You Should Know About EFAS and Fish Oil

Let me start by saying that Omega-3 is just about the one nutrition supplement you should take. Over time numerous clinical trials has been made to assess the health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids. The bottom line of nearly all these trails is that taking Omega-3 will undoubtedly be beneficial to your wellbeing whether you are healthy or suffering from various health conditions.

The origin of our dependency in Omega-3 essential fatty acids is still unknown however the fact is that Omega-3 essential fatty acids are among the major building blocks of our body.

Back to the fundamentals - what is Omega-3?

Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial fatty acids: They are essential for human health however the body can't make them therefore you have to get them through food. Omega-3 essential fatty acids usually refer to 3 forms of essential fatty acids: ALA (alpha-Linolenic acid), EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid). Omega-3 fatty acids are available in fish, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut, other seafood including algae and krill, some plants, and nut oils. omega-3 fatty acids play an essential role in brain function as well as normal growth and development. They have also become popular because they may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish (particularly fatty fish such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon) at the very least 2 times a week. Research shows that omega-3 essential fatty acids reduce inflammation and may help lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are highly concentrated in the mind and appear to make a difference for cognitive (brain memory and performance) and behavioral function. In fact, infants who do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids from their mothers during pregnancy are at risk for developing vision and nerve problems. Outward indications of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency include fatigue, poor memory, dry skin, heart disease, mood swings or depression, and poor circulation.

Omega-3 in Childhood Brain Development

Over the last trimester of fetal life and the first two years of childhood, the brain undergoes an interval of rapid growth - the "brain growth spurt." Nutrient insufficiency during this time period can compromise brain function. DHA is one nutrient absolutely necessary for the development of the sensory, perceptual, cognitive, and motor neural systems during the brain growth spurt. The essential need for DHA for brain development is beyond dispute. The neurons are continually forming axons and dendritic extensions with accompanying cell membranes. Growing membrane must be relatively fluid, and DHA is the most fluidizing aspect in cell membranes. Even the synapses that are the principal functional units of brain circuits are made of membranes preferentially enriched in DHA. The retina, functionally an extension of the mind, contains rods and cones with the most fluid membranes of all body's cell types; they are also highly enriched in DHA. Laboratory animals (rodents, primates) with experimentally induced omega-3 deficiencies show deficits in retinal structure, visual acuity development, and cognitive performance.

Perinatal Need for DHA and EPA

Demand for DHA rises exponentially because the brain rapidly expands in the third trimester, and continues after birth as the baby interfaces with environmental stimuli. Infants born prematurely are in special risk for omega-3 insufficiency since they may not have benefited from a full trimester of the mother's lipid stores. Preterm infants have very limited ability to Synthesize DHA from the shorter chain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). After birth, omega-3 status depends on the infant's innate lipid metabolism and dietary intake of breast milk or formula. Although DHA and EPA are prominent ingredients of breast milk, many infant formulas usually do not contain these nutrients. Supplementing the mother's diet with ALA is not a reliable means for obtaining DHA. In a single study, lactating mothers received 10.7 g/day of ALA from flaxseed oil for a month. Breast milk degrees of ALA, EPA, and DPA (docosapentaenoic acid) increased, but not that of DHA. All infants, whether preterm or full term, seem to require dietary DHA for retinal development and normal visual function.

Treating Developmental Coordination Disorder/Dyspraxia

The significance of DHA/EPA for overall brain and motor development after birth is illustrated by dyspraxia, also referred to as developmental coordination disorder (DCD). DCD/dyspraxia involves specific impairments of motor function and seriously affects about five percent of school-aged children. DCD's core motor deficits tend to be accompanied by difficulties with learning, behavior, and psychosocial adjustment that overlap with dyslexia and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) and frequently persist into adulthood.

Managing Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

AD/HD is the most typical childhood developmental disorder, with prevalence estimates ranging from 4-15 percent for school-age children in america and elsewhere. Often AD/HD persists up. Considerable damage to the individual, family, and society could be exacerbated by co-morbidity with a great many other disorders of behavior, learning, or mood. AD/HD children consistently exhibit abnormal fatty acid status. Typically, reductions have already been found in DHA and total omega-3 a few of which may persist up. Low omega-3 levels are associated with a selection of behavioral and learning problems. Omega-3 deficiencies correlate with behavioral problems (conduct disorder, hyperactivity-impulsivity, anxiety, temper tantrums, sleep difficulties) and learning difficulties in children. Omega-3 status is likely to be more relevant to AD/HD and related behavioral disorders.

