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Ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 Oils – Discover 3 Shocking Reasons Behind Your Omega 3 Deficiency!

  • Posted on July 31, 2010 at 9:09 pm

Omega-3 fatty acids are also called “fats of life” due to their vital role in our health and well-being. But, what is the optimal ratio of omega-3 to Omega-6 oils? What are the symptoms of omega-3 deficiency? Find out the expert answers in this article.

Both Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids are very important for the proper functioning and health of our body. Unfortunately, the Western diet has become highly deficient in omega-3 fats while too rich in Omega 6 fatty acids!

In other words, the ratio of omega-3 to Omega-6 oils has become very adverse in the Western diet in the last couple of years. This could lead to various adverse health consequences in the coming years.

But, what are the reasons behind this serious omega-3 deficiency in our diet?

1) One of the prime reasons is that the Western diet includes a lot of meat such as beef, chicken, eggs, etc. but very little fish. As you know, fish are among the best sources of Omega 3′s.

2) Besides that, the meat we consume is grain fed and corn fed meat. The fact is that the natural diet of cattle is grass, etc. Feeding them with corn and grain fattens them up quickly and gives greater profits to meat producers, but causes significant omega-3 deficiency in the consumers of such grain-fed meat.

3) Similar is the case for livestock raised salmon. They are fed on food pellets and not their natural diet consisting of sea algae. This is the reason why their flesh is highly Omega-3 deficient.

So, what is the ideal ratio of omega-3 to Omega 6 oils for good health? Well, their ideal ratio should be around 1:1. In other words, the intake of Omega 3′s should be almost equal to that of the Omega 6 fatty acids.

The shocking reality is that for a majority of the Westerners, this ratio is around 1:30 and 1:50! This huge imbalance in the diet has been cited as one of the major causes of lifestyle diseases such as heart disease, obesity, depression, arthritis, etc. in a majority of the Westerners.

Thus, in order to maintain good health, you should cut back your Omega 6 intake and improve omega-3 supplementation. Some of the Omega 6 oils that you can cut back on are –

– Canola oil
– Soybean oil
– Corn oil
– Sunflower oil
– Safflower oil

To improve omega-3 supplementation, you can add walnut oil, flaxseed oil and purified fish oil supplements to your diet.

Superior Omega-3 Supplementation

Using molecularly distilled fish oil supplements is among the best means of omega-3 supplementation. Molecular distillation is the process in which harmful contaminants and toxins such as Mercury, lead, PCBs, etc. are separated from the fish oil and the resultant supplements are made totally safe for consumption.

The direct consumption of fish exposes us to the risk of health hazards due to the presence of heavy metals such as Mercury, lead, etc. that get accumulated in the flesh of wild fish.

On the other hand, livestock raised fish are deficient in Omega 3′s as they are not fed on their natural diet, but on food pellets.

Plant-based sources of Omega 3′s such as flaxseed oil, walnut oil, etc are not the most superior as they contain Omega 3′s in the form of ALA, which needs to be converted into DHA and EPA by the body. This conversion process does not take place very efficiently due to many reasons.

Therefore, taking purified fish oil supplements along with a healthy diet is an excellent means to balance the ratio of omega-3 Omega 6 oils. We can also be free of omega-3 deficiency easily and reap the amazing health benefits of Omega 3′s without the risk of toxins and contaminants.

Vijay K Raisinghani is a Natural Healthcare Expert and a passionate advocate of Omega 3 Fish oils for a healthy mind and body. His website http://www.your-omega3-fish-oil-guide.com provides a wealth of information on what works and what doesn’t work in Omega 3 fish oils to achieve a young, vibrant and robust health.

Why Omega 3 Fish Oils are So Important for Health

  • Posted on July 30, 2010 at 3:10 pm

Why Omega 3 Fish Oils are So Important for Health  

Author: Dennis Niggl

Omega 3 oils have been called “the miracle food of the 21st century”. Many health professionals and health organizations, including the American Heart Association, agree that there are many nutritional health benefits that can be gained by taking Omega 3 fats. Numerous research studies have shown that omega 3 oils can help prevent heart disease, maintain optimum blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and provide relief for joint pain, migraines, depression, autoimmune diseases and other conditions.
  
