If you’re like me, you have probably heard about many of the wonderful benefits there are to be gained through the use of omega-3 fatty acid supplements, but very little is mentioned about its effectiveness in treating post partum depression. Depression is something that affects a great many women after the birth of their child, and there is very little that can be done about it except for prescribing questionable prescription drugs.
Although omega-3 fatty acids have been proven effective in treating a wealth of mood altering mental disorders most doctors will not recommend it as a treatment. They would rather prescribe you something that has a slew of side effects, and that are sometimes addictive depending on the individual. Do you really want to submit to putting such substances into your body if you really don’t have to?
Post partum depression is very serious, and the feelings that women have while going through it can often lead them to thoughts of suicide at what should be one of the happiest times of their lives. I know that anyone going through this experience would want to take anything that they could that would make it stop. Especially if you are breast feeding your child you need to think about what you are doing.
Whatever goes into a mother’s system goes into the infants through the breast milk that they ingest. This means that whatever addictive agent is in your chemical antidepressant is also traversing its way through your infant’s blood. Do you really want to subject your infant to this, when there are literally hundreds of clinical studies proving that your depression can be treated without any risk to you, or your baby?
DHA, which is a particularly effective omega-3 fatty acid, is often deficient in the frontal cortex of the brain in women suffering from post partum depression. It has been proven time and time again that deficiencies in DHA can cause all manner of problems relating to behavior, such as aggression, hostility, depression, and displays of suicidal tendencies. Simply increasing your DHA could be the answer to all of your problems.
DHA is a prominent factor in the cognitive development of a child.
Attaining high levels of DHA in your blood, especially during the third trimester when the most important cognitive development is taking place, is extremely important. Even if you never eventually suffer from symptoms of post partum depression, your child will be born with higher intelligence, better problem solving, reasoning skills and superior visual acuity than infants born with DHA deficiencies.
Make no mistake about it. You need DHA rich omega fatty acids for the treatment of post partum depression, and even if you don’t think that it’s going to help you it can be of great benefit to your child. What could it hurt to give it a try?
Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.
Have you read about this recently? Researchers say that any omega 3 side effects would be greatly outweighed by the benefits, even if the risk of mercury consumption is considered. That statement was issued by the Harvard School of Public Health.
Researchers always consider the risk-benefit ratio when assessing drugs, but rarely when they are assessing nutritional supplements. It is usually assumed that nutritional supplements are safe, because they are elements found in foodstuff.
Herbal remedies are sometimes assessed for their toxicity, because they have drug activity and some of them are not generally consumed as foods or along with them. The safest herbs are those that have been used historically as food flavorings. Garlic, turmeric and black pepper are examples of the safest herbs.
But, people are sometimes concerned about the side effects of omega 3 fatty acids, because they notice “things” when they start taking the supplements. More vivid dreams, for example, are sometimes noted. That would be due to the increased intake of Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA.
DHA is a component of healthy brain cells. Although it cannot be considered a psychoactive drug, it obviously has some effect on brain function. In fact, the human brain cannot develop normally without DHA.
Our dreams reflect our health in many ways. When the colors are more vibrant and the elements of the dream are easy to remember, it means that our brains are healthy.
Other omega 3 side effects are not so pleasant. Fishy tasting burps are commonly reported. That’s not a positive effect.
The fishy tasting burps are not actually due to the supplement, but to the amount of oxidation that occurred before the oils were encapsulated. Oxidation occurs when the catch is not processed immediately. The oils start to spoil.
The better supplement manufacturers guarantee that there will be no fishy tasting burps, because they have had the level of oxidation measured before the oils were encapsulated. When the level is very low, there will be no burps. That also means that we are not being exposed to free radicals, one of the causes of cellular aging.
Gastrointestinal discomfort has sometimes been reported as one of the side effects of omega 3 supplementation. While the supplement is known to support regularity (it has been used to prevent constipation in the past), a regular dose should not cause diarrhea, stomach upset or other discomfort. But, there could be other ingredients in the product that cause the problem. Or, it could be due to high levels of oxidation.
If you experience any negative side effects of omega 3 fatty acids, you should report them to the manufacturer. You could also report them to your doctor, who could help you file a report with the US FDA or other regulating agencies.
Make no mistake about it. The best supplements will not cause any health problems. Of that you can be assured, but there could always be a problem with the quality of the brand that you decided to . In other words, omega 3 side effects could be caused by a tainted product. That’s what you have to look out for.
Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.
