Wendy Bazilian, DRPH, MA, RD, Steven Pratt, MD, Kathy Matthews
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 One study with mice found that fish oil affected body fat distribution among the subjects. In this study the mice were divided into three groups. Some were fed soybean oil, some lard, and others fish oil. Those who were fed fish oil developed less visceral fat, which refers to the fat surrounding the organs that is difficult to reduce and a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease17. These fish oil-fed mice also had lower leptin levels and, as we've seen, these lower levels of the hormone leptin would help regulate both appetite and metabolism. |
Jack Challem
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 An Advantage to Natural Fats
Calorie for calorie, you're less likely to gain weight if you consume a lot of the "healthy fats," particularly fish oil, olive oil, and macadamia nut oil. You're more likely to gain weight if you eat a lot of trans fats, vegetable oils, and saturated fats.
In experiments, researchers fed mice diets containing the same amounts of vegetable oils, saturated fats, or fish oils. Mice eating fish oils remained the leanest, whereas those eating the most vegetable oils gained the greatest amount of weight, even more than the mice eating saturated fats. |
Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.
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 Interestingly, they found that both weight loss alone and fish oil diet alone produced significant reductions of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, but combining fish oil with weight reduction produced even more dramatic reductions in blood pressure. For example, weight loss alone caused a drop in systolic BP of 5.5mm Hg and fish oil alone caused a fall in systolic BP of 6.0 mm Hg, whereas combining the two caused a drop of 13 mm Hg in systolic and 9.3 mm Hg diastolic pressures.
Subsequent studies have shown that the effect is due solely to the DHA component of the fish oils. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 EFAs are also available in supplement form - such as fish oil capsules or evening primrose oil - and are effective at treating a wide range of disorders, from depression and cancer to arthritis and heart disease. Good sources of omega-3 oils include chia seeds, flax seeds and, for non-vegetarians, wild-harvested fish oils. A reputable supplier of fish oils is Nordic Naturals (www.NordicNaturals.com)
Selenium: Selenium is an antioxidant mineral responsible for tissue elasticity. |
Wendy Bazilian, DRPH, MA, RD, Steven Pratt, MD, Kathy Matthews
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| Some were fed soybean oil, some lard, and others fish oil. Those who were fed fish oil developed less visceral fat, which refers to the fat surrounding the organs that is difficult to reduce and a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease17. These fish oil-fed mice also had lower leptin levels and, as we've seen, these lower levels of the hormone leptin would help regulate both appetite and metabolism. |
Gabriel Cousens
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 The vegetarian flax seed has many major advantages over fish oil. The first is that the omega-3 is a basic building block in the human body for many functions, only one of which is to make EPA. The fish oil doesn't supply omega-3; it supplies the EPA and therefore limits the body's options to make what it needs from the omega-3. Thus, the omega-3 is a better nutritional resource than the high-EPA fish oil.
Another major difference is the fiber that comes in the flax seed. Fish has no fiber and also is a highly concentrated food. |
Elaine Magee
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 They concluded that taking in garlic with fish oil favorably lowered triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol. The researchers suggested that the combination reversed the moderate increase in LDL cholesterol that normally results from fish oil supplements. Synergy at work, perhaps?
THE GOOD FATS YOU SHOULD GET
According to the American Heart Association, an ideal diet includes a variety of fish (preferably fatty fish) at least twice a week. Specifically, aim for an average of 650 milligrams to 1 gram of fish omega-3s daily (preferably from food), and a total intake of 1. |
Carol Simontacchi
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 Reducing the amount of arachidonic acid (found in red meats) resulted in a further benefit from the fish oil.9
Is It Safe?
When standard doses of fish oil are used, there is no problem with toxicity. Good-quality supplements are virtually mercury-free. The most common side effect of this supplement is a fishy aftertaste. Other common reported side effects include gastrointestinal disturbances and nausea.
Because of the blood-thinning properties of this supplement, fish oil should not be taken when blood-thinning medications are also in use. |
| Information on fish oil follows.)
