Corey Rozon asked:


Omega3  and Omega6 work together in the body, however a balance of 1:1 is required for optimal performance. Our modern diets of processed foods and oils are already so high in Omega6 that some doctors are saying the ratio can be anywhere from 1:20 to 1:60. In order to get the balance into a healthier range you have to increase your intake of Omega3. One of the easiest ways to increase your intake is through Omega3 supplements.

The following is a list of 9 of the most popular Omega3 supplements on the market today:

1. Omega3 Supplements from Hemp Oil

Hemp oil is high in essential fatty acids. In fact 30-35% of the weight of a hemp seed is oil, which contains the essential fatty acids linolenic acid (LA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).

2. Omega3 Supplements from Flaxseed Oil

Flaxseed oil contains high levels of Omega3 fatty acids, especially alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is beneficial for reducing inflammation and is also required for normal infant development.

3. Omega3 Supplements from Fish Oil

Fish oil contains the Omega3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which help to reduce inflammation throughout the body. Fish oil can be made using a variety of species such as salmon, tuna, sardines and anchovies as well as other types of fish.

4. Omega3 Supplements from Salmon Oil

Much like fish oil, salmon oil contains the Omega3 essential fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The difference being salmon oil supplements are made only using farmed or wild salmon.

5. Omega3 Supplements from Krill Oil

Krill oil is made from krill, a shrimp-like marine animal that is typically eaten by whales and seals. Krill oil contains the Omega3 essential fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

6. Omega3 Supplements from Cod Liver Oil

Cod liver oil contains high levels of Vitamin A and D as well as the Omega3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Although there is a risk of toxins when consuming fish in any form, it must be warned that since the liver acts as a filter, cod liver oil has a higher risk of being contaminated with toxins such as mercury and PCBs.

7. Omega3 Supplements from Shark Liver Oil

Shark liver oil is rich vitamins A and D, and the Omega3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). However much like Cod liver oil, there is a higher chance of contamination of toxins such as mercury and PCBs.

8. Omega3 Supplements from Emu Oil

Emu oil has been used for thousands of years as a natural medicine by the Aborigines of Australia. With its high concentration of linolenic acid (LA) and oleic acid (OA), Emu oil can be used internally for its healing Omega3, 6, and 9 properties.

9. Omega3 Supplements from Seal Oil

Omega3 supplements from seal oil are the only type of supplement that contains all three Omega3 essential fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). All three Omega3’s (EPA, DHA and DPA) are present in mothers milk and are essential for growth and development.

Essential Fatty Acids are called so because they are essential to our health, but are something that our bodies cannot make. The most important and overlooked essential fatty acids that are lacking in our modern diets are the Omega3 essential fatty acids EPA, DHA and DPA.

Whatsinit asked:


The tests, by new industry consumer guardian Whatsinit.com, aim to establish the levels of active ingredients within a variety of supplements available to the public on the High Street and across the internet. Whatsinit.com tested 27 different Omega 3 and cod liver oil products and 15 of them – over half – failed to meet Trading Standards guidelines.

Tested by whatsinit.com, results show that:

• Boots Brain and Heart Health Omega 3 supplements contain just 84% DHA and 87% EPA, of the active ingredients claimed on the label.

• Seven Seas Pure Cod Liver Oil contained just 87% of active ingredient, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), claimed on the label.

• Tesco’s High Strength Cod Liver Oil had one of the lowest product contents with just 79% of active ingredient, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), claimed on the bottle.

In contrast, a number of products contained exemplary or higher levels of active ingredient than stated on the label including Numark Omega 3, Healthspan Concentrated Omega 3 and Asda Omega 3.

Fish oil supplements are taken for a number of reasons, including helping brain development, joint flexibility and to help maintain a healthy heart. It is one of the most popular nutritional supplements in the UK.

This testing follows the whatsinit.com tests on Glucosamine and Chondroitin joint supplements in August 2008. Out of 52 products tested, 41 failed including two which did not contain any Chondroitin at all.

