Omega-3 for the health of every cell in our body!
Omega-3, an essential fatty acids (EFAs ), also known as Vitamin F and is found in Fish Oil, Flaxseeds and Flaxseed Oil. This nutrient is a classification of certain kinds of EFAs that result from the breakdown of dietary fats in the body. The 2 long-chain omega-3 fatty acids that are important for our health:
We do not get enough of Essential fatty acids (EFAs) for several reasons: * Our bodies do not manufacture it * There are very few good and safe sources American diets contain too much Omega-6 which is important to balance with the same amount of Omega-3 because they work together to promote health. 
What can Omega-3 do for us: DHA is a natural fatty acid and a constituent of membranes of the nerve cells in the brain development and its function. They are used to form membranes surrounding each of our trillions of cells. Also needed for the structural component of the retina and essential for eye development and growth. DHA is important for women of childbearing age and pregnancy to ensure the best possible development of the fetus, the brain and the nerve cells of the brain. This includes children through their developing years, especially when they do the most brain growth in the first 2 years of life. Published in February 2009 issue of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and on the November 8, 2008 online edition of the Journal Menopause, a study from Canada’s Universite Laval (in Quebec) found that Omega-3 helped boost the mood of menopausal and peri-menopausal women suffering from mild depression and psychological distress. Also it can be as effective as a hormone replacement therapy and anti-depressants in reducing hot flashes. There are many benefits:
It is used in Europe as a medicine for:
Deficiency: We have an excessive intake of Omega-6 and too much of the wrong fats like trans fat, saturated and chemically altered fats with not enough Omega-3 that have now lead us to a deficiency in EFAs and diseases that we see too much of today. Cancer, heart disease, arthritis, psychological problems, liver and kidney damage, poor circulation, poor vision, hair loss, skin diseases, severe weakness, dryness of the mucous membranes, hormone imbalances, menstrual and reproductive problems. Deficiency signs include excessive thirst, frequent urination, dry hair and skin, fatigue, cracked nails, thin and breakable hair, constipation, immune system malfunction, and aching joints. It may help the following ailments...
Food Sources: Omega-3 is found in the fatty tissues of cold water, oily fish. Be cautious of what fish you eat. Best fish sources for fish oil: Wild Alaskan Salmon, Mackerel, Sardines, Herring and Black Cod Fish, the fish get Omega-3 oils from the plankton they eat. Fish that may have high levels of mercury include: Large predatory fish like Swordfish, Shark, Tilefish, King Mackerel and white (albacore) Tuna. Pregnant women and children are more vulnerable to the effects of contaminants. Omega-6 rich fish - farm-raised tilapia is one of the most highly consumed fish in the US and has very little Omega-3. Farm-raised fish are being fed corn and color dyes to fatten them up and for their color.
I love Stonyfield Farms organic products. (You can see Stoneyfield Farms in the movie Food Inc.) They have YoBaby Plus Fruit & Cereal with DHA for babies and YoMommy with DHA for moms. Ways to get your Omega-3... When you first start taking it, start slow. * Oily fleshed, wild caught, cold water fish - 2-3 times per week. High-quality and ultra pure is very important when taking in supplement. * Fish oil capsules - 2 grams daily, EPA and DHA derived from molecularity distilled fish oils that are low in contaminants, independently tested and guaranteed to be free of heavy metals like mercury, lead, environmental toxins polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
I purchase my supplements from USANA Health Sciences and Nature’s Sunshine. The Fish Oil capsules also have lemon in them, this makes them even better. You can take the capsule frozen. (The cold water fish and Fish oil are a better source of the DHA, the brain tissue building block that your body cannot manufacture)
