Archive for January, 2011

Microalgae: The Vegetarian Omega-3 Supplement


Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids for humans because the body is not capable of manufacturing the fats. This means that we are required to supplement omega-3 fats through our diet. Omega-3 fatty acids consist of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Both eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are typically found in fatty fish like salmon. On the other hand, alpha-linolenic acid is typically found in non-animal sources, such as, flaxseed, walnuts, and soybeans. Because alpha-linolenic acid is derived from plant sources, such as flax, vegetarians often exclusively use flax seed oil as a source of omega-3 fats even though, sadly, it does not contain within it any EPA or DHA whatsoever. Humans are able to convert alpha-linolenic acid into eicosapentaenoic acid then, subsequently, into docosahexaenoic acid, but this process is altogether very inefficient. This is partly because the protein that turns ALA into EPA is rate limiting, because of the fact that it also chemically binds to omega-6 fatty acids (thus, the problem is significantly worse if your diet is high in omega-6 fatty acids).

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Fish Oil and Omega 3 Fatty Acids (VIDEO)


Dear All, This is my response to Dr. Barry Sear’s Fish Oil, omega-3 fatty acid video. Thanks for watching! For more information on fish oil and what fish to eat, please check out my blog: bostonmedicalstudent.wordpress.com Here is more info: 1) For a general overview of omega 3 fatty acids, this is a good summary: lpi.oregonstate.edu This Newsweek article is also a good summary (it’s a shorter article): www.msnbc.msn.com 2) For my video, I relied primarily on: Lee et al., Current Clinical Applications of Omega 6 and Omega 3 Fatty Acids. Nutrition in Clinical Practice 21:323-341. This is the review article written by the faculty and doctors at Harvard Medical School. Other random, but interesting facts: “There have been a number of clinical trials assessing the benefits of dietary supplementation with fish oils in several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in humans, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and migraine headaches. Many of the placebo-controlled trials of fish oil in chronic inflammatory diseases reveal significant benefit, including decreased disease activity and a lowered use of anti-inflammatory drugs.” From: www.jacn.org “As such, at the moment, there is some expectations of benefits and a reasonable certainty of no harm (from omega-3′s). Dose requirements for the prevention of sudden death (in the order of 0.85 g/day EPA plus DHA in the GISSI-Prevenzione trial [98]) are
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Different Types Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids (VIDEO)


A recent news broadcast regarding different types and sources of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Plant and fish sources are discussed in the context of their [known] beneficial health effects.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

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Fish Oil And Pregnancy: Why Fish Oil Is Something Mothers Need (VIDEO)


Fish Oil And Pregnancy: Why Fish Oil Is Something Mothers Need

Pregnancy is the best time to take care of yourself. After all, you’re no longer in charge of one person but two.

That’s why you have to those supplements that can help you nourish your baby even when he or she is still inside your womb. You may want to learn then about the relationship between fish oil and pregnancy.

Why Is Fish Oil Important

There are things about fish oil that makes it valuable especially for pregnant women. These are known as omega3 fatty acids, such as DHA and EPA. These two can provide you and your baby the following health benefits:

1. You can ward off infection. If there’s something that you should be wary about when you’re pregnant, it’s getting sick.

You are usually not allowed to take any medication to cure your illness, since it can affect your baby. You should also make sure that you don’t fall into any illness, or it may also harm your unborn child.

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Lower Blood Pressure With Omega 3 Supplements


By Dr. Yannick Pauli

One in three adults in the United States suffers from high blood pressure or hypertension, a condition that can damage the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels. High blood pressure is not a disorder per se, but if left alone it could lead to coronary heart disease and other major health problems. The tricky part about treating hypertension is that it almost never shows symptoms until it is too late. Fortunately, you can start preventing this condition now by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating the right foods, and beefing up your diet with omega 3 supplements.

Causes of hypertension

There are a number of things that can cause hypertension. Certain chronic conditions like thyroid disorder or kidney problems can contribute to hypertension, as well as medications for asthma and birth control pills. However, most adults who suffer from hypertension have unhealthy diets and lifestyles that contribute to obesity. The blood pressure rises as body weight increases, and obese people are six times more likely to develop hypertension that people whose weight is at a normal range. Eating fatty foods, high-cholesterol meals, and lack of exercise also place a person at risk for hypertension.

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