It is a human tendency and need to fix a problem as fast as possible and the same is with over weight people, as they naturally want an instant remedy to lose weight. Many people, especially younger women believe that the easier way to lose weight is by using slimming pills.
People who take slimming pills feel that they have total control over their actions and they will stick to their recommended dosage. In reality, it is not true. People have started increasing the amounts prescribed, as they wish to speed up their weight loss expectations. Slimming pills are often the last resort to help people, who are grossly overweight and need to lose some weight, or struggling to lose some more.
Many health professionals agree that slimming pills do help many people. However, it is an emergent trend that the general public feel suspicious that these pills may have some side effects too. Certain slimming pills, if consumed without prescription can be dangerous. The most popular slimming pills are Reductil, Xenical.
These pills are available through proper prescription only. Xenical works as a fat buster and hence, less fat is absorbed in the body. Reductil is quite effective as a slimming pill, but is best for severely overweight or obese people.
The pills mentioned above are a good option for weight loss. However, you cannot assume that these pills are magical pills. These pills will not help you to reduce weight overnight. It may take months or may be years before you visualize a weight change in you. Slimming pills does not come with a tag of calorie-controlled diet. So, before you any slimming pills, remember to consult your physician.
Mild Disadvantages:
Xenical slimming pills come with some side effects, although these effects are gentle and avoidable. The common side effects include a sudden bowel movement, oily stools, and repeated bowel movements. There are also complaints of losing control over bowel movement by many people.
Another popular and preferred slimming pill is Alli, which is quite responsible of giving diarrhea, anal leakage and various other side effects to its several users. This slimming pill is proved to help reduce just 1 pound.
Actually, this pill unites with fats present in the body and takes them out of the digestive system, making it impossible to digest properly. On the other hand, it also obstructs all those necessary fats that are required by the body to remain healthy.
Hence, it becomes a necessity to consult your doctor before starting to intake such slimming pills.
Mick enjoys writing articles and web design. Check out his latest web site about the products. It has a lot of great info to help with choosing
What’s fungal infection of nails? Fungal infection of nail is the results of microbes that infect the nails of feet and hands. This infection is very common, influencing over 2 million folks in the U. S. . A nail fungal infection is also called onychomycosis.
The fungal nail infection under the nail head. The nail provides a safe harbor to the fungus and protects it during its growth. This is why it is so tough to stop a fungal infection of nails.
The most typical fungal infection of nails is on the toenails. It’s the perfect place for the expansion of fungus.
The microorganisms in charge of nail fungal infection can be broadcast from one individual to another, because these micro-organisms can survive in places where the air is often wet and where folks walk barefoot. This is the case in showers, bathrooms or locker rooms. The infection can also spread by a nail file or emery board. The nail fungal infection can also spread from one nail to another.
What are the signs or symptoms of fungal nail infection? - You can see, feel or understand a fungal infection of nails once it is installed. – The nail can browse. - debris can collect under the nail and smell bad, especially in the toes. - A toenail may thicken and make wearing shoes uncomfortable or agonizing. - These symptoms may not improve. In fact, a fungal condition untreated can worsen.
This is a natural treatment for the fungus infections that contains the most feted by doctors tea tree oil.
The main benefits of Zeta Clear are the healthy clear appearance of the nails, it is very straightforward to use as well as a refund| money back guarantee| refund guarantee}.
Zeta Clear contains potent antifungal and antiseptic plants and it features Vitamin E, that is commonly known as an efficient antioxidant that is terribly efficient against all of the nail infections.
It can be spread from one nail to another or to someone else. Your healthcare professional will help you figure out how to treat a fungal condition of nails. You can as well treat yourself intensely safe with Zeta Clear, the natural way to get rid of the fungal complaints without any complications experienced in any way.
When we talk about cleansing the body, we can be referring to a number of different things. There are so many ways to clean out and flush the body of toxins, pollutants and junk. One of the best ways to do this, of course, is to alter your diet. A diet that is heavy in saturated fats, white, nutrient-robbing flours and sugars will leave you feeling sluggish, tired and irritable. This is the body’s way of telling you that it is not clean. It’s important to listen to your body and heed its warnings. If you’re experiencing a noticeable lack of energy and aren’t feeling like yourself, it’s time to take action and regain your body’s natural, balanced state. Luckily, there are several all natural supplements that can cleanse the body from the inside out.
Toxins and harmful contaminants are typically ingested by way of fast food, junk food or exposure to environmental pollutants. You can start to rid the body of these toxins by eliminating these foods from your diet, and eating a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. And to bolster your dietary efforts and cleanse your body faster, you can take certain supplements.