The shocking results follow months of stringent testing, retesting, analysis by independent laboratories and then review by a panel of experts. The results are all tested using independent third party laboratories and industry standard analytical methodologies – ISO 5509/ 5508, American Oil Chemist Society (ACOS). The supplements are all tested blind with only the team at whatsinit.com knowing which bottles contain which product.

Products are sent to independent laboratories where they are tested using internationally agreed scientific methods and the results collated. Any products that did not pass this first round of tests are then re-examined using different scientific methods if appropriate.

Trading Standards guidelines allow a product variation of plus or minus five percent and so the supplements only fail the tests if they contain less than 95% of the active ingredient claimed on the label.

Surprisingly, the multi-million pound nutritional supplements industry is unregulated. Many manufacturers do not knowingly deceive their customers but the fact remains that UK consumers are spending £330 million a year on supplements, many of which will not benefit their health as they trust and expect.

A spokesperson for whatsinit.com, said: “It is well known within the industry that there is no strict regulation. We have had fantastic initial feedback that this site is a welcome addition to the industry and consumers.

“We are not aiming to damage any reputations through this site but are here to provide an essential service for consumers who have no idea what their expensive supplements contain. We are providing manufacturers with every chance to improve their products and the consistency of the supplements and ensure that the next time they are tested they meet the label claim.”

Whatsinit.com aims to act as an essential reference point for everyone who purchases all types of supplement. The site will advise which products represent the best value for money and also where the products can be purchased in the user’s local area. Whatsinit.com uses a team of experts in an advisory panel and offers its assistance to manufacturers whose products fail the tests. Each product will be retested every four months to ensure that manufacturers who fail are allowed a chance to improve the product quality, and that those who originally passed will continue to maintain the same high standards.

Unlike pharmaceuticals, the nutritional supplement business is not strictly regulated which means that many products are not always what they appear. In the main this is due to the fact that many of the active ingredients in these supplements are extremely expensive and there is always therefore, a temptation for the manufacturers and the suppliers of the raw materials to water down or “adulterate”, as it is known, the key ingredients. In turn many supplement manufacturers, in an attempt to reduce their costs, turn a blind eye to the problem, while others simply don’t have the correct checks in place. With more than 24,000 dietary supplements available in the UK, choosing the right one can therefore be an impossible task unless you have the facts.

To find out more about this story visit: http://www.whatsinit.com

Jeffrey Rose asked:


It is now, in general, accepted that individuals who take drugs may actually be self-medicating themselves. Rather than just being an addiction to the pleasure drugs give them, drugs are even more important to the individual as a mood-altering method of feeling better than they felt before. Many people who have become dependent on drugs were suffering from severe mood disorders. They could have felt melancholy, sad, or even depressed. Many had events earlier in their lives that might have made any person very unhappy. Some had lived in or at present are living in high stress-generating situations, another reason that might make someone seek relief with drugs. Some of these people felt so low, melancholy, and depressed that they were withdrawing from life. By taking drugs they could overcome their negative moods, become less depressed, and generate an active, exciting life, the opposite of what they were feeling from the negative influence of their past, or an ongoing life situation.

Cocaine generates dopamine in the brain, which lifts people from their depression and makes them excited and full of enthusiasm for life. Instead of sitting home depressed, they are out at parties and discos having fun. At work, instead of being hesitant and reticent, they are dynamic and forceful. However, frequently they become too self-centered and even abrasive under the drug’s influence, even hurting those relationships that are most important to their life. The dopamine feels good, too, from a pleasure point of view. But, it is highly addictive and builds up resistance in the body, requiring more and more of the drug for experiencing the same effect the longer you are taking it. Of course, it is very detrimental to the health of the body, so having to take more and more of it is very bad. But, if you stop you may fall back into the same melancholy and depression and pain you were experiencing from your negative past or present situation as when you first reached for the drug. So, many will do anything sometimes to avoid feeling like that again.

