Omega-3 Fatty Acids Defined:

Omega-3 fatty acids are a form of polyunsaturated fats, one of four basic types of fat the body derives from food or supplements and Omega-3's are increasingly recognized as important to human health. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids (or EFAs)—essential because they must be derived through our diet.

Omega-3 Food Sources:

Omega-3 fatty acids are not a single nutrient, but a collection of several nutrients. The primary omega-3 oil, ALA, is found in flaxseed oil as well as pumpkin seeds and walnuts. Fish, including deep sea fish, salmon, cod, sardines, and mackerel, and fish oils contain the other important omega-3 oils DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid).

Omega 3 Benefits:

Omega-3 benefits, especially from DHA and EPA, are numerous and significant. They support heart, brain, blood vessel, nervous system, cellular, immune, and joint health. Additionally, they help maintain already healthy blood pressure and blood sugars levels. But that’s not all. They also serve as energy reserves, for oxygen transport, for synthesizing hormones, and for normal healing.

Omega 3 Supplementation:

Many people already know about the benefits of omega-3 supplementation, but just can’t seem to include enough omega-3 foods to their diets to cover recommended intake. For many people, their diet alone may not provide the omega-3s necessary for the greatest health benefits. Since approximately 80 percent of people eating a standard diet that is low in omega-3 foods, the nutritional gap is much wider than it should be.

The reasons can vary: they may not like omega-3 foods, may be concerned about ingestion of pollutants from fish, or they may not know exactly what foods provide the most omega-3. For these people, a diet rich in omega-3s or omega-3 supplementation can add outstanding health benefits.

Choosing an Omega 3 Supplement:

When choosing an Omega 3 supplement there are a few important factors to consider. First, it is important to select a formula that guarantees the purity of the fish oil. Second, it is also important to select a product that not only provides sufficient levels of DHA & EPA but also provides other synergistic carotenoids (antioxidants) to ensure the freshness and stability of the product.

Antioxidants like astaxanthin (an extremely powerful antioxidant carotenoid from sea algae) and fucoxanthin (a dynamic antioxidant carotenoid from brown seaweed) are powerful antioxidants that not only protect the quality of the fish oil, but also amplify the health benefits of the Omega 3 fish oils. Astaxanthin and fucoxanthin are fat-soluble carotenoids, meaning they are best absorbed by the body when combined with fats such as Omega-3s. Omega-3s are a healthy source of fats, making them a natural complement to astaxanthin and fucoxanthin.

Astaxanthin’s antioxidant capacity has been shown to be 14 times stronger than vitamin E, 53 times stronger than beta-carotene, and 64 times stronger than vitamin C. As an antioxidant, astaxanthin benefits cardiovascular health, supports the body’s natural response to inflammation, immune system health, eye health and even supports healthy skin, bones and joints.

Fucoxanthin is a dynamic ocean-based antioxidant. Antioxidants are noted for their ability to fight free radicals, which can cause damage at the cellular level. Fucoxanthin has been shown to exert its protective effects directly in fat cells. Since metabolism requires oxygen, fat cells are a prime culprit for oxidative stress.

The Ultimate Omega 3 Formula:

Garden of Life is a natural whole food vitamin and supplement company that has created OmegaXanthin, which is a combination of pure and high quality Omega-3 fish oils, Astaxanthin and Fucoxanthin. Garden of Life has recently formulated Oceans 3, which is a new product line of powerfully effective Omega 3 formulas with OmegaXanthin that go way beyond traditional Omega 3 supplements. Their PureMax technology sets a new worldwide standard for purity as well.

The Oceans 3 Beyond Omega 3 caps and Oceans 3 Beyond Omega-3 Cod Liver Oil are a synergistic complex of three health-promoting compounds from the ocean. OmegaXanthin provides all the benefits of a high potency Omega-3 supplement plus two ocean-based antioxidants for an amplified range of benefits unmatched by ordinary Omega-3 formulations.

Oceans 3 Better Brain is a synergistic complex of three health-promoting compounds from the ocean plus a dynamic suite of three clinically studied ingredients designed to support neurological and brain function. Brain health and memory loss are issues of concern for more and more people every day.

Oceans 3 Healthy Hormones supports hormonal and emotional health for women of all ages by providing all the benefits of a high potency Omega-3 supplement plus an amplified range of targeted benefits unmatched by ordinary Omega-3 formulations.

Oceans Kids DHA Chewables are a fun and convenient way to give your child all of the brain-boosting powers of Omega-3s in a "Yummy Berry Blast" chewable softgel. Oceans Kids DHA Chewables are an excellent source of vital Omega-3 fatty acids with a high ratio of DHA to EPA, making it a great choice to help support your child’s health.

Conclusion:

As a Clinical Nutritionist, I am always looking for the most nutritious and highest quality, natural supplements for my clients and family. After researching the Oceans 3 products by Garden of Life, I can say that I am extremely impressed with their new formulation of OmegaXanthin in the Oceans 3 products. I recommend Oceans 3 products to my friends, family and clients because I believe they go way beyond other Omega 3 formulas on the market today. For more information on the Oceans 3 formulas, click here.

The statements contained in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information contained here is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Suggestions and ideas presented in this article are for information only and should not be interpreted as medical advice, meant for diagnosing illness, or for prescriptive purposes. The information in this document is not to be used to replace the services or instructions of a physician or qualified health care practitioner.

Author's Bio: 

Christine Dreher, CCN, CCH is a Nutritionist, Herbalist, Author of “The "Cleanse Cookbook" and President & Founder of Christine's Cleanse Corner, Inc., (a nutritional company that specializes in nutritional & health education & Whole Food Vitamin Supplements. Christine is the Editor & Publisher of the free, online "Transform Your Health" Nutrition and Health E-Newsletter. She is also a Health/Nutritional Speaker & Teacher, & a Nutritional, Diet & Internal Cleanse Consultant, and a Live Beyond Organic Mission Marketer.

Christine is also the Official Self Growth Guide for Dietary Supplements. For more information about New Chapter, Garden of Life or Vitamin Code and other Whole Food Vitamin supplements and herbs, visit Christine on the web at: www.TransformYourHealth.com or call Christine's office at 858-673-0224.