About Me

Matt Murray is co-owner and manager for GreenAcres Market in Wichita, Kansas. From 1996 until 2002 Matt was co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show, HealthTalk with Shannon and Matt. Current activities involve writing health-related articles for local magazines and newspapers, seminars and speaking engagements.

Active in lobbying for the natural products industry in Washington, D.C., Matt was president of Rocky Mountain Nutritional Foods Association and a member of the national board for NNfA from 2002 through 2006.

Consumer education, advertising and promotions are the key elements for store growth so he spends time on newsletter development and in-store activities.

The News just gets better Surrounding Omega-3 fatty acids!

First there was flax oil, and then we rediscovered fish oil like your grandma used to use. And now we are finding more validation on the benefits of the essential fatty acids, primarily Omega-3, for enhancing health and preventing illness. And that is exciting news! Here are a couple recent findings that further expand upon the benefits us Omega-3.

In September, 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that omega-3 fatty acids reduce risk for coronary heart disease. Two recent studies have shown that omega-3 improved the flexibility of the heart in the elderly, and reduced feelings of irritability (susceptibility to anger) in those with bipolar disorder, a condition characterized by alternating feelings of euphoria and depression.

In the first six-month study, elderly patients who took omega-3 supplements had increased heart-rate variability, the ability of the heart to beat faster or slower as necessary. Increasing heart-rate variability improves the resiliency of the heart, allowing it to respond to changes that, in a less flexible heart, can lead to arrhythmia any variation from normal rhythm of the heart or heart failure. The 58 nursing home residents randomly received either 2000 mg of omega-3 as fish oil capsules per day, or 2000 mg of soy oil per day. Those who took the fish oil supplement had a significant increase in heart-rate variability, without side effects, while those who had taken the soy oil placebo had no significant increase.

In the second study, reported in Nutrition Journal, omega-3 reduced irritability in bipolar patients who were suffering from persistent irritability despite ongoing drug- and psycho-therapy. In this continuation of an open-ended (no set end date) mood disorder-omega-3 study, 37 participants the original 19 plus 18 more, all diagnosed with bipolar disorder took 1000 to 2000 mg of omega-3 per day. Researchers measured the percentage of days the subjects experienced irritability, and the severity of irritability, if present, on a scale of one to four. Omega-3 significantly reduced both the frequency and severity of irritability.

The researchers suggested that omega-3 may help in other psychiatric conditions that have irritability as a common symptom, including schizophrenia a grossly impaired sense of reality and borderline personality disorder, characterized by impulsive, unpredictable behavior and intense moods that change frequently.

If you are not yet using an omega-3 supplement, come to GreenAcres Market and let us help you select one that is just right for your needs.

Reference: Chest; 2005, Vol. 127, no. 4, 1102-7.