Fish Oil Data

Provides an overview of fish oil and omega 3 fatty acids.

According to the renowned research scientist Dr. Barry Sears, Research is increasingly looking at high dose fish oil. Fish oil has long been studied, but especially since the Greenland Natives were analyzed by European doctors in the 1970's.

Fish oil impacts a particular group of hormones. The more fish oil that is injested, the more "good" and the fewer "bad" eicosanoids(a type of hormone) a person will have in their body. A key for 21st century medicine will be to balance these specific hormones.

High dose fish oil appears to be the best source of long chain omega-3 fatty acids, largely because the purification methods are so advanced. Unlike in the traditional cod-liver oil, modern methods have all but eliminated impurities from high-grade fish oil. Fish oil contains EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), both of which are long chain omega-3 fatty acids.

Essential fatty acids are grouped into 2 families, omega-6 EFAs and the omega-3 EFAs. Essential fatty acids are grouped into two families ---. Generally
speaking, omega 6 fatty acids promote the production of the
"bad"eicosanoids, responsible for cellular inflammation with in the cells of
the body, while long chain omega 3 fatty acids do the opposite.

The US National Institutes of Health has Recognized the benefits of DHA and EPA and has published Recommended Daily Intakes of fatty acids. They recommend a daily intake of 650 mg of DHA and EPA, and 4.44 g/day of linoleic acid.

Dr. Sears states that the purity of the fish oil is the single most important factor to consider when taking it as a supplement. To manufacture ultra refined fish oil requires extensive purification. It actually takes about 100 gallons of health-food grade fish oil to make a single gallon of ultra refined fish oil. Dr Sears holds 13 U.S. patents in this field of medicine, and is the author of the 1995 New York Times bestseller 'The Zone' and several other books.

His newest book, 'The Omega RX Zone', along with his ultra refined fish oil supplements and patented Zone diet bars, which also contain fish oil, can be found at http://www.aaronsfreebies.com/fishoils.html This site also contains more information on the benefits of omega 3's and on how to check the purity levels of fish oil. His 'fish oil faq' in particular is a must read.

If you intend to supplement your diet with fish oil, it may be a good idea to take pharmaceutical grade fish oil as you do not have the same concerns about mercury and pcb's as you may have with an inferior fish oil product.