Omega 3 fats are polyunsaturated fats that contain essential nutrients for our bodies.  Omega 3 fatty acids cannot be manufactured by our bodies and therefore must be obtained through our diet in either our food or by taking supplements. There are many different kinds of omega 3 fats, but the most important ones are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Flax seed and walnuts are excellent sources for ALA. Fish
oils are an excellent source for EPA and DHA.

Nutritionists have recognized the importance of balancing omega 3 fatty acids with omega 6 fatty acids in our diet. Omega 3 fatty acids are found primarily in oily cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel. Omega 6 fatty acids are found primarily in rich foods such as margarine, cereals, whole-grain bread, baked goods and fried foods. Most people in the Western part of the world consume far more omega 6 fatty acids and the ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids is way out of balance. According to Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, there is mounting evidence proving that people with a high omega 6 to omega 3 ratio have a 95% higher risk of developing colon cancer. This study took place in Shanghai China with 73,240 participants.
      
To improve our health we need to increase our omega 3 fatty acids and decrease our omega 6 fatty acids. We can increase our omega 3 fatty acids by eating more wild-caught salmon, albacore tuna, walnuts, flax seed and avocados. One of the drawbacks for eating fish is that they contain increasingly high levels of pollutants such as PCB’s, lead and mercury. This condition exists because of industrial pollution which has accumulated in the streams, rivers and oceans around the world. Because most of the fish today is contaminated, it is probably better to increase your intake of fish oils by taking supplements. We can decrease our omega 6 fatty acids by eating less rich foods such as mayonnaise, salad dressings, processed foods and fast foods.   

Benefits of Omega 3 fish oils

1.   According to the American Heart Association, clinical trials have proven that omega 3 fish oils are effective in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases including heart attacks
and heart arrhythmias. Omega 3 fish oil lowers the levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases the levels of good cholesterol (HDL). Fish oils also help reduce the risk of blood clots in our arteries and improves blood circulation.

2.   Recent studies have shown that taking Omega 3 supplements have resulted in improvement in brain functions including memory and thinking ability. Promising results are also being seen in lowering the risk of age related brain dysfunction like Alzheimer’s and dementia. In addition, studies suggest a strong link between Omega 3 intake and lower levels of some mood disorders, particularly depression and bipolar disorders.

3.   Omega 3 fish oils have anti-inflammatory properties which are effective in reducing inflammation in our blood and tissues. Regular consumption of fish oil supplements is helpful to those suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and rheumatism.

4.   Fish oils have been found to be beneficial for pregnant women because the DHA in the
fish oils helps in the development of the eyes and brain of the baby. It helps in avoiding premature births, low birth weights and miscarriages.

5.   Type 2 diabetes is characterized by high levels of triglycerides in the blood and lower levels of good cholesterol. Because Omega 3 fish oil lowers the levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases the levels of good cholesterol (HDL) it reduces the risks associated with diabetes. The risks of death by heart attack for diabetes sufferers are around 6 times higher than they are for the general population.

6.   Macular degeneration is an age related condition that can lead to total blindness in older age. To date there is no treatment for this condition. Recent studies have shown that omega
3 fish oils reduced the risk of macular degeneration in the aged.

7.   Omega 3 fish oils help in improving the condition of poor and dry skin by making it shinny and glowing. Our skin tends to lose natural oils all of the time and fish oil supplements help replace these natural oils and improves the appearance of the skin. Many skin conditions can be helped by taking Omega 3 supplements including eczema, psoriasis, acne, dry skin and flaking skin. 

8.   Fish oil helps maintain good hair luster. Omega 3 has hair growing properties that provide nourishment to the hair follicles. It therefore aids in faster development of hair and helps prevent hair loss.

