Let’s face it.  An essential fatty acid is one that the human body cannot produce on its own.  There are several that must be present in the diet.  Like other nutrients, such as vitamin C, a lack of them can cause health problems.  But, the symptoms are not immediately obvious.

The omega-6s and omega-3s are the two groups that are classified as essential for human health.  They are polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFAs.

Omega-9s, saturated and trans-fatty acids need not be present in the diet.  In fact, too much of them may cause health problems.  Trans-fats are considered by some to be a health hazard.

In the State of California, trans-fats are classified as human carcinogens, cancer-causing agents.  Some evidence indicates that consumption of omega-9s, even though they are unsaturated, increases a person’s risk of breast cancer.  Saturated fats are bad, because they seem to contribute to weight gain.

It took years for litigation to pass through congress requiring food manufacturers to list the percentage of trans, saturated and PUFAs on the nutrition label.  Before that, it took years to get the manufacturers to list the total fat content.  What are the manufacturers trying to hide?

If you knew that a bag of chips containing partially hydrogenated soy bean oil could cause you to have cancer, would you still eat them?  Some people might.

There are still a lot of people that believe cancer is genetic, having nothing to do with the diet or exposure to toxins.  They pay no attention to advice about essential fatty acid consumption.  They eat what they like or what they find easiest.

But, food manufacturers must be concerned that health-minded individuals will stop buying their products, if they pay attention to what they contain.  They still fail to break down the PUFAs listed on the label.  So, it is difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain whether an essential fatty acid is included in the product or not.

The concentration of omega-6s and 3s in the fat is important, because high intake of omega-6s relative to 3s contributes to silent or chronic inflammation.  It is a cause of various health problems, traditionally attributed to the aging process.

The healthiest diets are those that are balanced.  The omega-6-3 intake is between 1:1 and 4:1.  People accomplish this by choosing the healthiest oils for cooking, which are canola and olive oils.  They snack on walnuts, pecans and almonds.  And, they eat a lot of fish and seafood.

Some types of fish and seafood contain an essential fatty acid that is not found in other dietary sources.  It is called Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA.  There has been some debate about whether or not DHA must be present in the diet, but that is slowly coming to an end.

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 http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/where-to-get-essential-fatty-acid-in-your-diet-1529143.html

Have you been wondering whether fish oil for kids is a good idea? After all, just because it has numerous health benefits for adults doesn’t mean children should take supplements too. But there is good news about fish oil for kids – particularly if they suffer from ADHD.

First of all, recent studies have shown that an increased intake of the omega 3 fatty acids contained in fish oil can be of great benefit to unborn babies and young children. Omega 3s are essential for the growth and development of the brain and eyes in babies.

Taking omega 3s during pregnancy can reduce the risk of having a pre-term baby. Also, the children of mothers who eat the most fish tend to have higher intelligence scores and better communication skills.

So the benefits for mothers and babies are clear but what about fish oil for kids themselves?

It has been known for some time that the most important fatty acid, DHA, helps brains to function and develop properly.

It now seems that children who have low levels of DHA tend to be more likely to suffer from ADHD.

A 2005 Australian study showed that children with diagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who took supplements for 15 weeks had increased attention and reduced hyperactivity, restlessness and impulsivity. The children also performed better on attention tests and improved their vocabulary.

A 2007 US study also showed a marked improvement in ADHD children who took omega 3 supplements. In that study, a psychiatrist reported significant improvements in inattention, hyperactivity, oppositional/defiant behavior and conduct disorder.

So it’s clear that fish oil for kids can be helpful as a treatment for hyperactivity, as well as learning ability and general mood.

What about sources of omega3s?

We can’t make omega 3s in our bodies so we must get them from our diet. Fish remains one of the best sources of omega 3s because it has the two most important of these fatty acids, EPA and DHA. Other sources, such as walnuts and flaxseed, contain another fatty acid, ALA, which must be converted by the body into EPA and DHA. The process is not very efficient though, so fish remains the best source of these important fatty acids.

As with adults, children should not be given supplements if there is any known reaction to fish oil, or if they have a bleeding disorder or are taking anti-coagulants.

So, go ahead and give your child fish oil supplements if you feel they could benefit. Fish oil for kids is safe and effective at the right doses and you could be doing your child’s health and behavior a great favor.

If you would like more information about fish oil supplements, and the products I use daily myself, feel free to visit my website where I publish more research and facts about omega 3 fatty acids.

