While most Americans eat way too much of the omega-6 oils found in meats and most vegetable oils, they suffer a relative deficiency of the omega-3 oils, a situation that is associated with an increased risk for heart disease and about sixty other conditions including cancer, arthritis, stroke, high blood pressure, skin diseases, and diabetes. Particularly important to good health are the longer chain omega-3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) found in fish, especially cold water fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, and halibut. Although the body can convert alphalinoleic acid, a short chain omega-3 fatty acid, from flaxseed oil it is much more efficient to get them from fish oils. Furthermore, there is evidence that many people have a difficult time converting alphalinoleic acid to EPA and DHA.

A diet that is efficient in omega 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 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. Long chain omega-3 fatty acids have shown tremendous protective effects against all of these diseases.
 

Long chain omega-3 fatty acids, but not alpha-linoleic acid, 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.

The ability to produce a highly concentrated form of long chain omega-3 fatty acids that is free from lipid peroxides, heavy metals, environmental contaminants, and other harmful compounds is now possible. These products are considered “pharmaceutical grade” marine lipid concentrates.
 

Deepti Sadhwani, MD is located at Quality Health Care in Sebastian. She specializes in Zone Dietary Management of obesity. For more information on Pharmaceutical grade RxOMEGA-3 fish oil call Dr. Sadhwani at 772-581-2373