Green Tea Supplements
One such supplement is green tea. Green tea is a superb antioxidant that has been used for centuries. This antioxidant powerhouse has only recently gained mainstream attention in the United States. Some experts even estimate that green tea has ten times the antioxidant properties of fruits and vegetables! Drinking just one or two cups of green tea per day can help your body fight off infections and diseases naturally. It works by modifying the body’s metabolism, so that it’s able to ward off and detoxify chemicals that would otherwise remain harmful inside the body. The polyphenols found in green tea literally scour the body internally for any cell-damaging free radicals, and when they are found, they destroy them. Green tea is a natural, easy way to cleanse your body of cancer-causing agents and other harmful contaminants.
Milk Thistle Supplements
Another great cleansing supplement that can help revitalize the body is an herb called milk thistle. It is a flowering herb that is related to the daisy and ragweed, believe it or not. Milk thistle is best known for its use as an all natural liver cleanser, and can be a good alternative for treatment of cirrhosis, gall bladder disorders, jaundice and hepatitis.
The main ingredient found in milk thistle is silymarin, which acts as both an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory. Therefore, milk thistle is quite useful in cleansing the body (and particularly the liver) even if you do not have any of the conditions listed above. It has even been suggested that milk thistle can cleanse and help to restore the liver of people who have a history of alcohol abuse. Because alcohol and sugar are very closely related, there has also been some discussion as to whether milk thistle might be useful in diabetes treatment. Regardless, it is quite beneficial for the average person who wants to cleanse their body of everyday toxins. You can take this herb in capsule form or in a tincture, and supplement with it daily.
Dandelion Supplements
Another herb that works along the same lines as milk thistle is dandelion. Dandelion is also notable for its natural liver cleansing properties, and has been used in liver treatment as well as preliminary diabetes treatment and gall bladder cleansing. This herb also acts as an anti-inflammatory. It can further be used as a diuretic, and tends to help people eliminate greater amounts of toxins through the loss of urine. If you supplement with dandelion, be sure to drink plenty of water to flush out toxins even faster and to make up for the water loss you may experience.
Burdock Root Supplements
One last herbal supplement that can complete your cleanse is burdock or burdock root. Burdock is actually one of four ingredients in a popular herbal tea mixture called Essiac that is sold to as an alternative treatment for cancer patients. It is also used to treat diabetes and other gastrointestinal diseases. Even if you do not suffer from any of these maladies, burdock is a wonderful additional herb to add to your cleansing routine.
Before you start cleansing your blood and organs with these teas and herbs, be sure to check with your doctor, especially if you take other medications that may interact with these herbs. After all, these supplements work because they are potent. So long as he or she gives it the thumbs up, here’s to a cleaner, healthier and revitalized you!
Megan Hazel is a freelance writer who writes about health and wellbeing, often discussing specific items such as .
Omega 3 DHA, EPA and ALA are the three types of long chain, polyunsaturated essential fats. Since they are not produced naturally in our body, we have to obtain them via food in our daily diet. Of all the three, DHA is of much importance and most of the benefits of omega 3 are related to it.
Omega 3 DHA is found in fishes such as salmon, tuna, and halibut. Because of their top position in the food chain, they have good chances to hoard toxins like mercury, lead, PCBs etc. Because of this concern world has shifted to omega 3 DHA supplements. These supplements not only have higher levels of DHA but also have lesser degree of contamination.
According to many experts and researches, regular consumption of DHA has many benefits for all – male, female, child or adult. It plays an important role at every phase of our life.
Many pregnant females are suggested by their doctors to be on high DHA capsules. This helps in better brain and nervous system growth of the fetus. Newly born babies show less sleep disorder. Later while growing up they have better hand/eye coordination, and good learning and retaining skills.
It has been proven clinically that women who are on omega 3 diet for a long period of time, have less chances of having breast cancer. These women also experience less menstrual pain.
Regular intake of DHA supplements are known for inhibiting the diseases like Dyslexia, Bipolar disorder, Arthritis, etc. It also helps in controlling the cholesterol and blood pressure.
A word of caution here, not all omega3 supplements are effective. Above benefits can be reaped only if correct omega 3 DHA supplement is consumed regularly. Effective one must have under gone molecular distillation process, this ensures the end result is highly concentrated and has lower levels of toxins. It should not have any rancid odor and should smell like ocean water. Studies have shown that supplement consisting of both tuna as well as hoki fish oil increases the benefits of omega3 by two and half folds.