* Flaxseeds (Freshly ground) are also an excellent source of fiber and lignans. Flaxseed Lignans are plant sources that have 2 chemicals, enterodiol and enterolactone when broken down by our intestinal bacteria. They go through our liver and are excreted with the urine. Flaxseed has a hundred times more lignans then grains, fruits and vegetables. It is a vegetarians source. Flaxseed Lignans have potent anticancer effects. Many studies have shown that they help in prevention and treatment of breast and colon cancer because of their ability to modulate the production, availability and action of the hormones produced in our bodies. Phytoestrogens studies have shown significant hormonal changes, alterations in estradiol levels, (similar to soy isoflavones) when women take flaxseed oil or ground flaxseeds. Cardiovascular system studies have found that they significantly lower the bad cholesterol, raise the good cholesterol and reduce the incidence of atherosclerosis. They also have antiviral, antibacterial and antioxidant properties that help prevent disease and aging by free-radical damage to tissues at the cellular level. Fiber Flaxseed is rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber. It is softer then wheat bran and is a mucilage in the body when combined with fluid. This helps reduce the risk for diabetes and reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels which helps prevent cardiovascular disease. Flaxseed has nearly 4 times the fiber of oatmeal. (Keep in mind that the oil does not provide fiber). Flaxseed meal is an excellent source of omega-3 fats if it is freshly ground. You can grind your fresh flaxseeds in a coffee grinder and then stir into other food. Store Flaxseeds in the refrigerator.¼ cup flaxseed - 3 to 7 days a week. For women that are perimenopausal, add power to your breakfast: 1/2 of the daily dose with a soy drink and the other half with your flaxseeds and yogurt. This is full of fiber and phytoestrogen-rich. You have better absorption when it's ground and taken with protein. Studies have shown that Flaxseed is safe for men. Duke Medicine News and Communications, Durham NC June 2007 “We are excited that the study showed that flaxseed is safe and associated with a protective effect on prostate cancer,” Denmark-Wahnefried said. * Flaxseed Oil It is One of the most nutritious oil sources on the earth with a rich source of omega-3 EFAs.nHere again, you want to be careful on purchasing Flaxseed Oil. It spoils easily and it must be refrigerated. If it tastes like oil paint, throw it away. Rancidity is oxidation and oxidized fats are toxic. It is sensitive to light and heat. Flaxseed oil should have lignans in it. Nature’s Sunshine has a product that adds the lignan to their flaxseed oil which is linked to lowering the incidence of breast and colon cancer.Their product has alpha-linolenic acid ALA which the body converts into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) a precursor to the anti-inflammatory prostaglandin PGE3. This is what makes it so essential for healthy brain development and the most important contributor to the proliferation of cancer. These findings are highly significant since the primary cause of death in those with breast cancer is the spread of cancer to other tissues. Nature's Sunshine makes their flaxseed oil with twice as much omega-3 EFA’s then fish oil. The Flax Oil is cold-pressed, virgin, raw - you want the solid fat and it has amino acids (protein building blocks), lanoleic acid,vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D and E, minerals potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, sulphur, iron and zinc, trace minerals manganese, silicon, copper, nickel, cobalt, iodine, chromium and selenium. A mix of natural tocopherols can minimize oxidation of the omega-3 to preserve freshness when stored. A diet rich in omega-6 fatty acids which are found mostly in vegetable oils and processed food can effect the conversion with the ALA. Flax oil - 1 teaspoon a day. It does not taste delicious but it does not taste bad either. Best absorbed with Vitamin E, protein and at mealtime. 
After taking Omega-3, in a few hours you will notice a difference, over a few months you will see improvement in your mood, skin, emotions, mental health, anxiety, pain, inflammation, food allergies, ears and head will clear, immunity, energy and endurance will be better. My mother has always been in great health. A few years back she talked to me about her concern of getting older and having skin problems. She started taking Omega-3 and couldn’t get over what a difference it makes, she takes it faithfully and loves to talk about it. We are very fortunate to have this product conveniently available for great health, and it's a must have for feeling good.
Considerations and cautions...Very large intakes of fish/oil/omega-3 fatty acids (termed “Eskimo amounts” by the National Institutes of Health, referring to diets that are almost all fish) may increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, nosebleeds, blood in the urine and excess weight. It can affect the blood clotting when taking any anticoagulant drugs such as Coumadin (warfarin), if you have had a hemorrhagic stroke or are scheduled for surgery. If you have fish allergies, you will want to take the EFAs that do not contain fish. Pregnant, breastfeeding women and children want to be careful of contaminants, be sure it is the products that are guaranteed. It is not recommended where there is fatty congestion in the liver.
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