Omega 3 fish oil

Fish Oil and the Good Fats (Omega 3’s)
We've all heard of bad fats and good or even healthy fats. For this article, I want to focus on the Poly-unsaturated fats and why they are so good for you. First, they come in two "flavors"- The Omega 3's and Omega 6's. While there are some health benefits to Omega 6's, the 3's win by far. A healthy ratio of 3's to 6's is actually at least 2:1. Unfortunately, in our modern world with processed diets, this ratio gets reversed quite often (1:20!!), leaving us with less than optimal health.

The Omega 3's are vital to our health
- They are incorporated into every cell impacting the membranes so that our cells can communicate with one another.
- They improve the function of our hormones. Our sex hormones and neurotransmitters, like other feel good hormones serotonin and dopamine, are able to communicate with the respective tissues and organs that rely on their function.
- They're a great anti-aging remedy. Omega's 3 seem to make everything more supple and soft and help keep our hair shinny.
- They are also extremely important for brain function. In fact, because of this, they are also critical for a developing fetus and in fact one of the best things that a pregnant woman can do for her unborn child. Researchers have found that the Omega 3's are so important for the fetus that it can take up to 4 years for the mothers Omega' 3 blood levels to return to normal after the birth of a child. These incredible fats help determine intelligence, fine motor skills and even anti-social behavior.
- Omega 3's are anti-inflammatory - Inflammation, a source of many degenerative diseases, from heart disease to Alzheimer's & dubbed the silent killer, can be impacted significantly with Omega 3's.
- Omega 3's are important for our cardiovascular system - they help support our circulation and transport oxygen. They decrease blood clots and can act as a natural blood thinner. They also lower blood pressure.  Andrew Stoll, M.D. of Harvard Medical School feels estimates that 70,000 lives a year in the US alone could be saved if we take our Omega 3's.

Need I say more on the importance of these fats in our diets?

There are a few things to keep in mind if you want to increase your Omega 3 intake. Of course, Omega 3 rich fish (wild salmon-not farm raised) are an amazing source, yet I know many people do not like fish nor eat the right amount every day. So if you choose to supplement - here's a few things to keep in mind:

• Be sure the product has been molecularly distilled
• Be sure they are tested and free of mercury, contaminants and pesticides
• Be sure you are getting a sufficient dose. 650mg EPA and 450mg DHA are the numbers I look for. Higher doses are required for significant cholesterol disorders like high triglycerides.

If you are ADD/ADHD, pregnant (important for the development of the baby) or some other “neurological” or brain issue, go for high DHA (versus EPA).  I recommend “Pro DHA” by Nordic Natural for these situations.
If you want more help with your memory or for ADD/ADHD, also go for higher DHA.
If you want more help with heart health, go for higher EPA, like Arctic Omega.
If you want a great all-round Omega-3 fish oil, I recommend ProOmega. 

For more information on the great Omega 3's I use as well as other products we carry, please click here.