We often associate health and wellness with the absence of disease. If we are not sick, we must be well… Right?
Wrong! Even with no obvious signs, our bodies can be out of balance long before we notice any overt changes. Other times, the changes are so subtle and non-specific that it makes discerning the change, let alone pinpointing its cause, a difficult task. These subtle, insidious imbalances often play a role in precipitating the downward spiral into chronic disease and other health issues. This is a huge problem, especially when we consider that the modern Western diet has Americans consuming Omega-6 fatty acids at a ratio that is far too high compared to our typical intake of omega-3s (20:1 as opposed to the ideal 1-2:1). One of the consequences of this imbalance is uncontrolled inflammation, which can often go undetected until chronic diseases and significant cardiovascular damage have already taken effect. The best cure is prevention, which is why a “the earlier, the better” approach is best when it comes to ensuring proper fatty acid balances through the ingestion of high quality, highly concentrated omega-3s.
Omega-3s are worth it
Our bodies are composed of trillions of cells, each containing important levels of omega-3 fatty acids which help maintain the structural integrity of cells and regulate the balance of good and bad eicosanoids (certain types of hormones) in the body. Since our bodies cannot produce omega-3s on their own, it is essential that we ingest the right amount of dietary omega-3. Especially given the typical Western diet, the simplest and most effective way to achieve this is by supplementing with high quality, pharmaceutical-grade fish oil. These high quality omega-3s composed of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) help to reduce inflammation in the body, and have a huge impact on overall health.
With the right balance of omega fatty acids, supplementation with omega-3s exerts positive effects on cardiovascular and heart health, cognitive functioning, immune system support, mood and mental health, prenatal and postpartum wellbeing, and muscle and skeletal maintenance, to name a few. Simply put, high quality pharmaceutical grade fish oils are one of the the simplest and easiest supplements you can add to your daily routine in order to achieve significant preventative and corrective effects on your overall health and wellness.
Simopoulos, A. P. (2002). The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 56(8), 365-379. doi:10.1016/S0753-3322(02)00253-6. This paper discusses the imbalance of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in the modern Western diet and its impact on inflammation and chronic disease.
Calder, P. C. (2017). Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: from molecules to man. Biochemical Society Transactions, 44(2), 508-515. doi:10.1042/BST20150256. This study highlights the anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids and their role in preventing chronic inflammation.
Mozaffarian, D., & Wu, J. H. Y. (2012). Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: effects on risk factors, molecular pathways, and clinical events. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 58(20), 2047-2067. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2011.06.063. This review provides an overview of the cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, including their effect on inflammation and heart health.
Tanaka, K., Farooqui, A. A., Siddiqi, N. J., & Parvez, S. (2012). Neuroprotective actions of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In Advances in Neurobiology (pp. 195-213). Springer, New York, NY. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-3872-4_8. This chapter explains the cognitive benefits of DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, including its role in maintaining brain structure and function.