NUTRILITE® OCEAN ESSENTIALS® Balanced Health Omega-3
You have most likely heard us talking about fish oil benefits for arthritis pain, for heart health, and for mental focus. Omega 3 fish oil has so many benefits, that it is one of those supplements we do not want to forget to take. Because it is part of every cell membrane, it can affect so many aspects of our health, including our mental health. This article from webMD talks about the benefits of supplementing with Omega 3 fish oil for relieving depression. Not only does our diet affect our physical body but it also affects our mood and our mental acuity. I would think it wise to pay attention, as this is pure wisdom. Check it out.
"A handful of small studies have suggested that omega-3 fatty acids can help smooth out the mood swings of bipolar disorder. There are few effective treatments against the disease, so the news is a hot topic now at support groups for manic-depressives, like the Berkeley, CA, group in which Dave participates.
The first news to attract attention was a 1998 report in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Researchers noted significantly lower levels of omega-3's in the red blood cell membranes of patients with depression.
Then in the May 1999 Archives of General Psychiatry, Andrew Stoll, M.D., and colleagues reported a study of fish oil in 30 manic-depressive patients. Sixty-four percent of those who took 10 grams of fish oil per day for four months reported a marked improvement in their symptoms. By contrast, only 19 percent of those receiving the placebo benefited.
A Visual Guide to Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Cell Softeners?
These studies aren't the only research that points to the benefits of fish oil for mood problems. "There are a lot of reasons to believe it works," says Stoll. "In countries where the average fish consumption is high we see lower rates of depression."
On the biochemical front, researchers point out that cell membranes are made up partly of omega-3's. It is possible that increasing the omega-3 levels makes it easier for serotonin -- a chemical that carries messages from one brain cell to another -- to pass through cell membranes. "Research still needs to be done on the exact mechanisms involved," Stoll notes, "but we do know that omega-3 does affect the membranes and changes functioning." And increasing omega-3 "has direct effects on serotonin levels."
Diet and Depression
Joseph Hibbeln, M.D., a psychiatrist at the National Institute of Health, thinks omega-3's might explain why the rate of depression is rising in the United States.
In a health-conscious push to rid our diets of saturated fats and cholesterol, Americans have been eating less red meat and eggs -- two good sources of omega-3's. Furthermore, we have been switching to the polyunsaturated fats, such as corn, soybean, and sunflower oils, which are relatively low in omega-3's.
Supplement or Go Fish"
You may have heard to limit your intake of ocean fish because of contamination of mercury. This is true, so eating as much as we actually need is most likely not the answer; however, supplementing with a trustworthy brand like Nutrilite is a great solution to the problem. They have a purification process that removes contaminants from the oil and keeps us healthy. This insures we get the nutrients we need from the fish oil without the contaminants we don't need.
With digestive disorders rampant, some people are concerned they may taste the fish. The solution to this problem is simple and that is to put the supplements in the freezer and take them just before bed time. By the time the supplements thaw, they will be past the stomach and into the intestines. This will prevent problems.
Chiropractic and nutrition work together to get a much better result in your overall health. When we work to get the nervous system healthy and we nourish the body with proper nutrients, it is able to heal itself from the inside out. No supplement is going to cure any disease, but proper nutrition will help the body to do the work to heal itself. The power that made the body heals the body.
