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Why you need omega-3s: you can find the answer to so many health problems--from dry eyes to depression--in fish oils.
THE BASICS: The omega-3 family of oils is essential for health, particularly for normal brain development and heart function. If you eat a lot of processed, packaged or fast foods--or cook at home with corn or safflower oil--odds are that you don't get enough omega-3s. That's because such foods contain large amounts of omega-6s, a competing family of dietary oils.
ALIAS: The two stars of the omega-3 family are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), found in cold-water fish and omega-3 fish oil supplements. In scientific papers, the omega-3s are often referred to as "n-3." In Europe, they are sometimes called menhaden oils.
HOW THEY WORK: The omega-3 oils have far-reaching roles in health, affecting the activity of genes and how cells communicate with one another. However, they may be best known for their anti-inflammatory benefits. Recent research has found that the omega-3s are the building blocks of powerful anti-inflammatory compounds known as resolvins and neuroprotectins. EPA and DHA also get converted to several hormone-like anti-inflammatory compounds.
HEALTH BENEFITS: Both conventional and alternative-minded physicians frequently recommend taking omega-3 oils for their many benefits.
* Heart Health. The omega-3s protect the heart in several key ways. They reduce inflammation--important because low-grade inflammation of arteries is now regarded as the cause of coronary heart disease. The omega-3s are mild blood thinners, slow the heart rate, and improve blood-vessel flexibility. They also improve heart rhythm, reducing the risk of erratic heartbeats called arrhythmias.
It's never too late to start taking omega-3 fish oils. European researchers recently gave 8g of omega-3 fish oil capsules daily to coronary artery bypass patients. The patients' "bad" very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol decreased and their "good" high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased. They also had relatively low levels of troponin, a marker of surgery-related heart damage.
* Cancer Prevention. The omega-3s may reduce the risk of many different types of cancer, including prostate and breast cancers. The reason gets back to their competition with omega-6 oils. In large amounts, the omega-6s have a cancer-stimulating effect. In contrast, the omega-3s inhibit the growth of cancers. Today, people consume at least 15 times more omega-6s, but in ancient times they ate roughly equal amounts.
- Dry eyes.(omega-3 fats)(Brief Article)
- Newspaper article from: Nutrition Action Healthletter December 1, 2005 700+ words
...less than twice a week. In contrast, those who ate higher levels of omega-6 fats and lower levels of omega-3s were 2 1/2 times more likely to have dry eyes. (We get omega-6 fats from the soybean and other oils in mayonnaise, salad dressings...
- Eating fish may be key to easing dry eyes.(Brief Article)
- Magazine article from: Environmental Nutrition December 1, 2005 700+ words
...found that women with a high intake of omega-3 fatty acids from fish have a lower...women reported their dietary intakes of omega-3 fatty acids. Those with the highest...intake. Tuna was the most common source of omega-3s; the greater a participant's intake...
- How blackcurrants soothe dry eyes.(News)
- Newspaper article from: The Daily Mail (London, England) May 19, 2009 700+ words
...and sometimes to a deterioration of vision. In the U.S. trial, the supplement will be taken by patients every day. The omega fatty acids, Vitamin C and other antioxidants found in blackcurrants and fish oils are thought to work as anti-inflammatories...
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- Magazine article from: Saturday Evening Post SerVaas, Cory Braun, Wendy March 1, 2008 700+ words
...taking oral flaxseed for "dry eyes" and was pleased by an...syndrome. Others say the omega-3 supplement is a happy...characterized by dry mouth and dry eyes. Positive findings were...Dr. Valluri responds: "Omega-3 fatty acids found in...
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- Ophthalmology And Optometry - Dry Eyes Drug Pipeline Report Is Available Now.
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...Markets: Ophthalmology And Optometry - Dry Eyes Drug Pipeline Report Is Available...of "Ophthalmology and Optometry - Dry Eyes Drug Pipeline Report" to their offering "Ophthalmology and Optometry - Dry Eyes Drug Pipeline Report" contains detailed...
- Tear film breakup time (B.U.T.) in sub clinical dry eyes.(Original Article)
- Magazine article from: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology Kulshrestha, O. Talwar, Puspa Mathur, Madhu September 1, 1984 700+ words
...Deficiency of tear secretions lead to dry eyes. Severe dryness is easy to diagnose and difficult to manage. Subclinical dry eyes are the ones which involve frequent consultation...the patient. Diagnosis of subclinical dry eyes is impor-tant though difficult unless...
- TheraLife Announces Highly Successful Results From Clinical Trial for...
- Press release article from: PR Newswire November 8, 2001 700+ words
...clinical efficacy" for conditions including dry eyes, eye fatigue, eyestrain, computer vision...that our unique oral formulations relieve dry eyes and eye fatigue in cases where conventional...for a systemic capsule that can treat dry eyes through increased tear secretion, and...
