WHAT ARE OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS?

Omega-3 fatty acids are a class of polyunsaturated fats that are essential for optimum health and longevity.

We must obtain omega-3s through diet and/or supplementation as the body can’t make them on its own. Unsaturated fatty acids differ from saturated fatty acids in that double bonds exist in their chemical structure, giving them unique physiological roles. The term omega-3   denotes that the first double bond is three carbons away from the omega   (tail-end) carbon.

There are three types of Omega-3 fatty acids, but two of them in particular are crucial for optimum health — eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are rather abundant in marine food sources. The other omega-3 fatty acid is alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which appears to play a lesser role in humans. Many of the modern diseases faced in the Western world stem from excess oxidative stress from free radicals and uncontrolled inflammation.(1) When excessive oxidative stress and inflammation persist, DNA can be damaged; in turn, this weakens the immune system, expedites age-related neurodegeneration, and contributes to development of conditions like diabetes, arthritis, and hypertension.(2)

BENEFITS OF OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS

Interestingly, research has shown that diets with a high amount of omega-6 fatty acids and low amount of omega-3 fatty acids promote inflammation.

Most nuts/seeds contain a high amount of omega-6 fatty acids and a lower amount of omega-3 fatty acids (with the exception of a few, such as chia seeds). However, when omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are ingested in a proper ratio, they actually fight inflammation. For example, when joint regions are subject to physiological stress, the concurrent increase in cytokines can lead to inflammation and pain. Research seems to suggest that omega-3 fatty acids mitigate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (specifically interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha) and thus reduce the aforementioned inflammation of joint regions.

Omega-3 fatty acids that have myriad other essential roles in the human body including:(3,4)
• Bolstering immune function
• Reduce anxiety
• Cell membrane formation
• Protection of organs
• Proper hormone signaling
• Energy production
• Improving heart health
• Keeping skin vibrant

Omega-3s are well-tolerated and safe in doses upwards of 5-6 grams per day. Studies seem to suggest that a combined intake of EPA+DHA in the range of 1-3g/day is sufficient for health and longevity purposes.(5) ALA is less potent than the other two omega-3s and can be taken at higher doses (~3-5g/day).

Do note that excessively high doses (>10g/day) of omega-3s may decrease your body’s immune defenses and ability to clot blood; therefore, it is generally advised to avoid exorbitant amounts of omega-3 supplementation/consumption, especially prior to surgery and other medical procedures.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KRILL & FISH OIL

Unfortunately, eating large amounts of fish products can lead to buildup of toxins, such as mercury, in the body. Thus, it is prudent to supplement with omega-3 fatty acids. Many people rely on fish oil supplements to get their EPA and DHA in, but they may benefit from switching to a Krill oil supplement instead.

Krill oil is comprised of omega-3 phospholipids and triglycerides which are more efficiently absorbed, yielding a higher bioactive dose of EPA and DHA on a per gram basis than standard fish oils. Moreover, Krill oil contains potent antioxidants such as astaxanthin, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E which enhance the absorption of omega-3 fatty acids and bolster immunity.

Also, one of the most common side effects of many supplemental fish oil products is fish burps, which can be pretty annoying. Thankfully, Krill oil supplements that are high quality don’t typically cause this issue.

WHICH IS BETTER?

Research has shown that Krill oil supplements are much more efficacious in terms of safety (i.e. less environmental toxins) and absorption than fish oil supplements.(6)

Also, fish oil supplements have basically no micronutrient content (antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, etc…) unless they are synthetically added, whereas Krill oil contains them naturally.  In short, Krill oil is superior to fish oil for long-term health and longevity.

LEAN BODY FOR HER FRILL OIL: PREMIUM OMEGA-3 FATTY ACID

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Jamie Eason’s Lean Body for Her Krill Oil is a premium source of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants to help promote total health and wellbeing for women. Krill Oil for Her is free from toxins such as mercury and PCBs that typically accompany fish consumption.

Most importantly, with Lean Body for Her Krill Oil, you get a premium product that is derived from a renewable resource, resists oxidation (unlike inferior fish oil supplements), fights inflammation and oxidative stress from free radicals, has better absorption than fish oil and won’t leave you with dreaded fish burps.

Click HERE to read more about Jamie Eason’s Lean Body for Her Krill Oil and how to order!

References:
1) Adlercreutz, H. (1990). Western diet and Western diseases: some hormonal and biochemical mechanisms and associations. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, 50(sup201), 3-23.
2) Finkel, T., & Holbrook, N. J. (2000). Oxidants, oxidative stress and the biology of aging. Nature, 408(6809), 239-247.
3) Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser, Martha A. Belury, Rebecca Andridge, William B. Malarkey, Ronald Glaser.Omega-3 Supplementation lowers inflammation and anxiety in medical students: A randomized controlled trial. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2011; DOI:
4) Kris-Etherton, P. M., Harris, W. S., & Appel, L. J. (2003). Fish consumption, fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, and cardiovascular disease. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, 23 (2), e20-e30.
5) Kremer, J. M., Lawrence, D. A., Petrillo, G. F., Litts, L. L., Mullaly, P. M., Rynes, R. I., … & Bigaouette, J. (1995). Effects of high‐dose fish oil on rheumatoid arthritis after stopping nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs clinical and immune correlates. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 38 (8), 1107-1114.
6) Maki, K. C., Reeves, M. S., Farmer, M., Griinari, M., Berge, K., Vik, H., … & Rains, T. M. (2009). Krill oil supplementation increases plasma concentrations of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in overweight and obese men and women. Nutrition research, 29 (9), 609