Given all of these impressive health benefits I find it hard to believe why one would not take omega 3 fish oils. So the first question is what is the best brand? After doing extensive research on different brands, I found that Nordic Naturals was the highest quality omega 3
fish oil on the market. This brand was recommended by several doctors and two different consumer reports agencies performed a series of tests on different fish oil brands and found that Nordic Naturals had the highest scores. The second question is how much omega 3 fish
oil do I need to take? For safety purposes, the FDA recommends no more than 3 grams of combined EPA and DHA per day. I use Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega product which contains significantly more EPA and DHA per capsule. For this particular product you only need to take
2 capsules per day.

 

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How Omega 3 and 6 Fish oils can save your life!

  • Posted on July 20, 2010 at 3:07 pm

Nowadays Omega 3 and Omega 6 fish oils are old news and many people are a bit blas?bout them. They are not the latest, trendy, thing any more.

Why should YOU be looking into them more closely RIGHT NOW?

Let me tell you a story.

I know of a couple who owned a timber yard in a county town my state down here in Australia.

The couple were long term business people and quite clear in their own mind about things. Not really open to new information.

A friend of mind knew them well and talked with them about nutrition for weight control and Fish Oils for cardiovascular support. They were not interested.

The wife found she had blood pressure problems that seemed to get worse and worse so the nutrition discussion happened again with the same outcomes.

Finally the health issues became acute and her doctor did tests that showed severe blockages in the arteries. The doctor organized an urgent operation and she had a triple bypass.

Problem solved, apparently.

To support the operation there were medical checkups to keep an eye on things and over a fairly short period the problems resurfaced. Finally the doctor sat the lady down and told her that the new arteries were blocking and if she did not do something about it there were no medical options available to her and she was likely to die.

This was enough to open up the discussions about nutritional products for weight loss and, more specifically, Omega 3 fish oil products.

She used these products and within a few months received extremely pleasing news from a medical checkup. He doctors told her that the blood flow had cleared in the new arteries they had given her and the crisis had been averted. What they were confused about though, and they could not explain, was that the arteries that they had bypassed had also cleared and giving quite reasonable blood flow!

This is worth pondering. If you check out what is available, you can determine what might be useful for your personal situation. You can then use everything that is safe to use to assist with cardiovascular issues BEFORE there is a crisis requiring medical intervention. A bit of time in research and few dollars spent on quality nutrition products seems to a sensible option to ignoring the problem and then having to have an operation or suffer with a heart attack or a stroke.

There are a range of sources of Omega 3 & 6 on the market, not just fish oils, and there is a huge range of qualities. If you are going to use fish oil it needs to be from deep sea, cold water, fish or you will be getting the oils but not the outcomes. I also needs to be free of mercury and heavy metals so it does not bring its own contamination.

With results like we have been talking about you can see it is time for you to do your own research, check things out, get the information, as soon as possible. Don’t wait until you are faced with medical intervention to deal with impending health problems.

Warren Tattersall has been a full time nutritional consultant for over a decade and works with people all over the world to help them improve their health.
For more information on dealing with Blood Pressure and the use of fish oils with Omega 3 fatty acids, visit http://www.thehealthsuccesssite.com/cardiovascular-problems.html where you can download a free book and get product information.

How Omega 3 Oils Benefit You For A Lifetime

  • Posted on June 3, 2010 at 3:55 am

Science shows the benefits of fish oil with omega 3 only ends when you do. In other words, Omega 3 oils with EPA and DHA can contribute to better health your whole life long – from birth to death.


It all started in Greenland in the 70′s when scientists studied the Eskimos to find out why they rarely got heart disease. The doctors finally figured out that it was because of all the fatty fish they were eating – more specifically, the essential omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. What’s more, over time they discovered these miracle workers keep on working for a person’s entire lifetime.


Let’s begin before the beginning. If couples take omega 3 fish oil prior to conception, they have a better chance of conceiving and having a healthy baby. I’ve seen this over and over again with women who’ve been having trouble getting pregnant. Once they both start taking omega 3 fish oil with EPA and DHA, fertility vastly improves. And after conception, the percentage of full term pregnancies with fewer complications was also higher.


