| Imagine building a house without some of the | | | | " Facilitate the child's brain development. |
| essential materials. Well it simply wouldn't work, it | | | | " Prevent preeclampsia (high blood pressure in |
| would be leaky, drafty, insufficiently insulated, and | | | | pregnancy). |
| would probably collapse during the first storm. | | | | " Prevent postpartum depression. |
| Our cells are no different to a house. They all | | | | " Prevent menopausal problems. |
| have a blueprint (DNA) and are meant to be | | | | " Prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis. |
| constructed according to the plan. However when | | | | " Prevent breast cancer. |
| the body makes a request for a particular | | | | " Lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good |
| nutrient to complete the cell construction, it's gets | | | | cholesterol (HDL) - this is especiallyimportant for |
| a message that the reserves are empty or being | | | | women receiving hormone therapy, which can |
| held only for the key organs, needed to keep you | | | | increase bad cholesterol. |
| alive. | | | | Buyer Beware |
| One of those essential nutrients are 'Essential | | | | When buying Omega 3 Fish oils, you need to |
| Fatty Acids' - Essential because our body can't | | | | make sure the product; |
| make them, so we need to get them from food. | | | | 1. Contains antioxidants to prevent the oil from |
| Essential fatty acids (EFA's) are necessary for; | | | | oxidizing and going rancid |
| - Normal brain and nervous system function | | | | (a.k.a. lipid peroxidation). |
| - Visual acuity and cognition | | | | 2. Has been tested for mercury, dioxin and |
| - Hormone and prostaglandin regulation | | | | polychlorinated biphenyls (PBCs), andmeets the |
| - Healthy placental growth | | | | established safety limits. |
| - Brain and liver development in the foetus | | | | Fish that live a long time (e.g. swordfish, shark |
| The central nervous system starts to develop 21 | | | | & tuna) have a longer time to accumulate |
| days after conception; because of this it is | | | | environmental toxins. Try to make sure your fish |
| essential that the mother's reserves are optimal | | | | oil comes from wild sardines or wild salmon. |
| before conception. | | | | What we all need to be mindful of, is, the ever |
| EFA's are also very important for; | | | | increasing demand for the ocean fish reserves. |
| - The health of breasts and mammary glands | | | | Studies have shown, worldwide, the demand for |
| - Growth of the uterus in the mother | | | | wild fish is now greater than the ocean can supply |
| EFA's can protect against SIDS (sudden infant | | | | and projections suggest complete reliance on |
| death syndrome) and post natal depression and | | | | aquaculture (farmed fish) by 2050. |
| have been found to be effective in the treatment | | | | A solution to this problem is Krill Oil - abundant |
| of endometriosis, heavy periods, cramping and | | | | zooplankton found in the Antarctic waters. Krill Oil |
| mild depression. Deficiency has been linked to male | | | | is eaten by whales and other fish. It possesses a |
| infertility and can lead to congenital malformations | | | | fatty acid profile comparable with fish oils. It is a |
| and spontaneous abortions. Omega 3 and 6 are | | | | more sustainable solution comparable to fish oils. |
| known as EFA's. Omega 6 is readily available in | | | | How much do you need? |
| food (nuts and seeds and vegetable oils) but | | | | The recommended therapeutic dose of Omega 3 |
| Omega 3 is harder to come by and the need for | | | | (RTD) is 1000mg three times per day, with food. |
| Omega 3 increases during pregnancy and lactation. | | | | Never have them on an empty stomach, as they |
| Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), are the | | | | won't absorb properly. |
| building blocks of membranes of all cells in the | | | | How do you store it? |
| body, and precursors of eciosanoids, hormones | | | | In the fridge. |
| important in the prevention and treatment of | | | | If you get fishy burps, you can put it in the |
| many diseases, especially in women. | | | | freezer and have the capsules frozen, this way |
| For example period crams a.k.a. dysmenorrhea, | | | | they'll thaw out in your small intestines instead of |
| stem from disturbed balance between | | | | your stomach. |
| anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory hormones. | | | | Food Sources |
| By increasing the intake of omega 3 fatty acids | | | | Deep sea fish, wild salmon, red snapper, wild |
| your period cramps can vanish. | | | | trout, herring, halibut, sardines, walnuts, almonds, |
| I speak here from first hand experience. As a | | | | nuts, seeds, flaxseed oil (only 20% gets |
| teenager, I couldn't leave the house without a | | | | converted into the active form), grass fed meat, |
| Ponstan (a painkiller) on the first day of my | | | | hemp seed oil. |
| period. When I learned at college about omega 3's | | | | References |
| I started taking the supplement every day and | | | | 1. Arthur, R.'Omega-3 Sources'. The Journal of |
| within 2 cycles I never had to use Ponstan again, | | | | Complementary Medicine, |
| my cramps were gone. | | | | May/June 2009 Vol 8 No 3. |
| Studies have shown that omega 3 fatty acids; | | | | 2. Saldeen P, Saldeen T. 'Women and omega-3 |
| " Facilitate pregnancy in women with infertility | | | | Fatty acids'. Obstet Gynecol Surv. |
| problems by increasing uterine blood flow. | | | | 2004 Oct;59(10):722-30; quiz 745-6. |
| " Promote fetal growth by improving placental | | | | 3. Keene, I. 2008. "Natural Fertility Prescription", |
| blood flow. | | | | Australian Natural Therapeutics, |
| " Lower the risk of premature birth, by increasing | | | | Switzerland. |
| the length of pregnancy and birth weight. | | | | |