Health and Fitness: March 2011

I found this article on http://www.optimal-heart-health.com/Nutrilite_Omega3.html It provides a nice summary of the importance of Omega 3 from Fish Oil.

I am taking fish oil supplements. I find that I do better when I take supplements before I go to bed. I take most of my vitamins and supplements then because I tend to have an upset stomach from any supplements and I would rather sleep through that.

A Balance Of Fatty Acids

We need fats. But we need the right kind.

Our diets have changed. Our ancestors had diets with a balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in a ratio of about 2:1. Today the ratio is closer to 30:1. Why? Because we are now eating foods high in omega-6 such as…

cereal
bread
crackers
cakes
cookies

And in an attempt to reduce cholesterol we have replaced saturated fats with things like corn and safflower oils which are high in omega-6. And we are not eating foods rich in omega-3 such as…

dark, leafy greens
flaxseed
walnuts
oily fish

Most of us who eat fish choose white meat species like cod and haddock which are low in omega-3. And the farm raised versions of the healthy varieties do not have near the omega-3 content as ocean born fish.

This is a crisis that most of us don't hear much about.

Most of us know about the dangers of eating foods high in saturated and trans fats. But we may not be aware of the dangers of an omega-6/omega-3 imbalance. Dangers such as…

increased blood clotting which leads to heart attack and stroke
suppression of the immune system leaving us more open to infection
increased cellular growth thereby promoting the growth of cancer cells
creation of new blood vessels which can feed cancer cells

Now, slow down and read that list again.

Fatty acid imbalance has a hand in all these conditions. Stop for a moment and reflect upon this. We are putting ourselves at undue risk. The problems associated with fatty acid imbalance are serious. Yet the solution is relatively simple. We must reduce our intake of omega-6 fatty acids. But also…

We Must Increase Our Consumption Of Omega-3

By getting more omega-3 fatty acids we can counteract the imbalance between too much omega-6 and too little omega-3. One solution is to…

Eat more ocean-born, cold-water, fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines.

Take A High Quality Fish Oil Supplement Rich In EPA And DHA.

We can strike a balance between Omega-6 and Omega-3 intake by getting more Omega-3.

A good fish oil supplement is an easy way to increase your intake of omega-3. But notice I said… "Good". Many fish oil supplements on the market boast high concentrations of fish oils. But the fine print tells you that the main fish oils in the supplement are fillers.