Description
Omega-3 is essential for life.
There are three types of Omega-3 oils
- EPA
- DHA
- ALA
EPA and DHA are produced by animals, particularly cold-water fish such as salmon and sardines. ALA is found in plants. Our bodies can convert ALA to EPA and DHA, but this conversion is very inefficient in most people and varies genetically, so it is best to get it from marine sources.
Omega-3 levels are measured by what is called the Omega-3 Index. An Omega-3 index of at least 8% is necessary to obtain all the health benefits it provides, yet the average Omega-3 index in the US is only about 4%, which means many people are even below that.
It is estimated that 80% of the world population is deficient in Omega-3, but that figure rises to 95% in the US population!
People with a high Omega-3 index of at least 8% had a 90% reduced risk of sudden cardiac death compared to those with an Omega-3 index of 4%. Perhaps one of the reasons for this is that it lowers triglycerides, which are highly correlated to heart disease, and it also inhibits excessive blood clotting and blood cell flexibility. A study from Harvard in 2009 identified Omega-3 deficiency as one of the top six preventable causes of death.
One of these Omega 3’s, DHA, actually forms about 14% of the solid matter in the brain, so you can imagine how important it must be for brain health, particularly during one’s early years when the brain is developing and again later in life to maintain the brain’s integrity and proper function.
It has been estimated that 84,000 deaths a year can be attributed to not getting enough EPA and DHA. This is similar to the 82,000 deaths attributable to eating harmful trans-fats, which are now banned in the US. Statistics show that those that do not smoke but have low Omega-3 levels have the same mortality rate as those that smoke but have high levels of Omega-3. In other words, having low Omega-3 seems to be as deleterious as smoking!
It has been observed that in general those with higher Omega-3 levels have a 5-year longer life expectancy.
You will be glad to know that 1.5 to 2.0 grams of Omega-3 daily can raise your Omega-3 levels from 4% to the optimal 8%. Our CONTINNUM Omega-3 HP (High Potency) is contained in enteric capsules which will avoid the fishy aftertaste we all hate.
