ereks mom Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 I asked this before, but got no response, so I'm trying again. ;) I'm just wondering about the benefits of essential fatty acid supplements and which forms/supplements are most effective? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 The ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids in the typical American diet is very out of whack, in part because cattle which naturally eat grass are being fed grain which changes (drastically) the amount of Omega 6 vs Omega 3 that beef provides. And there are many other factors. The bottom line? No one supplements Omega 6 because there is already relatively too much in our diets. It's boosting the Omega 3s that is the issue. The most efficient way to do that is through fish oil supplements, eating "fatty" fish, and if you can, eating "grass-fed" beef, lamb, and bison. Flax is a vegetarian source. The Omega 3 from flax is evidently in a precursor form that is not as easily converted to use as fish oil, but on the other hand if you have a vegetarian diet your probably not bombarding your body with the imbalanced EFA ratios typical of a person eating grain-fed beef. The benefits of Omega 3 seem vast. Even if some of the most extreme health claims are discounted, it's conventional wisdom that Omega 3 supplementation is a good idea for most people. Fish oil/Omega 3 do act to some degree like "blood thinners" so there is a small minority of people with bleeding issues, or who are taking thinning agents where supplements may be contraindicated. Ask you doctor. Bill (not a doctor...standard medical disclaimer :D) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolash Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 We've just returned from the ped's office with instructions for taking an omega 3 supplement to help with ds9's just diagnosed acid reflux. She went over the benefits (I can't remember them all right now) but said that "reputable" studies are finding more and more benefits for the heart, digestive health, etc etc. I'm off to do more research. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reya Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 I asked this before, but got no response, so I'm trying again. ;) I'm just wondering about the benefits of essential fatty acid supplements and which forms/supplements are most effective? Supposed to be good for your heart, your brain, and your baby's brain. Too much can cause damage. I just match the amount int he prescription prenatal vits. I can't take prenatals because it makes DD really sick (tummy-wise). If you eat enoguh fish, you don't need it. I'm scared of mercury and DH hates fish, and since I pretty much cook for him....no fish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Bill aka Spy Car summed it up pretty well. As to a good source for Omega 3 - my Naturopath told me Cod Liver Oil is still one of the best sources but it's also abundant in Sardines (canned in oil) and salmon. By the way, Cod Liver Oil does not taste as nasty anymore - they add lemon or orange to the oil and this makes it much easier to swallow. Radiant Life and Arctic makes high quality CLO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songbirdie Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 I've read claims in articles that it helps with ADD-type of disorders, but have not seen any actual results from studies done on this. My doctor says it certainly benefits the brain, heart, and other soft tissues in the body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Bill aka Spy Car summed it up pretty well.As to a good source for Omega 3 - my Naturopath told me Cod Liver Oil is still one of the best sources but it's also abundant in Sardines (canned in oil) and salmon. By the way, Cod Liver Oil does not taste as nasty anymore - they add lemon or orange to the oil and this makes it much easier to swallow. Radiant Life and Arctic makes high quality CLO. Cod liver oil is controversial in some quarters due to the very high levels of vitamin A (unlike "fish oil"). Due diligence is in order if one is thinking about cod liver oil. A vitamin A over-dose is especially a concern with pregnant women who might other -wise be good candidates for fish oil (omega 3s are critical for fetal brain development) as too much vitamin A can lead to birth defects. Bill (who repeats the disclaimer that he's not a physician and should not be relied on for medical advice) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBM Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Here is a short article listing some of the health benefits: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400149/balancing-omega-3-and-omega-6.html I've taken one tablespoonful of Carlson's fish oil daily for years, but it's best to also remove excess omega-6 fatty acids from your diet as well. The goal is to get a more optimal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3. Vegetable oils like corn, sunflower, safflower, soy, and cottonseed are also a major source of omega-6. To further confound you, olive oil is largely omega-9 which is not technically an essential fatty acid. Here is a website to check the ratio of omega-3s and -6s in foods: http://www.nutritiondata.com Is your head spinning yet? :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy in MD Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 I asked this before, but got no response, so I'm trying again. ;) I'm just wondering about the benefits of essential fatty acid supplements and which forms/supplements are most effective? Per my ds's dev. pediatrician, Omega -3 fatty acids will replace Omega-6 fatty acids in the cell walls over a period of a few months. Because omega-3 is more flexible than omega-6, cells become more flexible. This in turn makes for more flexible arteries and veins. This improves blood flow throughtout the body, helping both the circulatory system and (I think) increasing blood flow to the brain. Our dev. ped prescribes it for