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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