in your diet, you will need to eat a lot of nuts and tuna. The best way to get omega 3 is through supplements.
Fish oil is the main ingredient in a good omega 3 supplement. Experts agree that fish oil is the all time best source for omega 3. A good supplement will be molecularly optimized. Look for a supplement that has been molecularly optimized.
The only ingredient you could be missing in your beauty routine is omega 3. You most likely have an omega 3 deficiency if you are living in the United States. Adding omega 3 to your diet will help improve your chances of not getting wrinkles.
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