While in the womb the fetus needs the nutrients from fish oil (that Mom’s taking) for both brain development and building a strong nervous system. And Mom benefits from the omega 3 EPA and DHA too, since it helps protect her from a major pregnancy problem – pre-eclampsia (pregnancy-related high blood pressure).


After birth, the mother will have much less chance of post-partum depression, if she’s taking her omega 3s. And the EPA and DHA is still necessary to the newborn (through nursing) for further brain development. Plus, these essential oils help protect the child from several major childhood problems – juvenile diabetes (type 1), asthma and ADD or ADHD.


As you can see, the nutrients from fish oil are essential to good health. Experts now realize that about 70% of a baby’s brain (and 60% of Mom’s brain) are made up of EPA and DHA. So, omega 3 fish oil contributes to both the mother and her baby’s physical, emotional and mental health. Thats a great beginning!


And, what’s really exciting is these benefits don’t end here. These essential nutrients benefit people throughout their entire lifetime. EPA and DHA continue to nourish the brain and even help protect against Alzheimer’s disease. And, if you don’t remember what I just said, you better go take your fish oil immediately!


Omega 3 fish oil has been shown to dramatically effect people’s mood in many positive ways (besides protecting against post partum depression and Alzheimer’s). Studies show EPA and DHA greatly lowers the incidence of depression, PMS and bi-polar disorder. Plus, there are even indications that optimum levels can reduce schizophrenia and tendencies towards suicide.


Most people are already aware that, because of the strong anti-inflammatory properties of cold water fish, omega 3 EPA and DHA has a dramatic effect on reducing inflammation. This adds up to much less incidence of all autoimmune and inflammatory diseases – arthritis, cystitis, bursitis, colitis or anything else ending in “itis.” Clinical trials show omega 3 fish oil can greatly reduce the pain without the negative side effects of drugs.


But, let’s get right down to the “heart” of the matter. Numerous studies prove that EPA and DHA are very beneficial in both protecting against heart disease and treating it. It helps lower blood pressure, reduce triglyceride, prevent blood clotting, improve cholesterol and minimize arrhythmia. So those who get plenty of high quality fish oil have less chance of heart attack or stroke.


But wait, there’s more. The fatty acids from fish oil also help protect against diabetes – both type 1 (juvenile onset) and type 2. And there’s even evidence that omega 3 EPA and DHA can decrease the incidence of cancer of the breast and prostrate and increase the survival rate of terminally ill cancer patients.


I could go on and on. But, I won’t. Because you just might be among the 85% of Americans who’re deficient in omega 3 fatty acids and you’re probably anxious to get started with all these benefits. The National Institutes of Health recommends 650 mg a day of balanced fish oil or 1000 mg daily for pregnant women and nursing mothers.


So, if you value your well being, I strongly recommend you start taking omega 3 fish oil capsules ASAP. It’s also a good idea to eat fatty fish from unpolluted waters whenever possible. To live a long, happy, healthy life, be sure you get the full benefit of omega 3 fish oil fatty acids throughout your whole lifetime.

Over the past 18 years, Michael Byrd has helped thousands of people to look younger, feel better and have more energy – naturally. To find out more about the incredible omega 3 benefits and the things to watch out for when using omega 3 oils, visit him at http://www.squidoo.com/omega 3sources

Omega 3 Fatty Acid Seed Oils -Have You Had Your Fatty Fish Today?

  • Posted on May 28, 2010 at 5:11 pm

There was a time adding Omega 3 flax seed oil was recommended to improve our health. Today, however, with scores of research linking the rise in inflammation from an over-abundance of Omega 3 seed oil, we need to begin reducing our intake of Omega 3 seed oil and replacing it with Omega 3 fish oil. The American Heart Association recommends one gram a day of Omega 3 from fatty fish to keep hearts healthy and up to three grams a day for damaged hearts.

