Posted by admin on April 15th, 2008 — Posted in Living With Nutrition
EPA Fish Oil
Is it best to choose a DHA or an EPA fish oil supplement? What is important about fish oil? EPA and DHA are long chain omega-3 fatty acids. The distinction is made because some benefits associated with omega 3’s are not achieved by using either one alone. DHA appears to be more important to brain function, because of the high levels of DHA found in the brain (higher than in any other organ of the body).
Studies of patients suffering from the symptoms of depression, however, showed better and more marked improvement when they received supplements containing both DHA and fish oil EPA. It is not yet fully understood by doctors or scientists how omega 3’s work, only that they do offer numerous health benefits.
It is also understood that omega-3 fatty acids are not manufactured by the body and most be consumed through the food we eat or by supplementation. Many doctors recommend supplementation with DHA and EPA fish oil. Especially so because eating fish itself can lead to high mercury levels in the body due to contaminants that build up the flesh of fish.
The most desirable fish oil EPA products are produced by companies that realize that purified or pharmaceutical grade fish oil are the best way to make a top notch supplement.
Back to the importance of DHA and EPA fish oil supplements. The brain, the heart, the joints, the digestive system and all the cells of the body need adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.
DHA and EPA are more readily absorbed by the body than is ALA which is the omega-3 commonly found in flaxseed oil. The body has to convert ALA to DHA and EPA before it can use it and this conversion doesn’t always happen smoothly for many people, especially those with less than optimal health.
In summary, the important thing to remember is both DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids are important and the best supplement will contain both DHA and EPA fish oil.
Learn more about EPA fish oil and the fish oil we personally use after extensive product research at at http://www.omega-3-fish-oil-guide.com/EPA_fish_oil.html
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Posted by admin on March 27th, 2008 — Posted in Living With Nutrition
Since the release of a book called” beat chronic fatigue the natural” many people are turning to the natural substance omega 3, and in particular pure ethyl epa to help treat the debilitating condition known as chronic fatigue syndrome.
WHAT IS CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME?
We all get tired. Many of us have felt depressed at times. But the mystery known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is not like the normal ups and downs we experience in everyday life. The early sign of this illness is a strong and noticeable fatigue that comes on suddenly and often comes and goes or never stops. You sometimes feel too tired to do normal activities or are easily exhausted with no apparent reason. Unlike the mind fog of a serious hangover, to which researchers have compared CFS, the profound weakness of CFS does not go away with a few good nights of sleep. Instead, it slyly steals your energy and vigour over months and sometimes years.
Who gets chronic fatigue syndrome?
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) affects both men and women, and its incidence cuts across a wide gap of age, racial and socio-economic groups. It was first described in the 1930s; CFS received a flurry of publicity in the mid-1980s when the syndrome was erroneously associated with the Epstein-Barr virus. In the early to mid 1990s it was being described as “yuppie flu”.
Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome
• muscle aches and pains, especially after physical exertion
• feeling depressed and emotional
• poor sleep, difficulty getting off to sleep, frequent wakings, and not feeling refreshed after sleep
• nausea and loss of appetite
• a recurrent sore throat, feeling of enlarged glands in the neck which come and go
• running a slightly high temperature for no apparent reason
• feeling of faintness and dizziness
Omega 3 fish oil EPA and chronic Fatigue syndrome
The most recent study that has been performed was published in the journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. In the study Doctors from London found that in the brains of people with chronic fatigue syndrome there are high levels of two key chemicals, choline and creatine.
Choline is important for controlling fat levels in brain cells while creatine provides energy
The doctors said the findings suggested CFS patients had abnormal phospholipid metabolisms. Phospholipids are special types of fats which are an essential component of cells. They are protected by certain types of fatty acids.
The Doctors in London believe fatty acid supplements could help to restore the chemical imbalance in the brain and alleviate the symptoms of CFS. EPA which is found in omega 3 fish oil supplements may be particularly useful.
The lead Dr said: “This study suggests that if patients with CFS take a high-EPA fatty acid supplement, then this should have a beneficial action on the chemical imbalances in the brain which we have identified.”
Conclusion
Since this study was published more and more people are turning to high grade ethyl EPA fish oil to help with this debilitating condition. Whether this will lead to a main stream treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome remains to be seen. However a large majority of people who are trying this as a form of treatment are reporting some very interesting and very good results.
About the author
Dave McEvoy: A great resource for high grade ethyl EPA with a concentration strength of 90% visit http://www.mind1st.co.uk
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