Since, there are many omega 3 DHA supplements available in the market, and all of them may not be effective and give you desired results; you should do your own research before starting on any one of them.
If you wish to learn more on omega3 DHA, its benefits and best supplement that gives you the desired results along with value for money, I invite you to visit my <a target=”_blank” href=”http://omega3brief.com”>website</a>, where I have explained everything in detail.
Chuck Blake is an active researcher and consumer of fish oil products.Visit his website today to learn more about the powerful benefits of omega-3 fish oils.
The drug Tegretol generic name Carbamazepine acts as an anti-convulsant and is prescribed to stop seizures. This medication can also be used to medicate other conditions but only use as directed by your doctor.
This drug is also called: Carbatol, Intol, Atretol, Biston, Calepsin, Carbatrol, Carbelan, Epitol, Equetro, Finlepsin,Karbamazepin, Lexin, Neurotol, Sirtal, Stazepin, Telesmin, Teril, Timonil.
What should I know about this drug before I use it?
Do not take Tegretol if you have taken an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam) in the past 14 days.
You must let your doctor know about all the prescription medication and any other over the counter drugs or vitamins or herbal products you are taking.
Do not take this medicine if you have a history of bone marrow suppression, or history of allergic reaction to an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), or nortriptyline (Pamelor).
Do not use this medication without your doctor’s consent if you are pregnant. It could cause harm to the unborn baby. Tegretol should not be used during pregnancy, but taking the medicine can make birth control pills less effective. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
You should keep on taking this drug even if you are feeling better. This drug needs to be taken regularly to stop seizures. If this medication stops working as well for you, you should seek the advice of your doctor as you may need to use other medications
The prescription medication Tegretol can also lower your blood cell count that helps stop infections. To make sure they dont get too low you need to have your blood tested as advised by your doctor.
Tegretol can cause many side effects that can effect your thinking or reactions. If this drug effects you, you must not drive or opperate machinery.
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Tegretol. It may also increase the risk of seizures.
You should not take medication that may make you sleepy like cold medication or pain mediations or any depression or anxiety drugs as these will increase the sleepiness caused by this drug.
What is Tegretol?
Tregretol is a anticonvulsant and decreased the nerve impulses that make yo uhave a seizure or pain.
There are many other medicines that could cause a drug interaction if you take them together with . Always talk to your doctor and let them know about all the prescription and non prescription. Herbal and vitamin products can interact with this medication so you should always ask you doctor befor taking anything new and keep a list of what you are taking with you when you have a checkup to make sure your doctor can give you the best advice.
I’m BuckI hope you like reading all the things I write about as I love to write.
Just as in the general population, there has been a growing epidemic of cancer among celebrities and public figures, such as in the recent cases of Patrick Swayze, Cristina Applegate, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Farrah Fawcett, Ted Kennedy, Kylie Minogue, Rudy Giuliani, Lance Armstrong, just to name a few.
Even more celebrities have lost loved ones to cancer, such as:
Angelina Jolie, Madonna and Rosie O’Donnell (who all lost their mothers to cancer); Paul McCartney (who lost his first wife, Linda, to breast cancer); CBS news anchor Katie Couric (who lost her husband to colon cancer); American Idol David Cook (who lost his maternal grandfather to lung cancer); Brian Williams of NBC Nightly News (who lost his mother to lymphoma and his sister to breast cancer); S. Epatha Merkerson of “Law and ” (who lost 2 of her very best friends to lung cancer) … and the list goes on.
Cancer has become a much bigger threat to human lives – and has caused more deaths — than all the wars of the world combined. In the U.S. alone, every 60 seconds, someone dies from cancer — and that’s like losing as many people as we did on 9/11 every 2 days.
Here’s another grim statistic: Every 3 minutes, someone new is diagnosed with cancer. Is it any wonder, then, that celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, America Ferrera, Meryl Streep, Lance Armstrong, Scarlett Johansson, Forest Whitaker, Hilary Swank, Charlize Theron and dozens of other big-name celebrities banded together to put an end to cancer during a one-hour television special titled “Stand Up 2 Cancer?” The telethon aired on all 3 networks (ABC, CBS and NBC) to raise funds for cancer research.
The problem with raising funds for cancer research is this:
The funds eventually go towards cancer research that does NOT cure cancer. In the 95 years that health organizations like the American Cancer Society have been dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem, there has been VERY LITTLE PROGRESS made in the curing of the deadly disease. Instead, the incidence of cancer has grown exponentially over the last hundred years.
