Tag: EPA

Fish Oil And Heart Disease

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Scientific research results of fish oil and cholesterol control support the suggestion that a dietary supplement of quality fish oil may improve levels of good cholesterol, and possibly slightly lower bad cholesterol.

As a matter of fact, organizations like the American Heart Association and Food and Drug Administration, have disclosed statements that indicated the benefits that the fish oil can offer to improve heart disease condition.

The most beneficial effect may be found in the particular kind of omega-3 present in fish oil supplements. In a 2000 study, over a thousand men were studied and those who had the highest levels of the omega-3 known as DHA, abundant in fish oil.

There is also evidence that omega 3 fatty acids lower cholesterol levels and control blood pressure. Some studies are being done that suggest that fish oil can boost good cholesterol and decrease bad cholesterol (LDL).

HDL cholesterol helps in reducing the fatty deposits in arteries. And since fish oils help in increasing the level of good cholesterol, this is one of the reasons why fish oil is very beneficial in heart disease prevention.

Apart from cholesterol, your triglycerides levels also play a significant role when it comes to estimating heart disease risk. In case you don’t know, triglycerides are fatty substance that circulate in the bloodstream.

Fish oil is unarguably the best source of Omega 3s, DHA and EPA. The exceptional anti-inflammatory properties of fish oil offer a lot of health benefits for various health problems such as arthritis, osteoporosis, heart disease, pains and aches, etc.

Without HDL, cholesterol will just gradually keep accumulating in, and clogging up, your arteries. This will kill the flow of blood to your heart, starve it of oxygen and lead to, among other possible outcomes, a heart attack.

If you have high blood pressure of hypertension, taking an omega-3 supplement rich in omega-3 fatty acids can significantly reduce blood pressure.

Deficiencies in omega-3s have also been linking to many behavioral conditions such as ADD, ADHD, depression, anxiety, postpartum depression, bipolar disorder, and even Alzheimer’s disease.

Inflammation is one of the major causes of heart disease, arthritis, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease. And the worst part about it is that it comes with no symptoms, meaning that it’s almost impossible to know whether it’s a problem for you.

EPA and DHA are naturally found in cold water fish and the body cannot produce these, therefore you need to obtain them for either eating the above mentioned fish or take a naturally good fish oil supplement.

And it’s not just cholesterol levels that are improved, there is now a wide range of medical conditions that are known to be improved with the higher intake of Omega 3 fats.

It is true that the connection between fish oil and heart disease is beneficial to you; however, it is recommended that you take supplements instead of eating lots of fish because of the problem of contaminants.

Fish oil and heart disease, the two definitely do not go together. Researchers from all around the world are now telling us that fish oil helps to invigorate your brain and your body even if you are young or old.

Flax Seed Why Eskimos Has Lower Heart Diseases

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Why Eskimos Has Lower Heart Diseases?
Researchers started to focus on omega 3 fatty acids in early 80s when studies found that Eskimos had a lower rate of heart diseases despite consuming a higher-fat diet rich in fish. Fish oil contains Omega-3 which reduces heart diseases. However, in today’s polluted world, it is recommended that we take flax seed oil instead for a proper balanced ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6.

What Is Omega-3?
What are omega 3’s and what are the best omega 3 sources? The omega 3 essesential fatty acids (EFA’s) are polyunsaturated fats or the so-called “good fats”. These desirable fats cannot be made by the human body, so they must be obtained from foods or supplemental sources. These fats are required for normal development of the brain, eyes and nerve tissue in humans. Clinical studies show that omega 3 benefits come primarily from DHA.

Sources of Omega-3
The best omega 3 sources are animal foods, not plant sources. For example, flaxseed is a source, but the body must convert the flax oil omega 3 into DHA and EPA. This can be difficult for unhealthy or elderly persons. Three of the top omega 3 sources are cold-water fish oil, Flax Seeds and natural eggs.

Omega-3 Reduces Cardiovascular Diseases
The omega-3 fatty acids that are of particular interest for cardiovascular care include EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which are found predominantly in fish and fish oils.1,2,3 The basis of this heightened interest in dietary intakes of EPA and DHA comes partly from epidemiological and population studies4 indicating that increased consumption of fish as a source of omega-3 fatty acids is often associated with decreased mortality from cardiovascular disease.

Flax Seed and Omega-3
We also recommend eating flax seeds and other forms of soybeans, canola, walnut and flaxseed, and their oils. These contain alpha-linolenic acid (LNA), which can become omega-3 fatty acid in the body. The extent of this modification is modest and controversial, however. More studies are needed to show a cause-and-effect relationship between alpha-linolenic acid and heart disease. That is why, many doctors recommend that their patients take their daily dose of flax seed oil.

Benefits of Flax Seed oil
The ways that omega-3 fatty acids reduce CVD risk are still being studied. However, research has shown that they

1. Decrease risk of arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden cardiac death
2. Decrease triglyceride levels
3. Decrease growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque
4. Lower blood pressure (slightly)

The scientific evidence about whether omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) is suggestive, but not conclusive. Studies in the general population have looked at diets containing fish and it is not known whether diets or omega-3 fatty acids in fish may have a possible effect on a reduced risk of CHD. Flaxseed Lowers Cholesterol too!

Omega-3 Improves Respiratory In Children
An analysis of 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and nine other studies addressed the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on respiratory outcomes. The AHRQ could not conclude whether omega-3 fatty acids are an efficacious adjuvant or monotherapy in improving respiratory outcomes in adults or children.

With so much health benefits associated with Flax Seed, we do urge you to find out more about flax seeds. Do visit our site at http://www.flaxseedfitness.com for more flax seed benefits.

Mens Health Using Foods as Medicine

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The ideal heart healthy, immune supporting, anti-aging diet requires a variety of foods and supplements to maintain mens health and wellness. What is in our kitchen cupboards may have more impact on our health than whats in our medicine chest. The foods and supplements we consume can be our best defense against the onset of diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

Diets rich in fish oils, such as those found in salmon, sardines, herring and trout, have a distinct anti-inflammatory effect on the body because they contain EPA (an omega-3 fat). These fish oils are helpful in affecting everything from rheumatoid arthritis to fibromyalgia and atherosclerosis. Omega-3 fats also help to prevent blood clots and elevate good cholesterol (HDL). Fatty fish like salmon are an invaluable part of a preventative diet. If you dont like fish, fish oil supplements will also do the job.

Flaxseed and flaxseed oil are high in another type of omega-3 fat called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which the body turns into the more beneficial EPA. Vegetarians should note: only a percentage of the vegetable-based ALA can be converted into EPA, so larger quantities are needed to obtain the same result as fish oils.

Bioflavonoids are part of a class of antioxidant compounds referred to as ‘phytochemicals’ (plant-based compounds). Theyre found in grapes, grape juice, red wine, dark chocolate (the darker the chocolate, the more cocoa beans), seeds, nuts, citrus fruits and black, green and herbal tea. Flavonoids have been shown to:

Improve memory

Help prevent blood clots

Lower high blood pressure

Reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol

Improve mens sexual function

Scavenge ‘free radicals’ and aid vitamin C effectiveness

Bolster immune system support

One study showed that people whose diet consisted of fish, fruits and vegetables, garlic, almonds, wine and dark chocolate had lower rates of heart disease and lived longer (than those on a standard diet). We can all make these simple changes in our diet and supplementing with fish oils, bioflavonoids, vitamin C and resveratrol (from grape skins) can greatly contribute to all mens health and wellness.