My name is Therese Samson and I promote natural approaches to health and well-being for the whole family at http://www.my-omega-3.com, where you’ll find out about the many ways omega 3 fish oil can improve heart, brain, skin and immune system health.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/fish-oil-for-kids-should-your-child-take-fish-oil-supplements-1460283.html

Do you want good fish oils or do you want the best?  There are lots of good brands on the market.  But, if you’re like most people, you probably want the best value that you can get for your money.  In order to get that, you just need to do a little bit of research.

The most important nutritional components of the supplements are the omega-3 fatty acids.  Eicosapentaenoic acid and Docosahexaenoic acid or EPA and DHA are the two omega-3s that we cannot get from other food sources.  Plant foods, such as flax, olives and walnuts, provide only alpha-linolenic acid or ALA.

ALA is said to be the only essential long-chained polyunsaturated fatty acid, because the body can elongate it to form the others.  The problem is that the body doesn’t always make the necessary conversions.  Research has shown that supplementing ALA does not raise circulating blood levels of DHA and low levels are associated with a variety of different conditions, including schizophrenia and depression.

So, we really need DHA in our diets.  Good fish oils will provide some.  The best supplements provide a minimum of 280mg of DHA per 1000mg capsule.  The average adult can take two or three capsules per day, which would bring the DHA intake up to 560mg or more per day.

Some nutrients have tolerable upper limits.  Consuming more than that limit will cause unwanted symptoms.  In some cases, there will be toxicity.

There is no upper limit for omega-3 fatty acids.  There is some concern that taking too much fish oil could cause an increased bleeding risk.  But, no increased bleeding has been seen in people taking up to three grams (3000mg) per day.

There has also been concern for people taking aspirin or blood thinners.  But, a recent study showed that there was no risk among people taking good fish oils, aspirin and a blood thinner.  So, basically, there seems to be no risk, as long as people follow the manufacturer’s dosage recommendations.

There is some risk or potential for exposure to heavy metals and other contaminants.  So, it is important to find out what steps the manufacturer takes to address that risk.  They should have each batch of oil tested for contaminants, before they attempt to sell it.  But, not all manufacturers go to that effort.

If you want the best, not just the average or good fish oils, then you want to look for a manufacturer that tests each batch and makes the results of testing available to you.  Typically, they will post the results on their websites in the form of a certificate of analysis or COA.

A COA from an independent laboratory will also provide information concerning the amount of total omega-3s and individual ones like DHA that are included in each capsule.  In order to get the best value for your money, you want a relatively high concentration of DHA, as mentioned above.

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 http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/how-to-find-the-good-fish-oils-1344967.html

The dosage of fish oil you need depends on what health problems you are experiencing. Do you want to simply improve your overall health? Or do you have a specific condition you would like to treat? It’s very important to answer these questions before you embark on a course of fish oil supplements.

The correct dosage of fish oil can vary widely according to your health needs. It will also vary according the quality of the supplement you take. This is because health authorities make recommendations based on the amount of omega 3 fatty acid (EPA and DHA) required for different medical conditions. Supplements contain different amounts of these omega 3s.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that, for general health, you increase your intake of oily fish to about two portions a week, rather than take a supplement. But concerns about the contaminants often found in both wild caught and commercially farmed fish lead many people to prefer to add a supplement to their diet as well.

In this case, many authorities recommend about 1000mg (1 gram) of EPA/DHA oil per day. This is also the AHA’s recommended dosage of fish oil for people who have been diagnosed with heart disease.

For other specific health conditions, such as high triglycerides, the AHA recommends 2-4 grams (2000-4000mg) a day.

For arthritis, a recent Australian study found that a dose of at least 2.6 grams (2600mg) was needed to gain the full anti-inflammatory benefits for this condition.

Other conditions that may be relieved by the correct dosage of fish oil include diabetes (up to 6000mg per day), asthma (3000mg) and psoriasis (6000mg).

Ultimately, the amount need to take will depend on the quality of the supplement. Look for the actual amount of EPA and DHA in the product to make sure you are getting good value for money. The one I use has 28% DHA and 12% EPA per 1000mg capsule – both high doses of these essential omega3s. If you use another product with lower concentrations, you may need to adjust your dose accordingly.

Would you like to know more about the supplements I use and the correct dosage of fish oil? You’ll find more information about my research on my website below.

My name is Therese Samson and I promote natural approaches to health and well-being for the whole family at http://www.my-omega-3.com, where you’ll find out about the many ways omega 3 fish oil can improve heart, brain, skin and immune system health.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/what-dosage-of-fish-oil-is-best-for-your-health-1301694.html