Nutrition:  Omega 3’s

Omega 3 Fish oils are one of the top five important supplements to take daily. Omega 3’s, like vitamin D3 with K2, are anti-inflammatory. Systemic inflammation, is one of the drivers of Lifestyle Diseases – also called Diseases of Civilization, that plague our country. We are a sick nation, and the data shows we are sicker each year. Examples of Lifestyle Diseases are atherosclerosis, heart disease, stroke, obesity, type 2 diabetes and cancer. So why are omega 3’s important? They are anti-inflammatory, and we cannot consume enough through our diet. Each and every cell in our bodies are held together by a cell membrane. Each cell membrane is constructed of a semipermeable lipid (fat) bilayer. The composition of this layer is determined by the fats we consume in our food. Vegetable oils/fats found in junk food, processed food etc., are pro-inflammatory and promote disease. A diet high in vegetable fats (Omega 6’s) – with little or no Omega 3 intake – causes systemic inflammation, and compromises our health and vitality.

One of the most important facts to be aware of regarding Omega 3’s, is the issue of quality. First off – there is no meaningful oversite in the supplement industry – so you never know what you are going to get. Companies that do third party testing of the materials going into supplements, and third party testing of the final product, are most reliable in terms of quality. These supplements tend to be more expensive, but remember, you get what you pay for and high quality Omega 3’s are worth the extra money. Cheap Omega’s are frequently rancid and do more harm than good. The two important qualities you want your Omega 3’s to have are: 1) Molecularly distilled – this removes the heavy metals from the oil. 2) Pharmaceutical grade – this means that strict purity standards have been met. In the case of Metagenic’s Omega 3’s, “The purification technologies for our formulas exceed the highest international standards”. Metagenics meets both these standards of quality. They offer a number of different choices of the Omegas they sell. Based on the 20 hours of continuing education I have attended on Omegas alone, I personally use and recommend the OmegaGenics EPA-DHA 1,000. Three per day is the recommended maintenance dose, but if you are deficient, a higher dose is indicated. You may visit our estore at  MResetarits.metagenics.com if you are interested in obtaining this product.

( Metagenics product code: EPATG120. They offer 20% off first estore order or 10% off and free shipping for a subscription).

What does the label mean? When reading the label on bottles of Omega 3’s, the important values to look at, are the amount of EPA and DHA. These are the essential fatty acids in Omega 3’s that provide the greatest benefit for one’s overall health. One sign of an inferior Omega product, is that it won’t have the amount of EPA-DHA listed on the label. As mentioned in the previous email, research shows that the ideal maintenance dose of Omega 3’s (and this is different than a loading dose), is 3,000mg of EPA & DHA. If you are deficient in Omega 3’s, which can be determined by testing, a loading dose is indicated. A loading dose is 8,000mg to 9,000mg of EPA & DHA daily for 3 months, and then retest to see how your levels have changed. It can take 6 to 9 months to reach desired levels in your blood. Another point that requires clarification is serving size. Serving size is the manufacturer telling you the contents of each serving. A serving may be 1, 2, or 3 pills. A therapeutic dose is the amount of a supplement that has been shown to provide the greatest benefit – based on research. So often, to achieve the therapeutic dose, you may need to take anywhere from 1 to 10, or sometimes 20, servings in a day. Start supplementing with Metagenics Omegagenics EPA – DHA 1,000 today. The actions we take today, determine our health in the future! You can order at our estore at Mresetarits.metagenics.com *You will notice Metagenics has designed a new platform, making it easier to shop online. Be well, Dr. Mark

I mentioned in the last email that testing is available to determine your Omega 3 levels. Testing is important, because proper dosing is based on knowing the current levels in your blood. 

We have test kits available in the office. The kits are finger pricks, which you purchase, and take home to perform. You then send the blotter with your blood to be processed, and the results come to the clinic, where we will schedule time to review them. 

This test quantifies pro-inflammatory fats (Omega 6-vegetable oils), versus anti-inflammatory fats (Omega 3 fish oils). The ideal ratio of Omega 6 : Omega 3, is 3:1. When measured, anything at or above 15:1 – is shown in the research, to be an indicator that YOU WILL develop at least one of the diseases of civilization.  

The research shows that the average American has a ratio of 25:1!! While there are many causes and variables that contribute to the diseases of civilization – this test is one of the single most revealing indicators. And it is something that can be fairly easily remedied, when one makes a commitment to taking Omega 3’s daily. 

So, a quick review. A maintenance dose is 3,000mg of EPA+DHA (not toal Omega’s) per day. A loading dose should be taken when you are deficient, as most people are, at 8,000mg per day of EPA+DHA 6 to 9 months, and then retest to adjust the dose. 

You can order at our estore at Mresetarits.metagenics.com. The product code is EPATG120. *You will notice Metagenics has designed a new platform, making it easier to shop online.