A single cancer fundraising campaign, such as the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, for instance, raises approximately $150 million in funds for cancer research. Tens of billions of dollars have been raised by all the fundraising campaigns combined – and yet, according to the American Cancer Society, there’s still a 41% probability that an individual, male or female, will develop cancer in his or her lifetime (or die from it)!
Why have all the billions of dollars raised for cancer research been FUTILE in curing cancer?
Many people, including the Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition, Dr. Samuel Epstein, state that the priorities of health organizations that claim to be dedicated to finding a cancer cure are “economically motivated, and reflect conflicts of interests with the pharmaceutical industry, the pesticide industry, and the mammography industry.”
Another reason why attempts at curing cancer have been futile thus far is because the funds raised have been allocated to raising public awareness of the merits of the 3 conventional cancer therapies – that is, chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
And yet, Oncologist Dr. Tullio Simoncini states that according to his polls and questionnaires, “75 percent of doctors say they’d refuse chemotherapy if they were struck with cancer due to its ineffectiveness and its devastating side effects.” In fact, the medical journal, “Clinical Oncology,” published the results of a study in December 2004, wherein it was shown that chemotherapy has a success rate of just over 2 percent for all cancers! [That's a FAILURE rate of 98%!]
Therefore, funneling research funds towards the advancement of ineffective therapies that don’t eliminate the root CAUSE of cancer will always be a losing proposition.
The fact is, the business of “curing” cancer – or any disease, for that matter — has become an overcomplicated system that is usually invasive and expensive. More often than not, it also does more harm than good – and the “good” that it does is limited to relieving only the SYMPTOMS of the disease, and not its CAUSE.
But now, there is a simple and natural therapy that is scientifically proven to eradicate cancer – without the need for surgery, drugs or radiation. In fact, this therapy has been prescribed and administered by more than 15,000 European doctors, naturopaths and health practitioners to heal not just cancer but most other diseases, including AIDS, heart disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease and diabetes, to name a few.
Before I found this therapy, my father died of colon cancer in 1999.
It was painful for him, but maybe even more painful for us, his family, to watch as he writhed in agony during the last 6 months of his life. If you ever witness someone you love die like this, it will change your life forever, just as it has changed mine.
If you thought that experience must’ve been awful, my nightmare continued when, not long after my father died, my sister was stricken with cervical cancer; and then my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Both of them are in remission now because their respective cancers were surgically removed. But I couldn’t help but fear that their cancers would recur just like my father’s cancer did after a few years of remission — and I was afraid that they, too, might die just as my father did.
This is why I’ve been tireless in my pursuit to find a cure for cancer — to save the lives of my beloved mother and sister. My search led me to find this scientifically proven therapy that proved to be much more than I was looking for.
Alternative health practitioners, as well as researchers and doctors, have yet to find a disease that does NOT respond well to this therapy. And best of all, when this self-administered one-minute therapy is used properly, there are no known risks.
When I stumbled upon this remarkable therapy, I used it on myself to successfully eradicate a chronic throat inflammation (that I feared would become cancerous) in just 2 weeks – and my husband experienced a SPECTACULAR reversal of a serious lymphatic condition that he had suffered from all his life, and which was considered “incurable.” I knew then that this therapy was the closest thing to a panacea that I had been looking for.
I began to think that it would be a DISSERVICE to humanity to keep information about this therapy available only to the limited number of people who stumbled upon it by accident (like I did). That’s why I sat down and wrote “The One-Minute Cure: The Secret to Healing Virtually All Diseases” – see http://scrnch.me/82ya4
Even as I was writing the book, I knew I’d meet with tremendous opposition because the simple therapy which is detailed in the book, represents the biggest threat to the trillion-dollar revenues of the pharmaceutical and medical industries.
Today, I remain convinced that if all the funds raised for cancer research were dedicated to putting this book in the hands of every man and woman on the planet, we could not only stamp out cancer altogether but also have a world that is free of disease.
I urge you to get this book today and learn the one-minute cure for yourself – and give a copy of the book to all the people you care about, as well as people who are battling disease, or people who don’t have health insurance – before the “powers that be” in the pharmaceutical industry force this book out of circulation.
Go to http://scrnch.me/82ya4
Wishing you the best of health and freedom from disease,
At one time, parents gave their kids a dosage of fish oil to keep their digestive systems regular, protect against rickets and prevent vitamin A deficiency. Back then, no one knew about the benefits in brain development or the essential nature of omega-3 fatty acids and DHA, in particular.