Clinical Experience with Autism

The emergent rationale for employing DHA/EPA for autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and other pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) dates to 2001, with case histories provided independently by two research groups. Vancassel reported low DHA (measured in plasma phospholipids), 20-percent lower-than-normal total omega-3 in ASD children. Bradstreet and Kartzinel reported finding omega-3 fatty acid deficiencies in nearly completely of ASD cases. Then in 2002, Hardy and Hardy claimed that, of 50 children identified as having PDD, 90 percent were deficient in red blood cell membrane DHA/EPA. Various integrative physicians working with ASD and PDD patients have integrated DHA and EPA into their comprehensive regimens. An organization in Austria conducted a six-week trial with 13 children, ages 5-17 years, identified as having ASD and displaying severe tantrums, aggression, and self-injurious behavior. Intervention was 1.5 g/day DHA/EPA (700 mg DHA and 840 mg EPA) or placebo. The DHA/EPA was well tolerated and there is a trend toward significant improvement over placebo for hyperactivity

High cholesterol

Individuals who follow a Mediterranean-style diet generally have higher HDL or "good" cholesterol levels, which help promote heart health. Inuit Eskimos, who get high amounts of omega-3 essential fatty acids from eating fatty fish, also tend to have increased HDL cholesterol and decreased triglycerides (fats in the blood). Several studies show that fish oil supplements abundant with omega-3 essential fatty acids reduce triglyceride levels.

High blood pressure

Several clinical studies suggest that diets or fish oil supplements abundant with omega-3 fatty acids lower blood pressure in people who have hypertension. An analysis of 17 clinical studies using fish oil supplements found that taking 3 or more grams of fish oil daily may reduce blood circulation pressure in people who have untreated hypertension.

Heart disease

One of the best methods to help prevent heart disease is to eat a diet low in saturated fat also to eat foods that are rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (including omega-3 essential fatty acids). Clinical evidence suggests that EPA and DHA (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, the two omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil) help reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including high cholesterol and raised blood pressure. Fish oil has been proven to lower levels of triglycerides (fats in the blood), and to lower risk of death, coronary attack, stroke, and abnormal heart rhythms in individuals who have already had a heart attack. Fish oil also appears to assist in preventing and treat atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) by slowing the development of plaque and blood clots, which can clog arteries. Large population studies claim that getting omega-3 fatty acids in the dietary plan, primarily from fish, helps drive back stroke caused by plaque buildup and blood clots in the arteries that result in the brain.

Diabetes

People with diabetes frequently have high triglyceride and low HDL levels. Omega-3 essential fatty acids from fish oil can help lower triglycerides and apoproteins (markers of diabetes), and raise HDL, so eating foodstuffs or eating fish oil supplements rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help people with diabetes. A different type of omega-3 fatty acid, ALA (from flaxseed, for instance) may not have the same benefit as fish oil. Some people with diabetes can' t efficiently convert ALA to a kind of omega-3 fatty acids that your body can use.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Most clinical studies examining omega-3 fatty acid supplements for arthritis have centered on arthritis rheumatoid (RA), an autoimmune disease that triggers inflammation in the joints. Many studies have found that fish oil helps reduce outward indications of RA, including joint pain and morning stiffness. Zinzino Balance Oil One study shows that people with RA who take fish oil might be able to lower their dose of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Laboratory studies suggest that diets rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids (and low in the inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids) may help people who have osteoarthritis. New Zealand green lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus), another potential source of omega-3 fatty acids, has been reported to reduce joint stiffness and pain, increase grip strength, and improve walking pace in a group of people with osteoarthritis. An analysis of 17 clinical trials viewed the pain relieving ramifications of omega-3 fatty acid supplements in people who have RA or joint pain due to inflammatory bowel disease (IBS) and painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea). The results suggest that omega-3 essential fatty acids, along with conventional therapies such as NSAIDs, may help relieve pain associated with these conditions.