Truth about Fish Oil
Essential fatty acids must always be part of our daily diet – without them, we take one step closer to our deaths. Essential fatty acids are divided into two families: omega-6 EFAs and omega-3 EFAs. Although there are only very slight differences to distinguish the two groups of essential fatty acids from each other, studies have revealed that too much intake of omega-6 EFAs can lead to inflammation, blood clotting and tumor growth.

The good news, however, is that the opposite is true for omega-3 EFAs. Omega-6 EFAs can be found in vegetable oils while omega-3 EFAs can be found in fish oils among other foods.

Omega-6 vs. Omega-3
Physicians and scientists are of the same opinion that the cause behind increasing cases of heart disease, hypertension or high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, premature aging and certain kinds of cancer is none other than an imbalanced intake of omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs.

Omega-6 EFAs can be found in vegetable oils. This includes but is not limited to corn oil and soy oil, both of which contains high amounts of linoleic acid. Omega-3 EFAs on the other hand can be found also in marine plankton and walnut and flaxseed oils.

Note that fatty fish and fish oils contain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), fatty acids that have been observed to provide many benefits to the human body. In the early 1970’s, a study on Greenland Eskimos revealed that one of the major reasons why they rarely suffer from heart diseases is because of their high-fat diet (mainly composed of fish).

The two essential fatty acids, EPA and DHA, are also helpful in preventing atherosclerosis, heart attacks, depression and various forms of cancer. Fish oil supplemented food have also proven to be useful in treating illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, Raynaud’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Other Benefits of Fish Oil
There are a lot more illnesses and situations in which intake of fish oil has proven significantly beneficial.

Healthier Heart
The heart is inarguably one of the most important parts of our body and having an unhealthy heart means having to suffer a rather limited lifespan. Naturally, it’s in our best interests to keep our hearts happy and healthy and one way of doing that is eating food that contains fish oil.

In Athens, Greece, for instance, a study was made to show if there was a direct relationship between high fish diet and inflammation of blood vessels. The results revealed that those who ate more fish than the others had a lower level of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, factors that are commonly used to measure likelihood of blood vessel inflammation. These benefits remained even when the various risks associated with high fish diet were taken into account.

Fish to Become Thin
In Perth, Australia, a study had revealed that fish consumption can be used against hypertension and obesity. Researchers of the UWA (University of Western Australia) have discovered that a weight-loss diet which includes a regular amount of fish consumption can be quite effective in reducing blood pressure and improving glucose tolerance.

Fish Oil to Combat Asthma
People suffering from respiratory problems like asthma tend to be perceived as unfit and unhealthy. They should now be pleased to learn that certain studies have revealed the benefits of fish oil for asthma-burdened-individuals. Statistics show that approximately 20 to 25% of children today suffer one form of asthma or another at a certain point in their lives. And certain evidence reveals a regular diet of food with high linoleic acid content as the reason behind it.

Researchers of UW (University of Wyoming) conducted a study by subjecting a number of children to a high-fish diet while others continued with their regular diet. Results revealed that the participants who ate more fish were less prone to asthma attacks and were able to breathe more easily as well.

Please Note: Nothing is good when consumed or used excessively but complete avoidance of a particular food type is equally harmful as well. Ask your nutritionist for the right amount of fish intake for your age and health status.

Stress is a state where an individual feel anxious, threatened, angry or tense. It is often experienced in the workplace (work related stress) and sometimes in the home. The varied effects of stress on the body are sometimes easy to cope with while other, especially long term stress effects can be debilitating.

Although stress is a normal part of our lives and we always experience it through the years it is how we cope with it that is important. The physical effects of stress on the body are easier to detect compared to mental effects. While stress is often seen as a negative aspect, it can have a positive effect on us by training us for difficult times. But stress affects us negatively when it does not have any let up or respite. A body under continuous stress will eventually break down and will have a difficult time regaining balance.

