| es that thrive on a diet of cold water fish tend to | | | | diet for healthy living and is believed to form a natural |
| have a better health profile than cultures that don't. | | | | defense to support heart health. Those who do not |
| When researchers began to study this interesting | | | | like fish, or find it hard to eat fish regularly, find a fish |
| phenomenon, they discovered some remarkable | | | | oil supplement equally beneficial. |
| nutrients in fatty fish. Nutrients that may help people | | | | The Japanese Diet. Japanese men have similar health |
| all over the world support heart health, either by | | | | profiles when compared to their American |
| increasing their intake of fresh fatty fish or taking | | | | counterparts. In fact, Japanese men smoke more |
| fish oil supplements. | | | | than American men, but in spite of this, surveys |
| Greenland Eskimos. This group of people first came | | | | indicate more men die of heart-related ailments in the |
| under research in the 1970s when two Danish | | | | United States than they do in Japan. Researchers |
| scientists began to study the dietary patterns of | | | | believe that this higher incidence of heart health may |
| Eskimos living in Greenland. Up until this time, scientists | | | | have something to do with their diets. Although |
| believed that all fat was bad. | | | | Japanese diets are more "westernized" these days, |
| The typical Eskimo diet consisted of mainly fats from | | | | Japanese men still continue to eat about 3 ounces of |
| fish, whales and seals. Researchers noticed these | | | | fish a day. This is about 8 times higher than the |
| Eskimos maintained a healthy heart profile and the | | | | average American, according to Dr. William Harris, |
| incidence of heart-related ailments was much less | | | | researcher at the American Heart Association. |
| when compared to other cultures that subsisted on | | | | Statistics show that poor heart health is a major killer |
| high-fat diets. After closer study, scientists were able | | | | around the world. It accounts for 30 percent of |
| to conclude that not all fat was bad. In fact, the "fat" | | | | deaths globally. The good news is that there |
| in fatty fish, namely, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and | | | | continues to be a growing body of research that |
| docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), may actually impart | | | | supports the health-promoting benefits of omega 3 |
| health benefits and could be the reason for the | | | | fatty acids. Fish oil supplements combined with a |
| higher heart health statistics prevalent in this culture. | | | | heart healthy diet and exercise regimen are known |
| The Greenland Inuit study encouraged scientists to | | | | to have a positive impact on heart health, perhaps |
| study omega 3 fatty acids in greater depth. It was | | | | even lower the incidence of heart-related ailments by |
| at this time that fish oil supplements as dietary aids | | | | 50 percent according to some studies. |
| were considered a viable option for those living in | | | | Because of these culture studies, further research on |
| other parts of the world. | | | | omega 3 fatty acids confirms the beneficial influence |
| The Mediterranean Diet. The Mediterranean diet is | | | | of omega 3 fatty acids on many other aspects of |
| wholesome and mainly consists of fish, vegetables, | | | | health. Fish oil is considered to be brain food and |
| nuts, olive oil, whole grains and a moderate intake of | | | | research shows it supports healthy brain functions, |
| red meat and red wine. The peoples living in this | | | | including cognitive abilities and mental well-being. DHA |
| region form some of the oldest civilizations in the | | | | is required for healthy development of the brain, |
| world and are known to have the highest longevity. | | | | eyes, and reproductive system. Omega 3 fatty acids |
| Although this diet spans different countries, and | | | | help promote joint health and respiratory health. Fish |
| differs from culture to culture around the | | | | oil is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and |
| Mediterranean region, the essential components | | | | supports immune health. |
| remain the same. | | | | Since these nutrients must be obtained through diet |
| In the 1970s, Dr. Ancel Keys, PhD of the University | | | | alone, a regular intake of fatty fish or a daily dose of |
| of Minnesota compared diets of major societies to | | | | fish oil supplements is necessary. Those who do not |
| their nation-wide heart statistics. He recognized a | | | | get an adequate intake through diet alone are |
| direct relationship between a high-fat diet and | | | | encouraged to take fish oil supplements. |
| prevailing heart-health related ailments. The only | | | | Pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplements like Triple |
| exception to this was the country of Crete, a small | | | | Strength Omega 3 are of the highest purity, since |
| island off the coast of Greece. Although the typical | | | | they are free from contaminants. Such fish oils also |
| diet in Crete was high in fats, the fat was the good | | | | have the highest potency of EPA and DHA. Since fish |
| kind derived from olive oil or fatty fish which are rich | | | | oil supplements could help better your health in a |
| in omega 3 fatty acids. | | | | number of ways increasing your intake of omega-3s |
| The Mediterranean diet gained global recognition in | | | | through fish oil supplement, or fresh fatty fish intake, |
| the 1990s. Since then it has been considered a model | | | | could prove to be a major health investment!! |