Fish oils are rich in omega-3 fatty acids called DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid). Fatty fishes are actually the only dietary source of those polyunsaturated fatty acids. The fishes get theirs from marine algae or by eating smaller fishes.
A different omega-3 called ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) is present in vegetable oils, such as olive and flax seed. While ALA is essential to human health, its primary purpose is to be converted to EPA and then to DHA.
Since the conversion process is relatively slow and the amount of conversion varies from one person to the next, most doctors now suggest the consumption of 5-7 servings of fatty fish per week or a daily dosage of fish oil. Some doctors suggest both.
We do have to be careful about choosing a low-mercury species. Most doctors recommend only two servings per week for pregnant women or women that can become pregnant. But, realizing the importance of DHA for the developing fetus, they usually recommend a daily DHA supplement, too.
For children, most supplement manufacturers suggest 1000mg per day. But, as a parent, you must be careful about which supplement you choose. The purity must be unquestionable. The manufacturer should provide access to a certificate of analysis from an independent lab verifying that no mercury, lead, PCBs or other contaminants are present.
The omega-3 content and the DHA content vary greatly, as well. So, those need to be verified, too. The better brands provide a minimum of 500mg of total omega-3s and 280mg of DHA, per 1000mg dosage of fish oil.
For adults, most supplement manufacturers recommend 2000mg or 2 capsules per day. Some popular diet doctors recommend as much as 3000mg per day. Researchers have proven that a person can safely take up to 3000mg per day with no increased bleeding risk.
Cardiac and arthritis patients may need to take a larger dosage of fish oil, but that is something to discuss with your doctor. Recent studies show that there is no increased bleeding risk among cardiac patients that take aspirin, omega-3 supplements and a blood thinner, but a regimen like that should be closely monitored by a physician.
Every part of the body may be benefitted by increased omega-3 intake. Researchers have noted benefit to the brain, cardiovascular system, immune system, digestive system, the joints, the hair and the skin. One study showed that a supplement may reduce a person’s wrinkles by improving the firmness of their skin.
Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.
Studies concerning omega 3 and brain function have revealed many things. First, we know that low levels of the nutrients in the bloodstream are associated with disorders that include depression and schizophrenia.
Second, we know that the gray matter contains a great deal of fat and that about 40% of that fat is DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), a specific omega-3 that seems to be very important in many ways. Third, we know that supplementation or increased intake of DHA and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) is associated with reduced symptoms of depression and attention deficit disorders.
Fourth, we know that DHA is essential for normal brain development in the fetus and during infancy. That’s why you will see DHA-enriched infant formulas and baby foods. It is already present in breast milk, although mothers should be sure that their intake is adequate, in to prevent the depletion of their own blood stores and risk depression.
Studies are currently underway concerning the benefits for neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The nutrient may be helpful for those conditions, as well.
Research concerning omega 3 and brain trauma is ongoing at Louisiana State University, where doctors are looking at the benefit to patients recovering from stroke. The idea is that we want to be able to rebuild damaged brain cells and neurons. In to do that, we need the right building materials. DHA is one of the necessary building blocks.
DHA, EPA and other omega3s benefit the entire body by modulating or reducing inflammation. We know that omega-3s are used by the body to produce less inflammatory molecules than the omega-6s. Research indicates that omega-3s stimulate the production of molecules that signal the immune system to stop inflammation.
The latest research indicates that fish oil, which is rich in omega-3s, has natural anti-inflammatory activity. In some cases, a fish oil supplement has as much anti-inflammatory activity as aspirin.
In addition to the studies concerning omega 3 and brain benefits, there have been hundreds concerning the anti-inflammatory benefit to patients suffering from arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease and other painful conditions. Fish oil supplements have proven beneficial for people suffering from migraines and cluster headaches, as well.
It is sometimes hard to believe how many benefits are associated with fish oil and the nutrients that it contains. But, if you think about it, it isn’t really that hard to understand.
The connection between omega 3 and brain function is easy to understand when you know that it DHA is one of the building blocks of neurons. If you think about man’s traditional diet, you realize that fish was a big part of it. It has long been referred to as brain food. We just didn’t know why it was so valuable.
The inflammation connection is more complicated for people that don’t have a scientific background. Basically, the fats in our diet can contribute to inflammation or reduce it. We’d prefer to reduce it.
As we learn more about omega 3 and brain function, we may find that there are other benefits. If you want to think clearly for the rest of your life, take a supplement and hope.
Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.