Love Natural Health

Essential Fatty Acids are the primary ingredients in fish oil.  In my opinion, ,they are one of the most important supplements that almost everyone should be taking on a daily basis. The benefits include:

• They protect our body from degenerative diseases like osteoperosis.

• They are integral to a good metabolism (they can actually help burn fat).

• They soften and smooth the skin.

• They help balance cholesterol.

• They help form lipoproteins, the organic compounds that make up our bodies.

• They are instrumental in energy production.

• They aid in circulation.

• They contribute to cell membrane health.

• They are vital to the body’s oxidation process.

• And on, and on, and on…the benefits are endless.

Even if you eat lots of fish and other foods that contain EFAs, your body still might not get the full benefit of the EFAs because the conversion requires that you have optimum levels of zinc, magnesium and other vitamins. Diets high in saturated fats or hydrogenated oils also makes the conversion process difficult.

There is an amazing amount of research out there confirming the benefits of EFAs. You can Google “Benefits of EFAs” to see a sliver of the research out there, but my favorite articles include the Science Advisory, “Fish Consumption, Fish Oil, Lipids and Coronary Heart Disease.” , and the Jama Article on Risks vs. Benefits including some great graphs.

Quality Matters

Be careful! The processing and packaging of the EFAs and fish oil are crucial in determining its quality. Low quality fish oils may contain significant amounts of mercury, pesticides, PCBs and undesirable oxidation products. Thankfully, there are independent research organizations that test EFA and fish oil quality levels.   This one talks about the effects of storage temperature on quality levels and this women’s magazine article talks about which fish are used to create high (and low) quality fish oil.

Recommendations

Clearly, EFAs have numerous positive characteristics. I recommend the consumption of 1.5 grams of fish oil daily, but again, the quality is critical, so be sure to look into the ingredients, processing and packaging of any supplement you consider. Based on my research, I believe fish oil supplements to be the most effective and reliable sources of EFAs. My family has been taking Xymogen brand for years now. Per 1g softgel, it contains more than twice the amount of EPA and DHA (450mg and 350mg vs. 180mg and 120mg) than the typical drug or health store supplements. Contact me if you want to order some….and start taking at least 1g of high-quality fish oil today!

Every day we’re to more chemicals than any other generation in history. This increased exposure increase health problems and our sensitivities to chemical agents. In fact, one-third of Americans have sensitivities to chemicals!

Allergic reactions to chemicals are multiplying. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), an illness now called a “silent epidemic,” effects up to 15 million Americans. Irritants range from petrochemicals and estrogenic chemicals, to paints and household cleaners. Benzene, fluoride, formaldehyde and carcinogens from carpeting and dry cleaning affect our brains. Other culprits include: gas stoves, chlorine bleach, laundry detergent, fabric softener, nail polish remover, synthetic perfumes, moth balls and insect repellents. Sick buildings, Gulf War Syndrome, nerve damage, attention deficit disorders are other types of chemical allergies in a growing list. Our bodies use up enormous amounts of nutrients trying to detoxify from these chemicals….nutrients that could be used to keep us healthy and happy!

Repeated chemical exposures set off rampant free radical reactions, as well as allergic responses. Histamine reactions like itching, sneezing and runny nose are all related to free radical damage to liver function from chemicals and pollutants. Typically Singular or Claritin would be used for treatment. These drugs unfortunately expose more toxins to the body, especially the liver. Therefore, if the liver is strengthened through supplements or diet and the exposure minimized, the symptoms will dissipate.

Research also shows 60% of people with chemical sensitivity have a vitamin B6 deficiency; 30% have a vitamin C deficiency; and 30% are deficient in B1, B2, B3, and B5. This can lead to a host of issues, including increased cancer rates, auto-immune diseases, headaches, and dizziness.

While many physicians do not recognize MCS as an official disorder, natural health practitioners regularly treat it with encouraging results. Here are some of the supplements and foods that I believe increase resistance to chemical agents and the associated adverse affects.

Max Stress B Nano

This B vitamin is the world’s first natural-source B vitamin complex. Its made from probiotic fermentation. About 99% of all B products on the market today are synthetically made in a laboratory. Natural supplements are more efficiently absorbed, so Max Stress B Nano is the best you can buy.

Fresh Steamed Beets, Artichokes and Bitter Greens (e.g. Dandilion)

These foods strengthen and cleanse the liver of chemicals, toxins and fat. Therefore these are key foods to continually protect your liver from free radicals and chemical damage.