_FISH OIL_
Fish oil is a rich source of the omega-3 fatty acids that have been found to have strong anti-inflammatory properties. Also known as fish body oil, omega-3 fatty acids, marine oils, PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids), and omega fatty acids, this important class of essential fats has been used to effectively reduce inflammation in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and a wide range of other inflammatory disorders. |
Michael Friedman, ND
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 In two trials of fish oil supplementation in people with type 2 diabetes, similar results were not obtained. Borkman et a/investigated the effects offish oil administration in individuals with mild type 2 diabetes. They fed 10 subjects a standard diabetic diet throughout their trial and, using a double-blind crossover design, provided either 10 g fish oil concentrate (30% omega 3 EFAs) daily, or 10 g safflower oil daily over separate 3-week periods. They found no change in either fasting serum insulin levels or insulin sensitivity. |
Wendy Bazilian, DRPH, MA, RD, Steven Pratt, MD, Kathy Matthews
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| Another study with overweight adults in Australia found that those participants who had supplemented with fish oil and who had also followed an exercise program experienced more fat loss than those who had been given fish oil supplements alone but had not exercised or had been given a placebo with or without exercise.20 The subjects were not on a calorie-restricted diet and so the loss of fat was not associated with a lower calorie intake. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 One was a fish oil vitamin that had like 10 milligrams of fish oil extract and the rest of it was soybean oil. That is amazing.
Dr. Liers: Often you find it's genetically modified soybean oil, as well.
Mike: Right. Let us wrap up the pet supplement section here. Do you have any other comments on that?
Dr. Liers: Our red line is core supplements. Our blue line is for specific conditions. We have in the blue line Diabetes Defense, Joint Health Formula, and Allergy Defense, which are for major conditions. Then for gastrointestinal discomfort, we offer 'GI Defense. It is a very unique formula. |
Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.
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| In one such study, in which researchers compared coconut oil and fish oil enhanced diets in pregnant rats and their offspring, it was found that lifelong intakes of fish oils produced a significant reduction in depression.559 Careful measurements of EPA and DHA by the scientists, the major components of fish oils, found high levels in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.
As I pointed out, chronic inflammation has been linked to depression. |
Wendy Bazilian, DRPH, MA, RD, Steven Pratt, MD, Kathy Matthews
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| Another study with overweight adults in Australia found that those participants who had supplemented with fish oil and who had also followed an exercise program experienced more fat loss than those who had been given fish oil supplements alone but had not exercised or had been given a placebo with or without exercise.20 The subjects were not on a calorie-restricted diet and so the loss of fat was not associated with a lower calorie intake. |
| Those who were fed fish oil developed less visceral fat, which refers to the fat surrounding the organs that is difficult to reduce and a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease17. These fish oil-fed mice also had lower leptin levels and, as we've seen, these lower levels of the hormone leptin would help regulate both appetite and metabolism.
Another study on mice found that the quality of dietary fat—in this case omega-3 fatty acids versus saturated fat—could actually affect the hormones that in turn affect the hypothalamic satiety center. |
James Dowd and Diane Stafford
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 This means that a 1,000-milligram gelcap of fish oil has only about 300 milligrams of omega-3 fat. In other words, to get 3,000 milligrams, you would have to take ten gelcaps a day. So look for concentrated omega-3 fatty acid supplements, usually labeled "Max EPA" or "Max DHA" or "Concentrated Omega-3." These products are purified from fish oil using vacuum molecular distillation and have 50 to 80 percent omega-3 fat by weight. Concentrated forms have negligible amounts of vitamins A and D. |
Gary Null and Amy McDonald
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 We already know that fish oil is quite effective for treating manic depression or bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. fish oil capsules have two different types of omega-3s in them called EPA and DHA. It usually comes in 1000 milligram capsules and you need to take quite a lot of it. I recommend a total of about 10 grams per day of EPA and DHA divided into two doses. That usually works out to about 20 capsules per day. You should also increase the amount of fish and greens in your diet. |
Peter J. Whitehouse and Daniel George
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 The study was encouraging but should hardly be taken as proof that eating fish oil prevents dementia.
That caveat aside, repeated epidemiological findings associating an increase in n-3 fatty acids with a decrease in mortality, cardiovascular disease, depression, aggression, and dementia do suggest that we should take the consumption of n-3 fatty acids seriously. N-3 fatty acids are sold as over-the-counter supplements in most drugstores, but readers should be aware that excessive ingestion offish oil supplements has been known to cause bleeding in some people. |
Carol Simontacchi
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| When standard doses of fish oil are used, there is no problem with toxicity. Good-quality supplements are virtually mercury-free. The most common side effect of this supplement is a fishy aftertaste. Other common reported side effects include gastrointestinal disturbances and nausea.
