I recently heard of an older couple that eats salmon every day for breakfast. To my finicky palate that does not sound as appetizing as waffles. Why do they do it? They argue that salmon is the most perfect food on the planet, full of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. They do it because they plan on living a long time.
Most of us know that fish makes for a healthier dinner than steak. It is lower in bad cholesterol and a few other things. But numerous studies support the hypothesis that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil have positive effects on a whole list of chronic disorders. Among these are high triglycerides, arthritis, Chrohn's disease, cancer, hypertension, Alzheimer???s disease, coronary artery disease and the neural development of children. To say it would be difficult to cover all these topics in a single essay is an understatement. But here are a few examples.
Japanese women have a much lower risk of breast cancer than do their American counterparts. However, Japanese women who move to America and adopt its dietary patterns have an equal risk of contracting breast cancer as American women within one generation. Women living in Japan have a high ratio of omega-3 fatty acids compared to omega-6 fatty acids in their breasts. Studies have shown that women with breast cancer have up to a five-fold higher ratio of omega-6 to omega-3. Omega-6 imbalance has been shown to promote tumor growth.
Breast tissue changes in response to diet shift within about three months. Supplementing with three grams of fish oil a day (equivalent to eating two large salmon) has demonstrated a four-fold increase in the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 in the blood and a similar ratio increase in breast tissue thus decreasing the risk of contracting breast cancer.
The 1991 Rotterdam Study considered the incidence of chronic diseases among the elderly on a test population of 5,000 participants at least 55 years of age. In particular the study focused on the effects of dietary fat intake in relation to these chronic ailments. Dietary profiles were collected including statistics of total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and polyunsaturated fats. Particular attention was directed toward fish consumption because fish is high in the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Of the total study population 1.1% suffered with Alzheimer???s disease. The statistics indicated a relation between Alzheimer???s and high saturated fat intakes. Fish consumption was associated with a low incidence of dementia, especially Alzheimer???s. Autopsies indicate that a decreased level of DHA in the hippocampus and frontal gray matter of the brain are associated with Alzheimer???s.
Saturated fats and cholesterol may negatively influence dementia because they affect cardiovascular health. Adverse cardiovascular events are associated with Alzheimer???s disease. In addition to this, omega-3 has anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to play a role in brain and neurological development in infants. Omega-3 may have dementia preventing powers as well.
Some studies have indicated that there is an adverse relationship between lowering blood cholesterol levels by dieting and medication and the emotional health of the individual. Increases of depression, suicide and homicide have been linked to dieting. But it may not be hunger pangs that are the influencing factor. The quantity and distribution of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids may play a significant role by influencing serum lipids and altering biophysical and biochemical properties of cell membranes.
Epidemiological studies in various countries and in the United States in recent years suggest decreased omega-3 fatty acid consumption correlates with increasing rates of depression. This is consistent with the established relationship between coronary artery disease and depression. Omega-3 deficiency may also be related to the depression associated with alcoholism, post-partum depression and multiple sclerosis.
What about attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? It has become an epidemic in our time resulting in millions of children being placed on medication. In addition to the fact that we are destroying the attention spans of kids by placing them in front of televisions and computers instead of good books, there may be dietary influences as well.
A 1995 study involved 96 boys in Indiana schools, 53 of which had been diagnosed with ADHD. Dietary intake statistics of essential fatty acids were established based on 3-day surveys of each boy. There were no significant differences between the ADHD boys and the others in relation to consumption of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. An additional 22 measurements were taken designed to establish the lipid and fatty acid levels in each group.
It was found that the ADHD group possessed significantly lower amounts of specific lipid fatty acids in plasma, and lower concentrations of total fatty acids in red blood cells than did the non-ADHD group. Since omega-3 is the primary polyunsaturated fatty acid found in the retina and cerebral cortex it was postulated that low levels of omega-3 might negatively affect proper brain function and therefore the ability to concentrate. What was not determined was whether the omega-3 deficiencies were due to inadequate intakes of the fatty acids or the individual ability to metabolize them. In either case, however, higher intakes of omega-3 through eating fish or taking fish oil supplements could help to raise omega-3 levels and therefore help counteract to effects of ADHD.
Greg holds degrees in science, divinity and philosophy and is currently an I.T. developer.
http://www.optimal-heart-health.com/fishoils.html
Airbnb cleaning service Arlington Heights ..A 2002 study reported, funded by the Swiss National Science... Read More
Most people are becoming more health conscious. Many of the... Read More
How can I improve my health and lifestyle beyond diet... Read More
I'm a great believer in natural tonics to strengthen or... Read More
I've been feeling a tired and slow lately. Just don't... Read More
After nearly 4 years of research and development, Flavonoid Sciences... Read More
Vitamins are organic compounds that our bodies use, in very... Read More
Are you concerned about taking care of your body before... Read More
To supplement or not to supplement ? that is the... Read More
Creatine ? The most researched performance enhancing nutritional supplementDoes creatine... Read More
The malabsorptive nature of the gastric bypass system prohibits adequate... Read More
As I have become more involved in using functional nutritional... Read More
Nitric Oxide, a gas that occurs naturally in the body,... Read More
If I read 1 good valid murder mystery book, would... Read More
Taurox is an excellent way to find true and healthy... Read More
HGH is produced naturally, in everyone, by the pituitary gland.... Read More
Amino acid supplements and amino acid food intake can bring... Read More
As much as we would like to deny it, the... Read More
Perhaps you first read riboflavin at the back of a... Read More
Since its discovery in the late 1950???s Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)... Read More
Over the years, amino acid usage has become more and... Read More
Vitamins are the stars of the nutrition scene. Nutrition, the... Read More
Recently the news carried the story that a researcher had... Read More
Your body produces over 20 separate digestive enzymes that are... Read More
If you're smart, you should not only be focused on... Read More
reliable maid service Winnetka ..Fetuses and infants simply must get enough omega-3 oils for... Read More
There is a generation called the baby boomers that make... Read More
In September 2004 Orange County, California published an article "OC... Read More
Part 1:A "better nutritional program" means the introduction of foods... Read More
Taking good care of your body means that you are... Read More
Supplementing with relatively small amounts of riboflavin (vitamin B2) may... Read More
Iron supplement - why iron?Why people need to use iron... Read More
Both types of unsaturated fatty acids are contained within neuronal... Read More
Body Building Supplement ? what is it?The term "body building... Read More
Vision is one of our most precious senses. Without it... Read More
The multi-vitamin market is rich with choice. It's also very... Read More
Most parents' think their children are eating a fairly healthy... Read More
Food is one of our most basic needs. However, in... Read More
We have all heard that it is important to eat... Read More
Dietary Supplement Vitamin - why is it important?Dietary supplement vitamin... Read More
We all know that vitamin C is one of the... Read More
Can you treat a headache or stomach ache externally, without... Read More
Is there an alternative to statin drugs such as Lipitor... Read More
I have frequently heard alcoholics who are in early recovery... Read More
As you may have already experienced, figuring out how to... Read More
If you break the word apart, Nutra has to do... Read More
When selecting a brand of Colostrum, you should be sure... Read More
Herbal nutrition supplements are everywhere these days. So should you... Read More
Over recent years, mens herbal health care has become big... Read More
The Superbug MRSA which is becoming more common in Hospitals,... Read More
Nutritional Supplements |