Dr. Joseph Hibbeln, National Institutes of Health, one of the world’s leading authorities on Omega 3 fatty fish oil, states “There’s two families of polyunsaturated fatty acids, the Omega-3 fatty acid which you find primarily from fish oils, and the Omega-6 fatty acids which now in the US diet come from seed oils, and this is an absolutely critical distinction. Not all polyunsaturates are the same. Omega-6 fatty acids from seed oils – eventually the body converts them into a compound called arachidonic acid which is good in low amounts but in high amounts, it makes a lot of inflammatory compounds. The origin of arachidonic acid is from what you eat. It’s from seed oils. If you take the seed oils away and swap them out, your body will not be full of so much arachidonic acid and will not have such a pro-inflammatory disposition. Swapping the Omega-6 fatty acids and replacing them with Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils, your body will have a uniquely different predisposition towards inflammation and for aggravation.”

We, as a nation, were not always swimming in seed oil consumption. Fast food restaurants, prepackaged foods, eating out in restaurant more than we eat at home has caused the rapid rise in the over-abundance of seed oils in our foods. The FDA estimates the average American eats 4.7 pounds of trans fats each year. It doesn’t sound like much but visibly, it is a huge amount. Olive oil is our best source for it contains neither of the Omega 3′s but usually contains a lot of antioxidants and other good compounds and has a great taste as well.

There have been dozens of new products entering the grocery store marketplace promoting Omega 3 on labels but the national statistics show that only 6% actually have EPA and DHA from marine sources. Most products, 94% to be exact, are adding ALA Omega-3 from vegetable sources just so they can put Omega-3 on the product label adding even more to the pool of seed oil we are already swimming in. Adding to the confusion is recent manufacturers claiming they are restricting trans fats voluntarily. Check the label.

ALA Omega 3′s from seed oil sources isn’t going to help change the levels of fatty acids in our bodies to our evolutionary design of one equal part seed oil to fish oil. It is estimated our fatty acid levels are ten parts seed oil to barely one part fish oil and it’s that very drastic imbalance that is causing the rise in inflammatory conditions.

Lois Smithers has spent years researching Omega 3′s and other sea-based health solutions. With Deb Morgan, they own Sea-Based Health, LLC, focusing on the latest Omega 3 research and sea-based solutions for today’s challenging health issues. Omega 3 Health Tips Newsletter http://seabasedhealth.com

Eggs: An Excellent Source Of Omega-3 Oils For Better Health

  • Posted on May 14, 2010 at 1:07 pm

Eggs have many health benefits, among them being the fact they can be an excellent source of omega-3 oils that can promote better health in those that take it as a supplement. Hens fed on flax seeds are particularly high in omega-3 fatty acids, although eggs have many health benefits other than omega-3.

Most of the health benefits of Omega fatty acids are well known, although many more are being continually discovered as scientists research the uses to which the substances can be put in our bodies. Omega-3 fatty acids have long carbon chains that are polyunsaturated, i.e. contain multiple double bonds in the hydrocarbon chain. As opposed to saturated fatty acids with no double bonds. They are important components of our neurological systems and help to build up cell membranes, but are probably best known for their effect in protecting us from cardiovascular diseases. Omega-3 fatty acids can help us to maintain a healthy heart, and so enable us to live longer.

The current western diet has been changing to reduce cholesterol intake and improve our lifestyle. However, this has not all been well advised, and the resultant diet is rich in vegetable oils as opposite to animal fats, the relative levels of omega fatty acids having changed in favor of omega-6 fatty acids. These omega-6 fats are not as healthy for us as omega-3, and can lead to a thrombogenic state that more easily leads to cardiovascular diseases and blood clots. Rather than a normal omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of around 2:1, this ‘improved’ diet has increased it to anything up to 50:1.

The American Heart Association has been advocating a diet richer in omega-3 fatty acids since 1996, yet while research continues to favor omega-3, the increase in consumption of vegetable oils has continued to increase, and with it a reduction in the overall health of a nation.

Omega-3 enriched eggs have been introduced as one means of redressing the balance. Hens fed on flax seeds lay eggs with a much higher proportion of omega-3 fatty acids than normal: up to and over 150mg per egg. Such eggs also have reduced cholesterol – over 15% less, and also are higher in vitamin E, a strong antioxidant, by up to 300%.

