Due to the typical American diet, our Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio is hoovering around 15.6-16:1...Supplementation with Omega 3 (err, fish oil) is a great addition to the typical diet.
Anyway, here is a quick study...
The Importance of Pharmaceutical Grade Marine Lipids:
In the last year, several landmark studies have once again highlighted the importance of the longer chain omega-3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) found in fish. The reason why these fatty substances are so important revolve around their role in cellular membranes.
A diet that is deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, results in altered cell membranes. Without a healthy membrane, cells lose their ability to hold water, vital nutrients, and electrolytes. They also lose their ability to communicate with other cells and be controlled by regulating hormones. They simply do not function properly. Cell membrane dysfunction is a critical factor in the development of virtually every chronic disease, especially cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. Not surprisingly, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids have shown tremendous protective effects against all of these diseases.
Some conditions benefited more by long-chain omega-3 fatty acids(fish oil) than flaxseed oil:
Aging (are you over 50?)
Allergies
Arthritis
Asthma
Attention deficit disorder
Autoimmune diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, MS, etc.)
Cancer (prevention and treatment adjunct)
Depression
Diabetes
Eczema
Elevated cholesterol or triglyceride levels
Heart disease (prevention and treatment)
Inflammatory conditions (e.g., ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease)
Menopause
Pregnancy
Psoriasis
Although the body can convert alpha-linolenic acid, a short-chain omega-3 fatty acid, from flaxseed oil, it is much more efficient to get EPA and DHA from fish oils. Furthermore, there is evidence that many people, particularly many men, have a difficult time converting alpha-linolenic acid to EPA and DHA. Also, the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, but not alpha-linolenic acid the chief component of, are also transformed into regulatory compounds known as prostaglandins. These compounds carry out many important tasks in the body. They regulate inflammation, pain, and swelling; they play a role in maintaining blood pressure; and they regulate heart, digestive, and kidney function. Prostaglandins also participate in the response to allergies, help control transmission of signals along the nerves, and help regulate the production of steroids and other hormones. Through their effects on prostaglandins and related compounds, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids can mediate many physiological processes making them useful in virtually every disease state as well.
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