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, Alzheimerâ??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 Alzheimerâ??s disease. The statistics indicated a relation between Alzheimerâ??s and high saturated fat intakes. Fish consumption was associated with a low incidence of dementia, especially Alzheimerâ??s. Autopsies indicate that a decreased level of DHA in the hippocampus and frontal gray matter of the brain are associated with Alzheimerâ??s.
Saturated fats and cholesterol may negatively influence dementia because they affect cardiovascular health. Adverse cardiovascular events are associated with Alzheimerâ??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/fishoil s.html
Rarely has a fruit that has been so unknown to... Read More
The Connection Between Brain Inflammation, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's DiseaseThe evidence... Read More
April 14,2005 federal judge Tena Campbell of the federal district... Read More
Creatine ? The most researched performance enhancing nutritional supplementDoes creatine... Read More
The next step on your road to real health is... Read More
Liquid vitaminsHardly does a day pass without the liquid vitamins... Read More
Nutrients form the basis for your body, emotional and spiritual... Read More
We have all heard that it is important to eat... Read More
"But I eat healthy," you might say. That may be... Read More
Fish oil is oil derived from the tissues of fatty... Read More
A fat burner supplement operates by breaking down body fat... Read More
At times, due to your busy and fast life, we... Read More
Fiber supplements can be tremendously beneficial for IBS sufferers. Although... Read More
"They", the "experts" all say how important vitamins are -... Read More
Nitric oxide supplement has many benefits and there are many... Read More
Ecdysterone is a powerful compound that can help to maximise... Read More
Sports Supplement ? what is it?We are all aware of... Read More
Free radicals and oxyradicals play an important role in the... Read More
There is a secret vitamin in the neighborhood, wandering around... Read More
Minerals are essential to maintain our bodies in top condition... Read More
L-tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid that plays a role... Read More
As I mentioned in Part 4 of my Real Health... Read More
After nearly 4 years of research and development, Flavonoid Sciences... Read More
I know protein is good for me, but do I... Read More
The skeletal muscle component known as creatine is not only... Read More
We live in a health conscious generation where vitamins and... Read More
If you break the word apart, Nutra has to do... Read More
Coenzyme Q10 has exploded onto the health scene. This powerful... Read More
Vitamins seem to be so good for everything. The newly... Read More
Recently a television health expert was discussing the topic, "How... Read More
I have frequently heard alcoholics who are in early recovery... Read More
Weight Lifting Supplement ? what is it?The term "weight lifting... Read More
Our system uses a free-form gas called Nitric Oxide as... Read More
Nitric oxide supplement has many benefits and there are many... Read More
Whey proteins drinks, especially shakes, are available in a variety... Read More
You probably know that ladies who are planning on having... Read More
1. Do not refrigerate vegetables and fruits (raw and uncut)... Read More
Some say that the benefits of this all-natural HGH releaser... Read More
Nutritional Supplement ? what is it?So what is a nutritional... Read More
The body needs a minimum amount of vitamins and minerals... Read More
GlutImmune? is a very convenient high absorption source of glutamine.... Read More
Many people find that after a few weeks, the gains... Read More
Nutritional supplements can play a key role in the health... Read More
Don't be overwhelmed by this big word, ... Read More
In September 2004 Orange County, California published an article "OC... Read More
The multi-vitamin market is rich with choice. It's also very... Read More
Both types of unsaturated fatty acids are contained within neuronal... Read More
AMLA ( EMBLICA OFFICINALIS ) FOR HEALTH AND BEAUTYAMLA, proudly... Read More
Since the release of a book called" beat chronic fatigue... Read More
When it comes to personalized weight loss programs and their... Read More
Turmeric, in all honesty is not a vitamin, but it... Read More
As you may have already experienced, figuring out how to... Read More
At the rate it's going, Saw Palmetto will soon be... Read More
Nitric Oxide, a gas that occurs naturally in the body,... Read More
Finding out a little about amino acid basics enables you... Read More
Vitamin E is an absolutely vital nutrient in your body,... Read More
Anti aging has become the latest craze.Wherever we look at,... Read More
Liquid vitamins are the same vitamins that you find in... Read More
If you're constantly digging your hand into a jar of... Read More
ZMA is a scientifically designed anabolic mineral formula containing zinc... Read More
Carbohydrate blockers seem to have come and gone with the... Read More
BCAA stands for branched chain amino acids and is increasingly... Read More
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body... Read More
According to Dr John Scurr leading Consultant Vascular Surgeon and... Read More
For people who suffer from arthritis, dependable pain relief is... Read More
I know protein is good for me, but do I... Read More
Nutritional Supplements |