Two of the components of omega-3 oils, linoleic acid and linolenic acid, are what are known as ‘essential’ fatty acids. The term means that they cannot be manufactured in your body, so must essentially be introduced through your diet. When the human body developed to what it is now, the consumption of fish and other oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids was a significant part of our diets, and allowed our bodies to develop the biochemistry and metabolism that it uses today.

If we now upset that biochemistry by cutting our intake of unsaturated fatty acids, our metabolism will suffer and our general health decline. This is one reason why humans should interfere with their natural eating habits as little as possible, or if we do so excessively we should use supplements to replace what we are excluding from diets that have been natural to us for countless millennia. It is dangerous now for the human race to suddenly switch to a significantly different diet without suitable supplementation, because we do not know the long terms effects of doing so.

One way to maintain a steady intake of the fatty acids our metabolism needs in order to ensure our survival is to eat eggs, and especially omega-3 enriched eggs. Of course, eggs have a lot more beneficial health effects than just omega-3. Take choline for example. This is a trimethylated compound that is important in the metabolism of fats. It is the newest official B vitamin, and is an essential component of cell membranes. It is particularly important for the maintenance of the health of your brain, and preventing many brain disorders.

It is also important in methylation, an important biochemical process, and also in the biochemical synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This substance is used to pass messages between nerve cells and from nerve cells to muscles, and a deficiency can cause many health problems, including heart disease and diseases of the vascular system. Methylation is a very important biochemical reaction, being used particularly in messages between body cells and is used to switch genes on and off.

Up to 90% of Americans are deficient in choline, and subject to many diseases because of it. Symptoms include insomnia, fatigue, excess fat concentrations in the blood and problems with your nerves and muscular control. It can cause liver problems and heart problems, and cause a number of brain disorders.

Choline is available in the diet from lecithin and egg yolks, and also soya beans, flax seeds, peanuts and potatoes. The typical American diet is not conducive to an adequate choline intake, and increased egg consumption can help to redress this. This is particularly true of eggs from hens fed with flax seeds, or linseed, from which the triple benefits of choline, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E are obtained. Just two eggs will provide you with almost 50% of your daily requirement of choline.

Some are wary about the cholesterol content of eggs, but studies have indicated that it not so much the amount of dietary cholesterol that is eaten, but saturated fats that cause the excess deposition of cholesterol in the arteries. Cholesterol is an essential part of human biochemistry, and without any we could not survive. In fact, studies have shown that eating two eggs daily can improve your cholesterol levels

Eggs are also rich in lutein, and contain more than vegetables such as spinach. Lutein is an important carotenoid that is believed to prevent age related macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness, and also prevents the development of cataracts. Eggs also appear to have anti-clotting properties on the blood, and so help to reduce the thrombogenesis of omega-6 fatty acids.

Without a doubt, eating eggs is very good for your health, and especially so if they are rich is omega-3 fatty acids. They contain a wide variety of nutrients and truly are a complete food packaged by nature. Some may prefer to stay away from eggs and miss the omega-3 benefits so there is an alternative for diets that exclude eggs. Omega-3 is available in a supplement form that one can take on a daily basis to reap the benefits omega-3 presents.

More information on omega-3 oils is available at VitaNet, LLC Health Food Store. http://vitanetonline.com/

What Do Omega 3 Fish Oils Do For You?

  • Posted on February 5, 2010 at 8:41 am

I hear a lot of people say that they take them everyday. I hear that it’s good for you’re skin. What all does it do for you and is it really good for your skin? Also, do you have to consult a doctor before you start taking them?

Can Omega Oils Help Melt Fats In Your Middle?

  • Posted on January 25, 2010 at 8:48 pm

i read that the vitabiotics aqua marine omega fish oil can melt fats in the middle, please advice, thanks in advance.

I’m 22 Weeks Pregnant And Ive Just Started Taking Omega Oils Is It Too Late To Be Taking This?

  • Posted on January 15, 2010 at 2:39 pm

Or has the brain development been made up already?

What Is A Useful Dosage Of Omega 3 Oils To Help People With Add?

  • Posted on December 31, 2009 at 8:53 am

I need help for both a 15 year old son and a very adult husband!

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