Omega 3's
And why EVERYONE should be taking them….
Omega-3s, along with omega-6s, are essential fatty acids. This means that these fats must be
ingested for a human being to survive. More to the point, they need to be ingested and absorbed in
the proper amounts for optimal health.
Omega-3s are fats found in nuts, flax, and fish. Grass fed chickens and their eggs as well as grass
fed beef and other animals’ meat also contain omega-3 in smaller amounts. Farm animals raised
on grains typically lack omega-3s.
Many Omega-6s are found in undesirably high amounts in corn oils, vegetable oils, soy oils, etc.
When these oils are fried, they are converted into much more dangerous trans-fat or hydrogenated
oil. Avoid all of these oils.
Ideally we should consume an equal amount of omega-6s and omega-3s (1:1 ratio). Over the past
100 years our diets have become so high in omega-6 and so deficient in omega-3s that the ratio in
the United States is now close to 50:1! It’s no wonder we are seeing skyrocketing rates of many
health problems in the USA. We DO NOT get enough healthy omega-3s in our diets.
The International Journal of Cancer in March 2002 reported that there was indeed a protective effect
of omega-3 fatty acids on breast cancer risk and supports the imperative balance of the omega-3 to
omega-6 ratio as being important in the development of breast cancer.
There are three specific types of omega-3s that should be consumed; ALA, EPA, and DHA. All three
need to be consumed individually to obtain optimal levels. Supplementing with just flax seeds will
not cover your needs for EPA or DHA, which are found mostly in fish or grass fed animals.
Vegetarians may also be lacking in these important fats, leaving them very prone to the diseases
discussed above.
Foods rich in ALA include flax, walnuts, and almonds. EPA and DHA can be found in fish such as
tuna and salmon (not shellfish). Unfortunately the fish supply is so tainted with mercury due to coal
burning plants that it is too dangerous to eat the large amounts of fish needed to meet our omega-
3s requirements. Farm raised fish has been shown to be very low in omega-3s due to their
nutritionally void diets.
The only safe and effective way to insure you have plenty of omega-3s is to supplement with
pharmaceutical grade fish oils. They are tested to ensure purity, quality and freshness and that they
are free of any harmful contaminants such as mercury or dangerous PCB’s. Remember, all
supplements are NOT the same! Only trust pharmaceutical grade supplements from your doctor.
DHA is the primary building block in the brain (and the retina of the eye). That’s why you might have
heard that fish is brain food! Today, the saying should be “fish oil is brain food!”
Speaking of brains, infants’ brains develop very fast requiring high amounts of omega-3s. One
reason a baby’s head is soft is so it will allow for the rapid brain growth. This rapid brain growth
begins in the mother’s womb so it is crucial for a mother to ingest plenty of omega-3s while
pregnant and while nursing (breast milk is extremely high in DHA). If she does not, the baby’s only
option is to pull DHA from the mother’s “reserve” (her own brain!). This is why postpartum
depression is so common in mothers today. Infants, mothers and all children would benefit greatly
from an omega-3s rich diet.
Science Daily reported on November 8, 2004 that “A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids has been proven
to prevent cardiovascular disease, however, findings have indicated that these fatty acids may also
help prevent depression.“ It went on to say, “low plasma concentrations of DHA predicted low
concentrations of brain serotonin. This decreased amount of serotonin can be associated with
depression and suicide.” Obviously, Omega-3s play a vital role in maintaining cardiac, brain, and
overall health and everyone should be taking them.
What can be done?
1) START NOW. Talk to Dr. Webster about natural care and prevention. He will be able to give you
more information about healthy omega-3s and will be able to answer any questions you might have.
Do not wait until you have developed one of these diseases before you take action. The symptoms
of diseases are usually in the latter stages of the disease process, so you may have no idea you are
even getting sick. Prevention is the best and most cost effective way to avoid disease.
2) STOP eating refined sugar and flour products and greatly reduce consumption of grains,
potatoes, and other starchy foods. There is no reason to consume starchy foods. You can get all
your carbohydrates from fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits, vegetables, and raw nuts such as
walnuts provide a good ratio of essential fatty acids in addition to all of the other critical vitamins,
minerals and nutrients involved in absorbing and utilizing these fats.
3) AVOID eating trans-fat or hydrogenated oil. These fats are man made and are added to almost all
processed foods. It is very important to read food labels to make sure you do not eat any of these
horrible fats which force out the healthy essential fats (such as omega-3s) from your cell
membranes. Trans-fats are also strongly linked to health problems such as diabetes, heart
disease, ADD/ADHD, stroke, and more.
5) Utilize pharmaceutical grade supplements in an appropriate manner. There are products that
combine all of the essential fats that need to be consumed in appropriate ratios along with natural
vitamin E to prevent spoiling. However, everyone is different so everyone requires a unique
supplementation plan. Some people require higher amounts of certain essential fats than others.
Speak with Dr. Webster today to customize and monitor your health plan.
Call Dr. Webster for an appointment today.
