Omega 3 Fish Oil - the benefits

There are three types of fish oil:

• Cod liver oil

• Health grade fish oil

• Pharmaceutical grade fish oil (“PGFO”)

Pharmaceutical grade fish oil (“PGFO”) is an anecdotal term and not a medical or scientific term.

What is Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil?

Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil standards are as follows:

• At least 60% of the long-chain fatty acids must consist of EPA and DHA (40:20 TG).

• AA/EPA ratio must be less than .04.

• PCBs per gram of oil should have a much lower level of 45 ppb.

A-M B-Well Omega-3 PGFO is a highly concentrated triglyceride base fish oil that uses only the finest quality raw materials of fish oils from ocean fish like anchovies, mackerel and sardines. The oil is then put through an exclusive 6-step manufacturing process for extracting the Omega-3s from the fish oil and refining them. In numerous studies, the absorption of Omega-3 fatty acids in their natural triglyceride form are superior to the synthetic ethyl ester form that is common in other concentrated Omega-3 products.

How to Select 5 Star Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil:

• Check that your bottle of pharmaceutical grade fish oil has a Lot Number that has been posted on an official IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards) consumer report site such as IFOS.

• Check to ensure that you are buying a TG (natural) PGFO and not an EE (synthetic) PGFO.

• Check the ingredient label to ensure that the pharmaceutical grade fish oil has a 60% Omega-3 concentration and complies with the CRN and WHO standards.

• Ask your supplier for a Certificate of Analysis and look for its 5 star rating to confirm that the pharmaceutical grade fish oil has exceeded these international standards.

I am happy to report that a Certificate of Analysis for each batch of A-M B-Well Omega-3 PGFO has been posted at IFOS under Consumer Reports.

Eicosanoids are “super hormones” because they affect the synthesis of virtually every other hormone in one’s body.  Eicosanoids are the body’s cellular check and balance system.

Eicosanoids are controlled by dietary fat and insulin.  In other words, eicosanoids can be controlled if one is consuming the correct amount of Omega-6 and Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (“PUFAs”) and controlling a good hormonal balance between insulin and glucagon.  Eicosanoids come from the Greek word “eicosa” which means twenty.  They are twenty carbon compounds which are powerful substances that influence 60 trillion cells in our body.

Eicosanoids are either “good” or “bad” and have opposing actions.  A BALANCE of these opposing actions spells good health whereas an imbalance spells disease.

Decreases in insulin, loss of excess body fat and a state of wellness are all indicators relating to a good balance of eicosanoids and are all benefits of the Zone lifestyle.

An imbalance of eicosanoids can be responsible for many reactions in our body including: allergies, asthma, arthritis, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, depression, chronic infection and Alzheimer’s disease.

Following the Zone lifestyle by treating food as a “drug” and supplementing with AMB Well Omega-3 pharmaceutical grade fish oil will help ensure that one is controlling insulin and eicosanoids, both good and bad.  When both these hormones are controlled simultaneously one can enjoy the benefits of “super” health.

Fish oil reduces heart disease risk in arthritis patients
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA. The potential benefit of fish oils on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been the subject of many previous studies. Overall, the results suggest that fish oil supplements containing the omega 3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can reduce stiffness and pain. But could these supplements also help reduce the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in RA patients?

A team from the Royal Adelaide Hospital investigated the effects of fish oil supplementation on several cardiovascular risk factors. They recruited 31 early RA patients all taking drug treatment for the condition, of whom 18 also chose to take fish oil. The dose was considered by the researchers to be sufficiently high to have an anti-inflammatory action. After three years of supplementation, data from the patients who did not take fish oil was compared with data from those did and reached a level of EPA greater than 5 per cent of total plasma fatty acids. Arachidonic acid, an omega 6 fatty acid which competes with omega 3 FAs, was lower in participants who reached the required level of EPA. It was 30 per cent lower in platelets and 40 per cent lower in peripheral blood cells. Serum thromboxane B2, a cardiovascular risk factor, was 35 per cent lower. Prostaglandin E2, a compound which RA drug treatment seeks to reduce, was 41 per cent lower.

Fish oil was also linked to positive changes in blood lipids, and a greater rate of remission after the 3 years - 72 per cent compared to 31 per cent in the non-fish oil group. The authors conclude that fish oil reduces cardiovascular risk in RA patients, and that this takes places via several biological pathways. They suggest that fish oil could potentially replace drug treatment for many RA patients. In this study, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use was reduced by 75 per cent in the fish oil group between the start and finish of the study, compared with 37 per cent in the non-fish oil group. Added to which, RA drugs may themselves contribute to cardiovascular risk. Fish oil is a cheaper, safer treatment option and could also serve as a preventative measure against RA, the authors conclude.
Cleland, LG, et al. Reduction of cardiovascular risk factors with longterm fish oil treatment in early rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Rheumatology, published online August 1, 2006

There are many beauty products on the market today that promise this and promise that, but the only thing they do is empty your pocket book!

Consumers need to do some homework before they run out and buy any type of supplement or beauty aid.

As this article reads, Many Beauty Products’ Claims are Only Skin Deep.  As I have always said the “proof is in the pudding”.

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Here is yet another amazing scientific discovery of the miracles of Omega-3:

A study was done by the Neuroscience Centre, Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, St. Bartholomew’s and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom on spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a cause of major neurological disability, and no satisfactory treatment is currently available.  Evidence suggests that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) could target some of the pathological mechanisms that underlie damage after SCI.

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Do you have the correct ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3?

Most people have way too much Omega 6 and not enough Omega 3 which can be detrimental to one’s health.

The major cause of the imbalance between the 2 polyunsaturated fatty acids was the swing from butter to margarine and a decline in the consumption of fish.

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I remember growing up in Scotland and at school every morning we were given a pint of milk.Every evening I was also forced by my father to take a teaspoon of cod liver oil (Omega-3 and Vitamin D) for health purposes. I had to hold my nose while the smelly oil slid down my throat. Little did I know the good my father was doing me back then.

Now all Year 11 pupils at Durham’s 36 comprehensive schools will be given a chance to take Omega-3 fish oil supplements to kick-start their exam performances.

Trials have already produced stunning results, bringing about dramatic changes in behaviour and performance among 100 children.

It is now hoped that about 5,000 15- and 16-year-olds will sign up to take the supplement.

Durham’s Chief Schools Inspector Dave Ford, the project’s brainchild, believes the fish oil could have an impact on GCSE results, after following the progress of children in the county involved in earlier studies with the omega-3 supplement.

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According to Professor Les Cleland from the Royal Adelaide Hospital:

fish oil could save the national health system more than a hundred million dollars in arthritis treatments.

His 20 years of researching the effects of omega-3 on arthritis sufferers have proven that fish oil is a cheaper option than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and could also serve as a preventative measure.

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Fish oil can make your offspring smarter!  What are you waiting for - give your precious bundle the gift of fish oil before birth.

A study was carried out at the University of Western Australia and the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and involved 98 mums-to-be.  Half of the mums-to-be received fish oil while the other half did not.

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Fish oil is good for both men and women!

However, according to Harvard’s Men’s Health Watch, released on August 25, 2006, there are some notable differences when it comes to optimal nutrition between the sexes.

The article suggests that monounsatured fats, especially olive oil and fatty acids (PUFAs) as those found in fish are good for both sexes.

Fat. Monounsaturated fats are healthful for both men and women; olive oil is a good source. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are also good for both sexes.

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