Are You Swimming Upstream in Salmon Choices?

April 3, 2008 by GiGi · 2 Comments

Welcome back!

With all the hoopla in the last few years about Salmon, it’s a wonder if we’re doing something good or bad by eating it at all. I’ve always heard that wild salmon is much better for you than farm raised, but only had a vague idea of why.

So I decided to do a little research — I’m almost sorry I did.

It’s common knowledge that salmon is one of the richest fish in Omega 3 fatty acids – two in particular. DHA, which is good for its brain-boosting benefits and EPA, which is good for the heart and cardiovascular system.

However, most of the salmon you see in stores is Atlantic farm-raised salmon and there are 2 reasons you should be concerned about eating that:

1. The typical farm raised salmon is fed a diet of grains and plant oils (not fish oils),which totally negates the benefits of eating salmon, since the Omega 3 fatty acids are greatly reduced. While it is possible to feed them a fish oil instead, it’s too costly and unlikely to happen.

2. There was quite a scare a few years ago about the PCBs (a product that was used in coolants -not anymore, but still widespread in the environment) found in farm-raised salmon. In July 2003, the Environmental Working Group reported that farmed salmon purchased in the United States contain the highest level of PCBs in the entire food supply. And in January 2004, a study reported in the journal Science warned that farmed salmon has 10 times more toxins than wild salmon. Not to mention the mercury level is also higher in farmed salmon.

Okay, So Let’s Go Wild!

Not so fast. There have several studies done in the last few years – one from Consumer Reports – that found many of the fresh fish labeled as “wild” salmon were really farm raised. If you are buying fresh wild salmon during the winter, I’d be suspicious – it’s out of season then.

Fresh wild salmon is outrageously expensive, too.

What Are My Choices?

Look for Alaskan wild salmon in the summer. It’s more abundant then and more likely to be labeled correctly.

Looked for canned Alaskan salmon. That’s a safe bet – except for the high salt content. And the fact that it doesn’t taste the same.

Me? I’m going to continue eating my frozen Trader Joe’s Alaskan Wild Salmon. It’s a great bargain and tastes good, too.

And for good measure, I’ll also continue to take myCarlson’s Fish Oil capsules.

Filed Under: Nutrition
Tagged: fish oil, omega 3 fatty acids, wild salmon

Omega 3 Fatty Acids Webinar

March 11, 2008 by GiGi · Leave a Comment

From VRP:

Here's another in their series of free informative webinars.

By the way, if you miss this, there is a way to go back and view the webinar in the archives.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008, 5:00PM – 6:00PM PST

Dr. MacKay will present new research findings that unravel the mechanism of omega-3 fats’ impact on metabolic syndrome. Information presented can help over half of the population in the United States who suffer from metabolic syndrome.

Attendees will learn how omega-3 fats influence gene transcription, which results in improved fat metabolism, reduced triglycerides, improved insulin function, and cardiovascular protection. This webinar will help you understand how a simple dietary intervention has a multi-system effect and also provides simple guidelines for using omega-3 fats in diet and practice.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids Webinar

Filed Under: Education
Tagged: metabolic syndrome, omega 3 fatty acids

Are You Buying the Right Fish Oil Supplements?

January 25, 2008 by GiGi · 2 Comments

Fish oil supplements have certainly been getting a lot of buzz lately. And with good reason – they provide a good source of Omega 3 fatty acids. These essential fatty acids have been found to reduce the risk of heart disease, improve the functioning of the eyes and brain, keep a healthy immune system, and even help relieve your diabetes symptoms. Oily fish, such as mackerel and salmon have been found to be one of the best natural sources of these essential fatty acids, however there is a lot of controversy surrounding the quality of the fish we buy today.

Taking a fish oil supplement is a great way to get Omega 3 acids, especially if you are not a big fish eater or worry about how much you are actually eating. However, not all fish oil supplements are the same, some can even be dangerous. That's why it's important to know how to choose best quality supplement.

What To Look For In Your Fish Oil Supplement

One of the first things you want to look for in quality fish oil are the active ingredients. There are three types of Omega 3 fatty acids. The first two, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexanoic acid), are both found in cold-water fish, such as salmon, tuna and mackerel. The third type of Omega 3, called ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), is found in flaxseed oils, dark green leafy vegetables, and some vegetable oils. The Omega 3's in flaxseed oil and other plant oils do not contain DHA and EPA, although they do contain precursors.

Fish oils actually contain two types of omega 3 fatty acids: EPA and DHA. While they are both important nutrients, you should actually look for a supplement with higher concentrations of EPA. Most supplements give you more DHA, so you may have to do a lot of label searching. You also want to look for other vitamins and nutrients, such as Vitamin A and Vitamin E, that are included in some fish oils and may be harmful in large doses or when used with certain medical conditions.

When researching your fish oil supplement, find out where the fish come from. Most quality supplements will tell you right on the label. Mercury and other heavy metals that pollute fishes' natural environment is a concern for most people. These metals are hazardous and can be found in certain fish oil supplements. That's why it's important to get a supplement that uses fish from pristine waters. Just because the fish come from clean water doesn't mean that you should assume it's safe. For a fish oil supplement to be free of dangerous chemicals, it should be molecularly distilled to remove any additional impurities.

You should also look for products that say they are pharmaceutical grade. A product that lists that it is pharmaceutical grade and molecularly distilled is much more likely to be free of any potentially harmful chemicals.

What Are the Side Effects of Fish Oil?

As with any supplement, you should consult your doctor before you start taking anything new. Research has been done on side effects of fish oil supplements and in more than half of the studies, there were no side effects. The most common side effect was gastrointestinal, such as diarrhea. This was reported in less than 7% of all fish oil studies. There were no reports of sudden death, life-threatening illness, handicaps or disabilities from taking fish oil supplements.

However, people with bleeding disorders or taking anti-coagulant medicine should consult their doctor first as the omega 3 fatty acids reduce the risk for blood clots and make your blood thinner.

Some people report having fishy burps or a fishy aftertaste. If you use pharmaceutical-grade fish oil capsules, that shouldn't be a problem.

Why Should Omega 3 Fish Oil Be Part Of My Anti Aging Therapy?

The National Institutes of Health published a report stating that fish oil can help reduce deaths from heart disease. The FDA itself states research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may actually reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. The latest government report cites the triglyceride-lowering effects of fish oil on reducing heart and blood vessel disorders. Fish oil supplements also protect the healthy blood flow in arteries.

Of course, buying a quality fish oil supplement doesn't have to be expensive. Here are two choices that are quality, yet reasonable. I've been taking Carlson's Fish Oil Gels for years.