Yoni Whitten, D.C., C.C.W.P
Deficiency in Omega-3 fatty acids is implicated as a causal factor in every common illness and disease-related death in the Western World! Omega-3 fatty acids belong to a class of nutrients known as “essential fatty acids”. They are “essential” for a couple of reasons: First and foremost, Omega-3 fatty acids are not produced by the body and therefore must be consumed in the diet. And second, sufficient amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids are a necessary ingredient for optimal health and the proper function of every cell, tissue, organ and gland in the brain and body.
Unfortunately for us, the typical diet in the United States is almost completely devoid of Omega-3 fatty acids. In fact, over 60% of Americans are deficient in these essential nutrients. It is well-known fact that the bones in our body are formed of calcium and our muscles are comprised of protein. A lesser known fact is that the human brain and nervous system is made up mostly of fat; but not just any kind of fat, it’s comprised largely of Omega-3 fatty acids. Studies have demostrated a direct connection between the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids consumed in the diet and the physical structure of brain cells as it relates to one’s ability to learn.
While each and every one of the nutrients within this group is essential, some specific Omega-3 fatty acids are more important than others. The most notable among these are EPA and DHA. These specific Omega-3s are the body’s major building blocks for constructing brain tissue and the retina of the eye. EPA and DHA are absolutely essential for the proper development of the brain and nervous system in children as well as for the necessary maintenance and repair in the adult brain and nervous system.
EPA and DHA are also key components of heart tissue. They are absolutely essential for proper function of the heart’s conduction system. DHA, in particular, has been shown to support heart health from infancy through adulthood. In addition, these fatty acids are an integral component of the membrane surrounding each of the 100 trillion cells in the body. With so many diverse functions, it’s easy to understand why DHA is the main component of healthy human breast milk (provided of course, that mom is getting sufficient amounts of these essential fatty acids in her diet).
All the research indicates that humans are genetically designed to consume EPA and DHA directly from our diet. When we don’t provide our bodies with sufficient amounts of these essential nutrients our bodies simply cannot function optimally. In fact, EPA and DHA deficiency in infants and children has been shown to be a causal factor in autism, ADD / ADHD as well as numerous skin, vision and digestive disorders. One study out of Purdue University demonstrated that children lacking in Omega-3 fatty acids were significantly more likely to display behavioral problems, hyperactivity and learning disorders.
EPA and DHA deficiency in teens and adults has been shown to be a causal factor in heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, digestive disorders, skin disorders, breast, colon and prostate cancers, chronic pain, vision problems, pregnancy complications including premature birth, improper fetal development and postpartum depression, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and hormonal problems. "A 17-year study of men with no history of heart disease, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, found that those with the highest blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids were more than 80 percent less likely to die suddenly from heart disease."
In elderly populations, EPA and DHA deficiency has been identified as a causal factor in arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, mood disorders, high blood pressure and Alzheimer’s disease. A study published in The Lancet stated "Fish oil supplements appear to work better than a popular cholesterol-reducing drug to help patients with chronic heart failure”.
Our pre-agricultural, pre-industrial ancestors did not suffer from the types of chronic degenerative diseases that are responsible for the majority of deaths in Western society today. Unlike us, they ingested large amounts of Omega-3s, EPA and DHA. They did so by consuming a diet made up of vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds, wild fish and game meat. All of which are rich sources of Omega-3s.
One of the biggest problems with the modern diet is that these essential fats are no longer present in the foods we eat. What’s worse, is that the fats we do eat; vegetable oils, hydrogenated oils, trans fats and excessive amounts of saturated fat actually interfere with our body’s ability to absorb and utilize the tiny amount of Omega-3s that we do get from our food.
The fat from wild game and “free-range” animals contains appreciable amounts of EPA and DHA primarily because these animals eat vast quantities of green leafy vegetables. When those same animals are fed grain-based diet, as they are with modern commercial farming practices, their Omega-3 levels plummet. Numerous studies have demonstrated that DHA and EPA are not present in detectable amounts in commercially-raised beef, pork, lamb and poultry. Unless meat products are labeled “free-range” or “grass-fed”, we can safely assume that those animals were grain-fed.
Although some wild fish contain sufficient amounts of EPA and DHA, virtually all sources are so toxic with environmental pollutants such as mercury and dioxins that they are unfit for consumption on a regular basis. Farmed fish, are not a viable option as they do not contain sufficient amounts of EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids. Additionally, current fish farming practices extract a heavy toll on the environment and should not be supported until it can be done responsibly. The only safe way to consume adequate amounts of EPA and DHA is through supplementation. When choosing a supplement it is imperative to consume a pure, pristine, and toxin-free source of EPA and DHA such as fish oil.
The quality of the fish used will ultimately determine the quality of the final product. We should only consume fish oil supplements made using cold, deep-water fish from the cleanest ocean waters in the world. Ideally, these should be smaller, non-predatory fish with relatively short life spans. Molecular distillation and regular testing for purity and potency ensure that the highest quality products are free of lead, mercury, cadmium, PCB’s, and other contaminants.
There are more than 2000 scientific studies documenting the importance of Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for the maintenance of health and the prevention of disease. Individuals that supplement with high quality EPA and DHA Omega-3 Fatty Acids are healthier across the board and have less chance of developing the chronic diseases that are so prevalent in Western society today. Omega-3 Fatty Acids are a requirement for health, vitality and quality of life and they are required from conception until the time we pass from this earth.
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"These trials showed reductions in cardiovascular events of 19 percent to 45 percent. Overall, these findings suggest that intake of omega-3 fatty acids, whether from dietary sources or fish oil supplements, should be increased, especially in those with or at risk for coronary artery disease."
http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2008-rst/4701.html
Researchers gave nearly 3,500 patients a daily omega-3 pill derived from fish oils. Roughly the same number of patients were given placebo pills. Over a four-year period, fewer patients in the group taking the fish oil pills died of heart failure or were admitted to the hospital with the problem.
In a parallel study, the researchers gave nearly 2,300 patients the cholesterol-lowering drug Crestor and another group of close to 2,300 patients placebo pills. After four years, there was little difference in heart failure rates between the groups, but when the two studies were compared they found that fish oil is slightly more effective than Crestor because the oil performed better against a placebo than the drug did."
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673608612398/abstract?isEOP=true
"A combined analysis showed that treatment with omega-3 fatty acids (fish and flaxseed oils) reduced overall risk of death by 23 per cent as compared to placebo. Treatment with statin drugs, on the other hand, only reduced overall mortality by 13 per cent as compared to placebo."