FISH OILS CAPSULES

• Less chance of developing heart disease
• Ensures the proper development of brain, nervous tissue and eyes of the fetus during pregnancy
• May live longer, even if we already have heart disease
• Lowers blood pressure
• Lowers risk of heart attack if we already have heart disease
• May improve kidney function in severe diabetes
• May improve certain inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, psoriasis, kidney disease
• Preserves healthy skin

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OMEGA-3S & INFANTS
Throughout our lives we need small amounts of the polyunsaturates found in vegetable oils. We eat plenty of these. Now it is clear that we also need small amounts of fish oil polyunsaturates - omega-3s - for proper brain and eye development.

When babies are developing, their brain and nervous system begin accumulating DHA, one of the fish omega-3s. They use it for building brain tissue, for nerve growth and for the retina in the eye. Before birth, babies get the DHA they need form their mother. After birth they obtain it from breast milk.

Supplies of DHA to the baby are most generous if the mother eats plenty of fish. Babies fed formula may not get any omega-3s. These babies have much less DHA in their nervous tissue than breast-fed babies do. Their eye development may be affected as well.

At the recent omega-3 conference in Washington, scientists showed that premature infants have less DHA in their tissues than full-tern infants. These babies can "catch-up" if they are fed breast milk or fish-oil supplemented formula.

Scientists believe that lack of omega-3s may result in delays or deficiencies in nervous tissue development and possibly impaired vision. They have shown that this happens to animals that do not obtain enough omega-3s in their early life.

For the best growth and development of our children, pregnant and nursing women need adequate amounts of omega-3s. This means encouraging pregnant and nursing women to eat fish regularly. It also means that young children need to consume foods with omega-3s. Infant and baby foods must include a source of omega-3s.

OMEGA-3S IN THE EARLY YEARS
Just as it has become clear that omega-3s are necessary for human development before and after birth, so we are finding out that omega-3s are probably needed in the senior years as well.

Much of the decline in health among older people occurs in tissues where omega-3s are active - the eyes, blood vessels, skin, and the body's immune system. Knowing that omega-3s are a vital part of the structure of many tissues strongly suggests that throughout life we need these fatty acids. They are best provided by eating fish often.

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WHAT ARE OMEGA-3S?
Omega-3s are polyunsaturated fatty acids found almost exclusively in fish and shellfish. They have become a "hot topic" because they can reduce our chance of having a heart attack - even if we already have heart disease.

At an international conference in Washington, D.C. in March 1990 the world's most eminent researchers from more that twenty countries convened to discuss their work on omega-3s. New findings from populations, clinical trials and studies with patients made it clear that omega-3s are vital from cradle to rocker.

We discovered the protective effects of omega-3s by observing Eskimos who eat large amounts of these polyunsaturated fatty acids in their foods. Eskimos almost never develop heart disease. Because people in Western countries have high rates of heart disease, researchers look for the link and found omega-3s in fish oils. Now we know that not only Eskimos, but Japanese, Scandinavians, Dutchmen and even Americans who eat fish frequently have less heart disease.

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OMEGA-3S & HEART DISEASE
Heart disease claims at least half a million lives every year. It restricts the activities of thousands who develop the disease in mid life. We may be able to delay or prevent the onset of heart disease by changing the way we eat. Of course, food alone cannot overcome the ill effects of smoking, high blood pressure, overweight and lack of exercise. But it just may help us live longer.

Dr. Therese Dolecek from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston Salem North Carolina has been studying the records of men in the MRFIT study completed in 1982. In the MRFIT study nearly thirteen thousand men at t high risk of heart disease were studied to see if making changes in their habits could reduce heart disease. What Dr. Dolecek found is that men who ate fish tow or three times a week lived longer than those who did not. Not only did they have less heart disease, they were less likely to die no matter what the cause. Just as importantly, cancer rates were not any higher among the fish eaters.

