Omega 3 Overview

With more than 27,000 published studies, Omega 3s are amongst the most studied nutrients in the world. This means the beneficial effects of consuming Omega 3s are well documented.

EPA and DHA Omega 3s are vital nutrients that help every cell in your body function optimally. It’s something our bodies need at all stages of our life. And yet, American men get only 50% of the Omega 3 they need each day. American women get even less, around 40%.

Since Omega 3s are important to every cell, it’s not surprising that the documented benefits of Omega 3s cover everything from memory and learning disorders to heart and circulatory health as well as joints, skin, and even teeth.

Dementia is sometimes called “brain failure” - it affects tasks like memory and reasoning and is the umbrella term that Alzheimer’s disease falls under. Oxidative stress in the brain may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease.

There is little evidence that Omega 3s can reduce symptoms of dementia but research strongly indicates that people with higher levels of Omega 3s, particularly DHA, are less likely to develop it in the first place.

The skin is the body’s largest organ. Essential fatty acids work in the skin to boost hydration. Without them, the skin loses moisture, potentially contributing to conditions like dandruff, thinning hair, acne and eczema, as well as age and sun spots.

One study showed significant reduction in eczema after 12 weeks. The researchers believe that the fish oil worked by reducing an inflammatory substance that plays a role in eczema.

Another study showed that another inflammatory response - sunburn - was reduced by taking fish oil.

The research is clear - Omega 3s, and specifically DHA and EPA, are good for cardiovascular health.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which measures the global disease burden, estimated that in 2010, more than 1.4 million coronary heart disease deaths globally were linked to low intakes of EPA and DHA. This number is rising. One study found that 84,000 annual heart-related deaths in the US could be avoided with just 250mg of EPA and DHA daily (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009).

There’s a reason a visit to the doctor always starts with a blood pressure check - it’s important! High blood pressure increases your risk of heart disease. Even a small decrease in blood pressure can have a big impact on your heart health.

Triglyceride levels are another important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This is a part of your total cholesterol profile.

DHA and EPA have been found to balance blood pressure and reduce triglyceride levels, which leads to improved cardiovascular health.

Omega 3s appear to work by helping your body manage out-of-control inflammation that can damage blood vessels and may contribute to heart disease. Our unique blend of natural New Zealand hoki oil and concentrated tuna oil combines the benefits of a full spectrum fish oil with a high level of Omega 3s, giving your body the support it needs against out-of-control inflammation and the degenerative conditions that can follow.

Our Omega 3 QH Ultra also includes Kaneka ubiquinol CoenzymeQ10 to replace declining levels of this important enzyme as a result of aging, or using statins. If you are concerned about your heart health, are over 40 or have a history of heart disease in your family, Omega 3/QH Ultra will give your heart health a boost.

It may surprise you to learn that 60% of the brain is composed of fats.

The neurons in our brain are responsible for transmitting the electrical and chemical messages that make our body function. Neurons with higher levels of Omega 3 fatty acids do a better job of transmitting these messages. That’s why a deficiency in Omega 3s can negatively affect brain function and cognitive development.

Research shows that consuming Omega 3s may support mental processing skills such as working memory, comprehension, reasoning, problem solving and decision-making.

DHA is the most abundant Omega 3 fatty acid in the brain, but it must be regularly replenished. The human brain relies on the Omega 3 DHA for proper growth and development. DHA builds up in the brain until we are 18 years old, but especially in the first two years of life, so it’s very important for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers to consume a high level of DHA in order to give their babies the best start.

Children with ADHD are more likely to show symptoms of low Omega 3 levels. One study of children with ADHD found increased Omega 3 intake resulted in improvements in restlessness, aggressiveness, completing work and academic performance.

Your body uses EPA and DHA fatty acids to produce its own natural hormones for managing inflammation. Research has shown that people with high levels of these hormones tend to have much lower levels of chronic inflammatory back, neck and joint pain.

Omega 3s are an important part of cartilage cell membranes, where they help protect against enzymes that degrade cartilage.

EPA and DHA may also inhibit proteins that contribute to osteoarthritis.

Omega 3 fatty acids may help with symptoms of morning stiffness, tender or swollen joints, and joint discomfort.

Omega 3s have been shown to help reduce inflammation in the body, while excessive Omega 6s can promote inflammation. Both Omega 3s and Omega 6s are important to our wellbeing, but our diets tend to be higher in Omega 6s, leaving us with an imbalance - and out-of-control inflammation.

Chronic inflammation is a risk to all symptoms of the body - from heart health to joints. Restoring the balance of Omega 3 to Omega 6 supports the body’s natural, healthy inflammatory response.

Inflammation is part of the body’s natural immune system response. When inflammation is unnaturally high, the body is less prepared to fight a genuine threat to the immune system.

Fish oil helps to naturally regulate the immune response. Research has found that when combining fish oil with the antioxidant astaxanthin it enhances the immune-boosting power.

Did your mother ever tell you that eating carrots will help you see in the dark? Carrots do have important vitamins for eye health but it turns out that high concentrations of DHA Omega 3 found in fish oil are needed by the cells that let you see in different light conditions. In fact, the body’s highest concentration of DHA is found in the retina, which shows just how important DHA is to eye health.

Omega 3s are important in infant eye development so it’s crucial that pregnant and breastfeeding mothers get enough. Many people think that deteriorating vision is just a part of aging, but proper nutrition can support eye health as you get older.

Fish oil has been shown to reverse age-related eye disorders like macular degeneration and cortical cataracts.

Another study found fish oil improved the vision of elderly patients after just 90 days of supplementation.

Statins are used to lower cholesterol, but they also inhibit the production of CoQ10, an important enzyme for heart and circulatory health. Omega 3s also offer natural support for heart health by helping to manage inflammation in blood vessels. Our Omega 3/QH Ultra includes a bioavailable form of CoQ10 to help replenish declining levels from statins or aging (CoQ10 production declines substantially after 40).