Because of the blood-thinning properties of this supplement, fish oil should not be taken when blood-thinning medications are also in use. If other cardiovascular medications are in use, it is wise to check with a nutritionally trained physician prior to using fish oil supplementation. |
Gary Null and Amy McDonald
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| We already know that fish oil is quite effective for treating manic depression or bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. fish oil capsules have two different types of omega-3s in them called EPA and DHA. It usually comes in 1000 milligram capsules and you need to take quite a lot of it. I recommend a total of about 10 grams per day of EPA and DHA divided into two doses. That usually works out to about 20 capsules per day. You should also increase the amount of fish and greens in your diet. |
Steven V. Joyal
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 The most convenient way to accomplish this is to consume a high-quality fish oil certified by
International fish oil Standards (vfww.nutrasource.ca/ifos_new/ index.asp) to be free of toxins such as heavy metals (mercury, cadmium), PCBs, dioxins, and fluoranes. You can and should consume more ALA from sources such as walnuts and flaxseed, but know that its rate of conversion to EPA and DHA becomes inefficient as we age.
ANTIGLYCATION AGENTS
Preventing glycation is one of the main goals of everyone concerned with reducing the risk of diabetes-related complications as well as premature aging. |
Bottom Line Health
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| Studies show that fish oil (one to two tablespoons a day for at least three months) can reduce inflammation and pain. Eskimo-3, available at health-food stores, and Nordic Naturals (800-662-2544, www.nordicnaturals.com) are two reputable brands. Keep taking the fish oil after the pain is gone as a preventive measure.
BACK PAIN
Back pain can occur for no apparent reason and at any point on the spine.
•Lidoderm. For low back pain, apply a Lidoderm patch in the morning and remove it in the evening. Expect relief in two to six weeks.
•Colchicine. |
Dawson Church
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 Recent studies show that fish oil supplementation leads to marked improvements in mental acuity in thirty days or less. Fish oils have been shown to prevent cancer18 and heart attacks, improve cardiovascular health,19 and reduce the incidence of diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory diseases.20 Some of the ingredients in antioxidant and multivitamin tablets are absorbed by the body in minutes. |
Peter J. Whitehouse and Daniel George
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| Again, adequate human trials have not yet been performed, and fish oil, though in vogue, should not be seen as a panacea. Ultimately, it may be better to obtain your fish oils from real fish because you will also ingest vitamins and minerals that can help you metabolize the oil into its potentially neuroprotective components. However, one should be wary of high levels of mercury and other toxins found in some fish populations.
Huperzine A. This Chinese herb has shown some facility for improving memory in elderly people. |
Gabriel Cousens
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| The fourth advantage of flax seed oil over fish oil is the fact that fish are often high in toxic residues because they live in polluted waters. The fifth reason flax seed is more propitious is that high levels of fish oil are rich in vitamins A and D, which can be toxic in high doses. Please note that the provitamin carotene, which is converted by the body to utilizable vitamin A, cannot be toxic like animal-sourced vitamin A.
ALPHA LIPOIC ACID (ALA)
One of the most important antioxidants, although we need a variety of them, is alpha lipoic acid. |
Charles Barber
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 Evidence is accumulating that basic lifestyle choices have a huge impact on depression. fish oil, for example, appears to be very good stuff for the brain and behavior, which makes sense because omega-3 fatty acids have a critical role in brain development and functioning, including promoting the growth of neurons in the frontal cortex. fish oil has been shown in a series of studies by Andrew Stoll at Harvard to ease the symptoms of bipolar disorder and depression. |
Gabriel Cousens
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| The first is that the omega-3 is a basic building block in the human body for many functions, only one of which is to make EPA. The fish oil doesn't supply omega-3; it supplies the EPA and therefore limits the body's options to make what it needs from the omega-3. Thus, the omega-3 is a better nutritional resource than the high-EPA fish oil.
Another major difference is the fiber that comes in the flax seed. Fish has no fiber and also is a highly concentrated food. |
| FLAX VERSUS FISH OIL: FLAX WINS
Flax seed contains 18-24 percent omega-3, compared to the low content in fish of 0-2 percent. This is significant because many people mistakenly think that they need to eat fish in order to get the omega-3-derived EPA for heart and artery protection. Abundant research on the subject indicates that this is simply not true. The vegetarian flax seed has many major advantages over fish oil. The first is that the omega-3 is a basic building block in the human body for many functions, only one of which is to make EPA. |
Charles Barber
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| Fish oil, for example, appears to be very good stuff for the brain and behavior, which makes sense because omega-3 fatty acids have a critical role in brain development and functioning, including promoting the growth of neurons in the frontal cortex. fish oil has been shown in a series of studies by Andrew Stoll at Harvard to ease the symptoms of bipolar disorder and depression. This line of research was provoked by the observation that in countries where a lot of fish is eaten, like Japan, depression tends to be low. |
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