Saturday, September 6, 2008

Are We Fighting for the Wrong Oil in Iraq?

Y'll know I LOVE LOVE fish oil... there are a multitude of reasons. More studies on fish oil exist than anything else I've ever looked at in PubMed -- including studies in every organ, every disease state, every type of cancer in vivo and in vitro, every animal, every nation, every journal. PubMed contains over 24,000+ articles on fish oil/epa dha/omega-3 currently in their database. And it seems to be growing exponentially!

Here are indications where fish oil has been shown to be beneficial:
--improves all neuropsych conditions: seizures, ADD, bipolar, depression, anxiety, anorexia, schizophrenia, PMDD, post-partum, migraines, autism, etc
--cardioprotective against all cardiovascular conditions: arrythmias, atrial fibrillation, prevention primary and secondary events and mortality, regression on CIMT, reduction in Lp(a), increases HDL2b (good), reduces HDL3c (bad), improves TGs/small LDL/IDL/VLDL
--reverses NASH/NAFLD in humans
--neuroprotective against dementia and Alzheimer's and strokes
--improves fitness, strength, and endurance in athletic performance -- hence it's recommended by all fitness, health, women's, men's magazines and of course Oprah at the supermarket
--used by Olympic trainees and trainers
--improves diabetes, glucoses, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia in sufficient doses
--improves and reverses all diabetic-related complications: nephropathy, microalbumuria, proteinuria, retinopathy, and neuropathy
--improves all female hormone-related conditions: PMS, perimenopause, hot flushes, menopausa, fibrocystic breast conditions
--improves autoimmune and inflammatory chronic pain syndromes: fibromyalgia, osteomalacia, peripheral neuropathy
--improves hypertension (dose-related benefit)
--improves IQ in children (and adults... umm like me)
--immunoprotective against all autoimmune disorders: Hashimoto's and Grave's Thyroiditis, Type 1 Diabetes, LADA, Lupus, Sjögren's syndrome, Fatty Liver, Rheumatoid Arithritis, IgG Nephropathy, Akylosing Spondylitis, Multiple Sclerosis, Infertility, Low sperm count, Endometriosis, Uterine Fibroids, etc.
--improves all autoimmune and inflammatory skin conditions: Acne, Vitiligo, Acanthosis Nigricans, Psoriasis, Eczema, Atopic Dermatitis
--serves as our first line of defense as a natural antibiotic: H. pylori ulcer disease, pathogenic bacteria (fungi are eukaryotic like our own mammalian cells therefore EPA DHA do not appear as effective, however pathogenic fungal infections are prevented by more potent saturated fats -- butyric acid, caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid (short, medium and long carbon-chained fatty acids)
--improves immunomodulation and reverses and prevents cancers: prostate, breast, colon, gliomas, e v e r y t h i n g
--improves bones: osteopenia, osteoporosis
--effectively reduces unwanted cell proliferation: wrinkles, warts, white hairs (j/k -- !!I wish), looking-like-a-walrus



What are the side effects of fish oil?

My kids will tell you it tastes gross (when I don't distract them enough), and sometimes they run away...

Rarely, it can cause stomach upset -- go get a better, higher quality brand. Or try freezing it. The cardiologists that I work with advise storing it in the freezer; this somehow stabilizes the oils for dissolution further in the gut.

Rarely, can it cause bleeding or bruising or when you are testing BGs (blood glucoses) the fingerstick bleeding may take a little longer to stop. Again, try a better quality brand or try reducing the dose (it is more likely the combined effects of aspirin, Plavix, vitamin E, ginko and/or other synergistically thinning effects).


The side effects that I enjoy are:
--great skin
--great mood -- pro-active, optimistic, playful (makes me more divorce-proof, no joke)
--great muscles
--great endurance and workout recoveries
--great weight loss/maintenance and satiety (blocks flushing from Slo-Niacin too -- great observation by WCCA guy!)


Can you possibly add more?

4 comments:

  1. G!
    yes I can add a reason for fish oil
    see this comment re fish oil and k stabilised r lipoic acid

    "K-RALA-10 R-Lipoic Acid 2oz (60 Doses)

    Why are you still using alpha-lipoic acid when you can have a stable liquid r-lipoic acid?

    GeroNova’s high bio-availability, stable 10% liquid form of R-Lipoic Acid. Far superior to Alpha-Lipoic Acid or other R-Lipoic Acid in its ability to register meaningful plasma levels after ingestion.

    K-RALA-10 r-lipoic acid® solution contains R-lipoic acid (in the form of Potassium-R-Lipoate), potassium bicarbonate, purified water and is preserved with USP vegetable glycerin.

    One dropper full delivers the equivalent of 100 mg R-Lipoic Acid and 18-20 mg potassium.
    Recommended dose as a nutritional supplement is 1-4 dropper fulls per day together with Acetyl-L-Carnitine.One dropper full (20 drops) delivers the equivalent of 100 mg R-Lipoic Acid and 18-20 mg potassium.Add to water, and drink immediately.

    R-Lipoic Acid is better absorbed and remains in the plasma longer when taken with fish oils, also available on our site.

    http://relentlessimprovement.com/catalog/liquid-r-lipoic-acid.htm

    j

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  2. J!

    Gosh, that is amazing! I appreciate the info!

    Food sources of Lipoic acid typically also contain EPA + DHA (the animal sources only):
    Dietary Sources
    Good food sources of alpha-lipoic acid include spinach, broccoli, beef, yeast (particularly Brewer's yeast), and certain organ meats (such as the kidney and heart).

    Quoted From this site:
    http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/alpha-lipoic-000285.htm#Dietary%20Sources

    -G

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  3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16552404

    That weight loss link. It seems that placebo group had greater weight loss than fish oil group. Or maybe I just can't read that text correctly :S

    Valtsu

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  4. Valtsu,

    Thanks for the link -- the authors failed to measure body fat improvements (DEXA or caliper). Omega-3 improves the body fat composition (not all trials). The improvement in Trigs and insulin are very telling IMHO in this nice study! BMI and body weight are good indicators but fail to describe context...

    I don't think ur missing anything! SHARP EYES!

    -G

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