Get Your Omega-3’s…Your Heart Will Thank You!February 16, 2012

Filed under: Supplements - greenacres @ 5:41 PM

You may have heard about the recent hype surrounding fish oil.  It’s not just a supplement for athletes or health nuts anymore.  Even Wal-Mart, Target, and Walgreen’s are carrying their own brands of fish oil.  But what is for?  Who should take it?  How do you choose which brand to buy?  Doesn’t it taste like fish?  We want to answer some of these questions for you, and help you on your way to wellness.

Consuming fish oil has been used in many folkloric scenarios.  Some people take it for depression, dyslexia, menstrual pain, diabetes, or arthritis. It seems there is no condition that people aren’t treating with fish oil.  But though it may not be effective for all of these conditions, there are many conditions with which fish oil has a proven track record of aiding.  They may have been on to something! 

What is it?  Omega-3 Fatty acids are found in 3 main types:  EPA, DHA, and ALA.  Consuming a balance of these components has been found to improve overall health benefits dramatically!  The World Health Organization recommends at least 2 grams of Omega-3 oils per day. Because the body does not produce these beneficial fats, the only way to get them is through diet or supplementation.

What does it do?  Omega-3 fatty acids(found in fatty fish like salmon) and alpha-linolenic fatty acids [ALA] (found in plant foods like walnuts) help boost the immune system, reduce blood clots, and protect against heart attacks. They increase good [HDL] cholesterol levels.  They can lower trygliceride levels [when you think of fat developing and being stored in your hips or belly, you're thinking of triglycerides].  They protect arteries from plaque buildup, are anti-inflammatories, and lower blood pressure.  That’s great news for your heart whether you’re 25 or 95!  And it’s never too early to begin a heart healthy regimen that incorporates Omega-3’s into a balanced, fruit-and-veggie based diet to help your heart help you live a better, longer life. 

But doesn’t it taste like fish?  Sometimes…but it shouldn’t!  If it does, you know it has gone bad, or worse it wasn’t good in the first place.  It is absolutely critical that you buy a high-quality fish oil, independently tested for purity.  You don’t want to skimp here!  If you’re buying a cheap, box-store-variety fish oil, you may be getting a low quality product that gives you fewer benefits, and may even have unpleasant side effects…like fish burps!  Yuck!  And it’s not just uncomfortable, it’s dangerous.  Environmental advocates in California recently filed a lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court against Omega-3 supplement manufacturers following the release of test results showing that several products tested did not meet California PCB and Dioxin standards. 

We carry many types of Omega-3’s and fish oils at GreenAcres, and we hand-pick them to ensure that the companies creating these products are using only the highest quality goods with the highest safety standards in the industry.  Here are just a few brands that we recommend:

• Nordic Naturals
• ReNew Life
• Enzymatic Therapy
• New Chapter
• and more!