Physical Effects Of Stress On The Human Body

Some effects of stress on the body which are physical are headaches, stomach upsets, chest pains, sleep related problems and elevated blood pressure.

Other effects of stress on the body are skin conditions such as hives, heart palpitations, hyperventilation and several heart problems.

The effects of stress on the body can be dangerous. Many diseases start in a stressed body because there seems to be a link between stress and reduced immunity. Therefore, being able to manage the effects of stress on the body is vital in keeping yourself healthy both physically and mentally.

Because stress is unavoidable in our daily lives, it is best to learn to cope with it in such a way that the effects of stress on the body are not as debilitating.

There are many ways to prevent being stressed. You need to take a break after a particularly stressful episode at work or at home.

The results of a study published in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine show that for patients with several blockages in their coronary arteries, mortality rates are lower when they undergo bypass grafting rather than having the new generation of drug-eluting stents inserted.

Dr. Edward L Hannan, at the State University of New York, Rensselaer, and colleagues compared outcomes of nearly 10,000 patients with multiple coronary lesions who were treated with drug-eluting stents and almost 7,500 similar patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting.

After making adjustments for the presence of other illnesses, the chances of dying within 18 months were approximately 25 percent lower with the coronary bypass operation than with insertion of drug-eluting stents. Estimated rates of heart attacks and the need for another procedure also favored bypass grafting rather than stenting.

The results “affirm that coronary artery bypass grafting remains the standard of care” for patients who require clearance of multiple coronary blockages, writes Dr. Joseph P. Carrozza, Jr., from Harvard Medical School, in an editorial.

“However, stents may be an alternative for patients at high risk for surgical complications or when an informed patient chooses a less invasive option.”

Fats are the most misunderstood of all the food groups. For decades we have been given information about the safety and dangers of fats that has turned out to be simply false.

There are three types of fats naturally found in foods, namely saturated fats, unsaturated or polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats.

Saturated fats are generally solid at room temperature and are, with a couple of exceptions, from animal sources. Saturated fats include butter, lard, animal fats, coconut oil and palm oil. We have been told that saturated fats cause heart disease and contribute to block arteries. This is not true. Our ancestors consumed saturated fats almost exclusively and their rate of heart disease, per capita, was far, far lower than today.

Unsaturated or polyunsaturated fats are generally liquid at room temperature and come from vegetable sources. There are the fats we have been told are the best for us, yet it has been long established that when unsaturated fats are heated or exposed to the air, they oxidize rapidly and form compounds called free radicals. The free radical that causes early heart disease comes almost exclusively from oxidized unsaturated fats. Margarines, shortening and other man-made type fats are the worst of all as these are known as trans fats.

Trans Fats come from liquid unsaturated oils, which have been chemically altered to become solid at room temperature. Trans fats are one of the most deadly forms of fat in the modern diet, responsible for heart disease and many other health problems.

Monounsaturated fats, the best of which is olive oil, are the best fats to consume on a regular basis. Mediterranean countries have used olive oil for thousands of years and in spite of the fact that they have a much higher fat diet than we do, their incidence of heart disease is a fraction of ours — due to the consumption of monounsaturated fats such as olive oil.

Monounsaturated fats protect the heart and cardiovascular system, help to raise HDL and lower the bad LDL cholesterol. An ideal diet of fats would contain moderate amounts of saturated fats, high amounts of monounsaturated fats such as olive oil and almost no unsaturated or polyunsaturated fats.

About the speaker: Dr. K. Steven Whiting is the founder of The Institute of Nutritional Science, with offices in the Netherlands, US and UK. Dr. Whiting is an Orthomolecular Nutritionist. His degrees include a Masters in Psychology as well as a Doctorate in Biochemistry earned at International Universities. His commitment and dedication within the nutrition field has led him into extensive research into such chronic conditions as Heart Disease, Arthritis, Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Prostrate problems, Immune System to name but a few. His website is: http://healthyinformation.com

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