Ecstasy, another illegal drug in common use today, generates the brain neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is in particular good for those under stress and for those who may not necessarily be depressed but who have a deeply negative outlook on life. It gives the user a sense of peace and well-being. But, like all illegal substances, it is habit forming and in this case, too, harmful to the health of the brain.

Some people might even desire both. They want to feel full of energy and confidence and step right into living a more full and active life while at the same time experiencing less stress and a stronger sense of overall well-being.

People who are seeking to recover from drug use therefore have a need to deal with the psychological and mental conditions that influenced them to seek relief with illegal substances to begin with. For this there are two routes toward better health that one can take: The first is psychological, that is, seeking therapy that can uncover, release, and resolve any past hurts from which the drug addict may have been seeking relief; another approach is by changing the body chemistry so it makes the mind, and thus the individual, feel better. Many doctors prescribe various pharmaceuticals to change people’s moods. This can be viewed as a medical intervention that does not restore health to the body and mind but only acts as a compensation for negative conditions, creating mostly symptomatic relief.

Fortunately, there is another choice for those seeking to escape a serious drug habit permanently: Omega-3 fatty acid supplements can boost the brain’s natural production of both dopamine and serotonin, making people more psychologically resourceful. It is essential for those in recovery to have their minds in the most resourceful state as possible and free themselves from the need for self-medicating with drugs. In addition, it has been found that depressed people have a decreased blood flow in the brain. Omega-3s increase the blood flow within the brain. By taking fish oil you will have improved blood flow within the brain, which provides better distribution of those nutrients that are critical to a well-functioning and positive-feeling brain, such as oxygen and glucose, the main fuel for the brain.

Ongoing research on the value of omega-3s has shown that it has many values for health. It can regulate and enhance mood, sharpen memory, and even aid concentration and learning. Remarkably, it is now believed they can be used to fight depression, including postpartum depression, and help those afflicted with bipolar disorder and attention deficit disorder. They can also reduce stress and any resulting anger and violent behavior.

In addition to the psychological benefits, some of the top researchers in the world have shown that omega-3s, in particular EPA and DHA, play a role in preventing heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and even cancer. They help maintain the elasticity of artery walls, prevent unhealthy forms of blood clotting, reduce blood pressure, and stabilize heart rhythm. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reverse atherosclerosis, ameliorate angina, and reduce heart attack, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

It has now become widely recognized that fish oil is one of the healthiest supplements you can add to your diet. However, not just any fish oil will do.

Only fish oil free of harmful pollutants such as mercury and industrial chemicals is completely safe for consumption. Some excellent store brands are by Nordic Naturals and Carlson Laboratories. If you prefer to buy online one of the finest is cerebrafil.com.

And, this is also one reason why supplementing with pharmaceutical-grade fish oil can be safer than just eating much more fish. Many fish, including tuna, halibut, swordfish, bluefish, king mackerel, and tilefish, are highly contaminated and need to be severely limited. Sadly, most of the salmon in the markets and served in restaurants is farm raised and because of their unnatural commercial diet have significantly lower levels of omega-3s.

Some people mistakenly think flaxseed is an appropriate way to get DHA and EPA because the body has the ability to change the shorter-chain omegas into long-chain omegas. The problem with this is that the process to do this is very long and difficult, so that in the end very little of the valuable DHA and EPA is produced at all. It is not advisable to take cod liver oil for the reasons regarding contamination above, and also because, to get enough omega-3s from cod liver oil you would have to take so much that you would be overdosing on vitamins A and D.

You should ensure an adequate intake of antioxidants when taking fish oil by taking 100 to 400 I.U. (international units) of vitamin E daily. Be sure to take D-alpha-tocopherol, not DL-alpha-tocopherol, as the D-alpha is natural and the DL-alpha is synthetic and therefore not recommended. Please read the label to make sure; many stores carry both varieties.

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