Omega 3 and All it's Benefits!

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The Benefits Of Omega 3
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• Omega 3s are part of a group of fats known as
  polyunsaturated fatty Acids

• Our bodies cant make omega 3s so we must get
  them from our diets

• The 3 most important types of Omega 3 fatty acids
  are ALA, EPA and DHA, especially EPA and DHA

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• Omega 3s are important because they form a
  fundamental part of our cell membranes, and
  therefore ensure that our cell receptors work
  properly

• This means that without omega 3s our cells
  cannot communicate with each other properly

• Omega 3s also have a key role in how our genes
  express themselves, as well as producing hormones
  that control blood clotting, inflammation and the
  ability of our arteries to contract and relax, as
  well as affecting the cholesterol profile of our
  blood

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• This means Omega 3 affects a huge number of
  health factors in our bodies

• Research at Harvard has shown that insufficient
  Omega 3 is the cause of up to 96,000 deaths a
  year in the USA alone

• One of the major areas of Omega 3 benefits is
  heart health

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• Omega 3s can stabilise heart arrhythmias, lower
  blood pressure and heart rate, as well as
  improving the function of blood vessels in the
  heart

• They can also lower triglyceride levels in the
  blood more effectively than statins. Circulating
  levels of blood triglycerides have been shown to
  be a major factor in the development of heart
  disease

• They can also increase levels of HDL (the good
  cholesterol) and increase the size of LDL
  particles (the bad cholesterol) to make them less
  likely to get stuck in artery walls and cause
  atherosclerotic legions

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• An Italian study found that heart attack
  survivors who took fish oil supplements
  subsequently had a much lower risk of another
  heart attack, stroke, or death

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Omega 3 and Inflammation
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• Inflammation is one of the biggest threats to our
  health in todays world of high stress,
  environmental pollution, and high processed food
  diets

• Inflammation is directly responsible for diseases
  like arthritis, Chrons and ulcerative colitis,
  eczema, psoriasis, lupus and other autoimmune
  conditions

• Studies have shown that supplementation with high
  doses of omega 3 fish oils can reduce
  inflammation, improve symptoms and decrease the
  need for medication in these conditions

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• Also as we develop our scientific understanding
  of disease, we are finding correlations between
  inflammation and other chronic diseases such as
  depression, cancer and dementia

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Omega 3 and the Brain

• EPA and DHA can increase cerebral blood flow and
  keep brain dopamine levels high, which can have
  positive effects on mood and the function of our
  brain

• DHA is vital for synapse in the brain, allowing
  our brains to make new connections that allow us
  to learn and form new behaviours patterns, even
  in adulthood

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• Low omega 3 levels have been linked to suicide
  and symptoms of depression, and supplementing
  with omega 3 has been shown to reverse this.

• Omega 3 has also been shown to reduce the risk of
  developing dementia, improve the symptoms of
  early stage dementia, as well as reducing the
  inflammatory immune response in the brain, and so
  protecting brain cells from damage

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Omega 3 and Cancer

• Studies have shown that omega 3 may be effective
  against some forms of cancer

• Research has shown that people with diets rich in
  EPA and DHA are less likely to develop prostate
  cancer

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• Higher EPA and DHA intake is also associated with
  a 25 reduction in breast cancer

• A recent study has also shown better treatment
  results for patients with certain skin cancers
  that had higher omega 3 levels

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Omega 3 Children, Learning and Behaviour

• From the Womb to the second year of life a child
  goes through rapid development of their brain,
  eyes and nervous system, which requires a
  constant supply of omega 3, especially DHA

• From pregnancy through to breastfeeding the child
  is completely dependant on their mother for this
  vital supply of omega 3, so its really important
  for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers to
  make sure they have a good intake of omega 3

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• As the child develops, omega 3 has a significant
  impact on learning and behaviour

• Studies have shown that children with learning
  difficulties and ADHD are more likely to have low
  levels of omega 3

• Low levels of DHA have also been associated with
  poorer reading ability and worse memory in school
  age children

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• Also a recent study in the American Journal of
  Nutrition has shown children aged from 3 -5 years
  performed better on tests of Intelligence, rule
  learning and vocabulary when they were given
  omega 3 supplements

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Omega 3 and Diabetes

• Research into the causes of diabetes and our
  understanding of the disease are increasing.
  Insulin sensitivity and inflammation are now seen
  as big causal factors

• Increasing evidence is showing that omega 3
  supplementation can help improve insulin
  sensitivity and reduce the incidence of type 2
  diabetes

• In some cases Insulin resistance has been
  reversed by omega 3 supplementation

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Omega 3 and Exercise
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• Omega 3 is fantastic for athletes, and anyone who
  is trying to keep fit

• Omega 3 has been shown to increase blood flow to
  the muscles during exercise, which can help to
  increase performance and reduce the build up of
  lactic acid that leads to fatigue and cramping

• Omega 3 also improves recovery from training and
  can reduce the severity and duration of DOMS
  (delayed onset muscle soreness)

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• Omega 3 supplementation can also help to build
  muscle mass by increasing insulin sensitivity,
  thus allowing more anabolic nutrients into muscle
  cells and switching on the bodys muscle building
  pathway known as mTor

• For more information, or to see citations for the
  studies mentioned in this presentation please
  visit this Intelligent Labs Link, and also for
  great deals on high quality supplements just head
  to the Intelligent Labs homepage.