Maximizing your Health

Archive for the ‘Sources of omega 3’ Category

Oil from fish such as mackerel, herring, salmon, and sardines contains docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) which are Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids very important in the physical and mental development of babies and infants. It has been noted that particularly DHA improves the ability to problem solve in 9 month old infants. All infant formula is now fortified with DHA, as the average North American diet is very deficient in this fatty acid, even for adults who do not fully take advantage of all the fish oil benefits !

Omega 3, 6 and 9 are families of unsaturated fatty acids that contain many health benefits.

Omegas 3 and 6 are both types of polyunsaturated fat, considered essential fatty acids which cannot be produced by the body. Therefore they must be consumed in the foods we eat or obtained in supplement form. These fatty acids are important in our diets to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancers. Omega 9 is also important but usually is less of a concern in our typical north american diet unlike the focus on having a proper balance of omega 3 and 6 (both are needed but north americans typically consume 20 times more omega 6 than omega 3, when the ratio shold be 2:1 for “ideal” health!)

For centuries, north European fishing communities have used cod-liver oil for a variety of purposes. In 16^th century England, it was very commonly used by fishermen to treat a plethora of health issues as varied as wounds, body-aches, common colds and even skin diseases. The earliest medical use of cod-liver oil dates back to 1789 and is credited to a Dr. Darby of Manchester infirmary; he used it in the treatment of rheumatism. Since the early 19^th century, cod-liver oil has been regularly used in the treatment of varied conditions like rheumatism, arthritis and rickets.

Theirs a lot of krill oil vs fish oil debates and so this article is intended to show some of the most important krill oil benefits and also information on krill oil supplements.

Krill is a generic name used to describe a number of small crustacean species that are similar to shrimp. They are found in all of the world’s oceans and form the main diet of many large animals like whales. Krill is largely used as fish feed in aquariums and as bait in commercial as well as recreational fishing. It is also used for human consumption in some countries like Japan, where it is called “okiami moku”.

With all the great flaxseed benefits it can be quite the downer to know that their actually is a few limitations and possibly some flax seed side effects associated with its consumption. The first limitation is that while flax seed is a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids which is essential for everyone’s well being it’s only in the alpha-linolenic acid form (ALA for short). What this means is that it’s not exactly the same “omega 3” that you get from other sources such as fish oil. There’s also some research that show that high ALA intake might actually be linked to higher occurrence of prostate cancer !

There is confusion for consumers that want to learn about omega 3 with reference to the better source of this essential fatty acid. Some claim that flaxseed oil is the answer while others say that fish oil is still the best. Both are well-known rich sources of omega 3 so which oil is the better choice to spend your dollars on?

If we have to make this a contest, the greatest criteria will be the nutrients taken from each source. What follows is the information that differentiates them. Technically, both oils actually contain different components of omega 3. Fish oil has two long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) called eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). Flaxseed oil has alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

Flax seed benefits have been gaining popularity over recent years because over 50% of the fat in flax seed is omega 3 fatty acid, making it the richest plant source of omega 3, in addition to many other interesting “bonuses”.

Flax seed is a major benefit to vegetarians who cannot consume fish but require omega 3 in their healthy diet. Flax seed is made from flax which is a plant that’s been among us for thousands of year. Records exist of the Roman Empire enjoyed the benefits of flax seed. It is also often called linseed. Many scientists have discovered powerful health benefits from the tiny seeds from flax. Flaxseed oil can be used to help treat skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis like fish oil does.

While shopping for fish oil supplements you will most likely come across these 2 types.

• Cod liver oil
• Fish oil

It’s important to note that Cod liver oil is not fish oil. Cod liver oil is extracted from cod liver and is an excellent source of vitamins A and D but contains only a minimal amount of EPA and DHA (which is what’s in omega-3). Fish oils are extracted from the flesh of fatty fish like salmon and herring and are a great source for those who mainly want EPA and DHA. If your goal is to get fish oil supplements then you should aim for “real” fish oil because cod liver oil only has a minimum amount of what you normally want in fish oil and if you inhale enough of it to get the recommended amount you will most likely have inhaled way too much vitamin A and D at that point which on a long term basis is NOT a good thing. Excess vitamin A and D are not simply “thrown away” in your urine like Vitamin C, they are stored in your fat.

Fish oil is, as its name implies, taken from the tissues of oily fish. It contains many important vitamins for the body with one of the most popular being omega 3 which is an essential fatty acid that contains eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Fish oil benefits have been constantly researched over the past years and many studies constantly appear on the benefits of omega 3 consumption.

Fish oil has been shown to help support a healthy heart, a healthy brain, a healthy immune system, healthy joint movement, healthy kidneys and much more.