many developmental problems, including ADD, poor memory and other things. A nice side effect I've discovered is that my skin and lips stops cracking in winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 A vitamin A over-dose is especially a concern with pregnant women who might other -wise be good candidates for fish oil (omega 3s are critical for fetal brain development) as too much vitamin A can lead to birth defects. I'm going to have to respectfully disagree. Too little Vitamin A is the bigger concern with the modern diet, particularly for pregnant and breastfeeding moms. Studies that have (ineffectively, imo) shown that Vit A is dangerous did not distinguish between retinol, a synthetic form of the vitamin commonly used in multi-vitamins and other supplements and food "fortifications", and the natural Vitamin A complex in foods such as cod liver oil. Natural Vitamin A is absolutely necessary for healthy pregnancy and infant development, which is why cultures which eat a traditional diet always give Vitamin A-rich foods preferentially to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Vitamin A plays many vital roles in the adult body as well, and several aspects of modern life (e.g. consumption of unnatural fats such as hydrogenated oils, drinking alcohol, eating iron-fortified grain products) and common health problems (such as thyroid problems and diabetes) reduce our body's ability to assimilate it and deplete its stores. I very highly recommend the article linked below, and I personally think there is no better dietary supplement a person can take than cod liver oil. Not only is it a wonderful source of DHA, EPA, and Vitamin A, it also has much-needed natural Vitamin D as well (which, interestingly, prevents Vitamin A toxicity! and has numerous other health benefits also.) But I admit my bias due to personal experience. :001_smile: CLO has had many dramatic health benefits for me and my daughter, so I'm highly motivated to defend it! http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnutrition/vitaminasaga.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 I'm going to have to respectfully disagree. Too little Vitamin A is the bigger concern with the modern diet, particularly for pregnant and breastfeeding moms. Studies that have (ineffectively, imo) shown that Vit A is dangerous did not distinguish between retinol, a synthetic form of the vitamin commonly used in multi-vitamins and other supplements and food "fortifications", and the natural Vitamin A complex in foods such as cod liver oil. Natural Vitamin A is absolutely necessary for healthy pregnancy and infant development, which is why cultures which eat a traditional diet always give Vitamin A-rich foods preferentially to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Vitamin A plays many vital roles in the adult body as well, and several aspects of modern life (e.g. consumption of unnatural fats such as hydrogenated oils, drinking alcohol, eating iron-fortified grain products) and common health problems (such as thyroid problems and diabetes) reduce our body's ability to assimilate it and deplete its stores. I very highly recommend the article linked below, and I personally think there is no better dietary supplement a person can take than cod liver oil. Not only is it a wonderful source of DHA, EPA, and Vitamin A, it also has much-needed natural Vitamin D as well (which, interestingly, prevents Vitamin A toxicity! and has numerous other health benefits also.) But I admit my bias due to personal experience. :001_smile: CLO has had many dramatic health benefits for me and my daughter, so I'm highly motivated to defend it! http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnutrition/vitaminasaga.html I realize there is a controversy, and frankly I'm not particularly well-informed on the issue, which was why I suggest "due diligence." Studies may very well be flawed, and Cod liver oil may be just the thing. But many mainstream sources warn of vitamin A overdoses causing problems (including birth defects), so I raised the issue so that people (especially pregnant women) could at least make an informed decision. Mine is not the last word, I just didn't feel comfortable not putting the information about potential risks out there for consideration. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 I realize there is a controversy, and frankly I'm not particularly well-informed on the issue, which was why I suggest "due diligence." Studies may very well be flawed, and Cod liver oil may be just the thing. But many mainstream sources warn of vitamin A overdoses causing problems (including birth defects), so I raised the issue so that people (especially pregnant women) could at least make an informed decision. Mine is not the last word, I just didn't feel comfortable not putting the information about potential risks out there for consideration. Bill I completely understand, Bill, and I hope I didn't sound too argumentative! :blushing: It seems like I hear a lot of warnings and negativity about Vitamin A, so I only wanted to present the other side of the debate so that people aren't unduly afraid of a vital nutrient. Didn't mean to pick on you personally though. Due diligence is always a good idea, and I should have made the same disclaimer that I am not a medical professional of any sort, and this is just my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 I completely understand, Bill, and I hope I didn't sound too argumentative! :blushing: It seems like I hear a lot of warnings and negativity about Vitamin A, so I only wanted to present the other side of the debate so that people aren't unduly afraid of a vital nutrient. Didn't mean to pick on you personally though. Due diligence is always a good idea, and I should have made the same disclaimer that I am not a medical professional of any sort, and this is just my opinion. We are totally good :001_smile: Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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