Longer life is just what Dr. Michael Burr from the Medical Research Council in Cardiff, Wales discovered when he advised his heart patients to change their diet. "Eat at least two portions a week" he said. "Try mackerel, herring, kipper, pilchards, sardines, salmon or trout." Did it make a difference? Those who took his advice to "eat fatty fish at least twice week" lived longer than those who did not eat fish, In fact, fish-eaters were 29 percent likely to die from heart disease.

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HOW OMEGA-3S WORK?
Omega-3s we know discourage many processes involved in heart disease. They make blood clotting more difficult thereby preventing the attack itself. They change how the walls of the blood vessels interact with different cells in the blood. That relaxes our arteries, helps them from becoming clogged and improves blood circulation in the heart. They change the chemistry in our heart affecting heartbeat, the flow of blood and chemical reactions in the blood vessels.

While omega-3s can reduce heart disease,they have little affect on blood cholesterol levels. They can, however, lower blood fats and blood pressure which makes heart attack less likely. They also help keep our arteries open by discouraging the build up of "plaque" in our blood vessels.

The omega-3s that benefit our heart are found almost exclusively n fish, particularly river species like mackerel, salmon, tuna and sardines. We should eat these kinds of fish at least twice a week to obtain enough omega-3s for long lasting benefits.

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OMEGA-3S & HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Eating fish regularly can lower blood pressure. That is good news for millions of Americans who take medication for hypertension. Even better news is that fish oil provided along with certain hypertension medication can prevent the undesirable side effects of the drug. This is especially good news because the side effects tend to increase the risk of heart disease.

Omega-3s offer benefits in high blood pressure that help kidneys, blood. They may eliminate the need for some or all drug treatments in some people. Regularly eating fish can be an important way to improve blood pressure and overall health.

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OMEGA-3S & OTHER DISEASES
Eating fish regularly is probably a wise step for most diabetics. At the recent omega-3 conference in Washington DC evidence was presented that fish can reduce the damage to the kidney that occurs in severe insulin-dependant diabetes. Eating fish regularly offers the diabetic the heart healthy benefits from omega-3s while minimizing the chances of raising blood sugar levels. Taking large doses of fish oil capsules however, may impair blood sugar control in some diabetics. For this reason diabetics should always check with their doctor before taking supplements of any kind.

Recent studies showed that some people with rheumatoid arthritis had fewer painful joints and less fatigue when they took fish oil. We know that the omega-3s found in fish lessen the body's inflammatory processes and help fight the disease. It is hoped that eating fish regularly may reduce the discomfort of arthritis.

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PSORIASIS PATIENTS ALSO BENEFIT FROM OMEGA-3S
In a majority of psoriasis patients fish oil improved their condition but did not eliminate all symptoms When fish oil was combined with other medical treatments, most people responded favorably. In fact, the presence of omega-3s offset the negative side effects of the other medications. Research is underway to see if fish oil can be used with other medications to relieve this distressing condition without any uncomfortable or unsafe side effects.

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HOW MUCH FISH OR OMEGA-3 DO WE NEED?
If we look at how much fish it takes to make a measurable difference in health, it appears that having rich-fleshed fish, on average, about twice a week will bring about distinct health benefits. In Dr. Burr's study among people who already had had a heart attack, those who ate about 10 ounces of rich fish a week were the ones who lived longer. Earlier work has indicated that eating fish two or three times a week and keeping overall fat intake low, extends life. The wisdom of including fish at least every week is no longer doubted. Our body cannot make omega-3s from other sources and needs them from food. Helping ourselves to fish is helping ourselves to health.

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WHAT ABOUT FISH OIL CAPSULES?
Eating fish not only provides omega-3s but also lowers saturated fat intake. Both effects lower the risk of heart disease. Eating fish in place of fattier foods lowers the amount of saturated fatty aids we consume. This is like getting two benefits for the price of one.

Taking fish oil capsules, a short cut to omega-3s, actually increase our fat intake and has no effect on our saturated fat intake. The safety of fish oil capsules has not been adequately established. Their composition and level of refinement vary widely. Some contain undesirable contaminants. Fish liver oils contain high levels of cholesterol and vitamins A and D which are harmful in large amounts.