972-735-0707
And why EVERYONE should be taking them….
Omega-3s, along with omega-6s, are essential fatty acids. This means that these fats must be
ingested for a human being to survive. More to the point, they need to be ingested and absorbed in
the proper amounts for optimal health.
Omega-3s are fats found in nuts, flax, and fish. Grass fed chickens and their eggs as well as grass
fed beef and other animals’ meat also contain omega-3 in smaller amounts. Farm animals raised
on grains typically lack omega-3s.
Many Omega-6s are found in undesirably high amounts in corn oils, vegetable oils, soy oils, etc.
When these oils are fried, they are converted into much more dangerous trans-fat or hydrogenated
oil. Avoid all of these oils.
Ideally we should consume an equal amount of omega-6s and omega-3s (1:1 ratio). Over the past
100 years our diets have become so high in omega-6 and so deficient in omega-3s that the ratio in
the United States is now close to 50:1! It’s no wonder we are seeing skyrocketing rates of many
health problems in the USA. We DO NOT get enough healthy omega-3s in our diets.
The International Journal of Cancer in March 2002 reported that there was indeed a protective effect
of omega-3 fatty acids on breast cancer risk and supports the imperative balance of the omega-3 to
omega-6 ratio as being important in the development of breast cancer.
There are three specific types of omega-3s that should be consumed; ALA, EPA, and DHA. All three
need to be consumed individually to obtain optimal levels. Supplementing with just flax seeds will
not cover your needs for EPA or DHA, which are found mostly in fish or grass fed animals.
Vegetarians may also be lacking in these important fats, leaving them very prone to the diseases
discussed above.
Foods rich in ALA include flax, walnuts, and almonds. EPA and DHA can be found in fish such as
tuna and salmon (not shellfish). Unfortunately the fish supply is so tainted with mercury due to coal
burning plants that it is too dangerous to eat the large amounts of fish needed to meet our omega-
3s requirements. Farm raised fish has been shown to be very low in omega-3s due to their
nutritionally void diets.
The only safe and effective way to insure you have plenty of omega-3s is to supplement with
pharmaceutical grade fish oils. They are tested to ensure purity, quality and freshness and that they
are free of any harmful contaminants such as mercury or dangerous PCB’s. Remember, all
supplements are NOT the same! Only trust pharmaceutical grade supplements from your doctor.
DHA is the primary building block in the brain (and the retina of the eye). That’s why you might have
heard that fish is brain food! Today, the saying should be “fish oil is brain food!”
Speaking of brains, infants’ brains develop very fast requiring high amounts of omega-3s. One
reason a baby’s head is soft is so it will allow for the rapid brain growth. This rapid brain growth
begins in the mother’s womb so it is crucial for a mother to ingest plenty of omega-3s while
pregnant and while nursing (breast milk is extremely high in DHA). If she does not, the baby’s only
option is to pull DHA from the mother’s “reserve” (her own brain!). This is why postpartum
depression is so common in mothers today. Infants, mothers and all children would benefit greatly
from an omega-3s rich diet.
Science Daily reported on November 8, 2004 that “A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids has been proven
to prevent cardiovascular disease, however, findings have indicated that these fatty acids may also
help prevent depression.“ It went on to say, “low plasma concentrations of DHA predicted low
concentrations of brain serotonin. This decreased amount of serotonin can be associated with
depression and suicide.” Obviously, Omega-3s play a vital role in maintaining cardiac, brain, and
overall health and everyone should be taking them.
What can be done?
1) START NOW. Talk to Dr. Webster about natural care and prevention. He will be able to give you
more information about healthy omega-3s and will be able to answer any questions you might have.
Do not wait until you have developed one of these diseases before you take action. The symptoms
of diseases are usually in the latter stages of the disease process, so you may have no idea you are
even getting sick. Prevention is the best and most cost effective way to avoid disease.
2) STOP eating refined sugar and flour products and greatly reduce consumption of grains,
potatoes, and other starchy foods. There is no reason to consume starchy foods. You can get all
your carbohydrates from fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits, vegetables, and raw nuts such as
walnuts provide a good ratio of essential fatty acids in addition to all of the other critical vitamins,
minerals and nutrients involved in absorbing and utilizing these fats.
3) AVOID eating trans-fat or hydrogenated oil. These fats are man made and are added to almost all
processed foods. It is very important to read food labels to make sure you do not eat any of these
horrible fats which force out the healthy essential fats (such as omega-3s) from your cell
membranes. Trans-fats are also strongly linked to health problems such as diabetes, heart
disease, ADD/ADHD, stroke, and more.
5) Utilize pharmaceutical grade supplements in an appropriate manner. There are products that
combine all of the essential fats that need to be consumed in appropriate ratios along with natural
vitamin E to prevent spoiling. However, everyone is different so everyone requires a unique
supplementation plan. Some people require higher amounts of certain essential fats than others.
Speak with Dr. Webster today to customize and monitor your health plan.
Call Dr. Webster for an appointment today.
972-735-0707
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