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The Importance of Fatty Fish, Omega 3 and Fish Oil


Ever wonder why people who consume large quantities of fish, especially tuna and other fatty fish, generally have less heart attacks and strokes that other people? The secret lies in the proven fact that fish, particularly ‘fatty’ fish like tuna, mackerels, and sardines, contain essential fatty acids, popularly known as Omega 3 fatty acids. Known by their scientific names of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) fatty acids, Omega 3, which is also found in lesser quantities in tofu and other soy products, plus canola , walnut and flax seed oils, helps to reduce the levels of saturated fats in the bloodstream and helps prevent the buildup of arterial ‘plaque’; one of the major causes of heart attacks and strokes.

Japanese and other fish eating populations have been shown to have not only increased longevity, but a much lower rate of cardiovascular disease than people who consume less fish and large quantities of red meat and dairy products. In examining an average Japanese family’s weekly diet, it can be seen that a large amount of fist products, particularly tuna and other fatty fish are consumed, against a very small amount of meat and dairy products. As beef and other ‘red’ meats are very expensive in Japan, fish is the most economical choice to receive needed meat proteins. Of course, there is only one major drawback to high ocean fish consumption, that being the amounts of mercury and other metals often present in fish taken from waters polluted by industrial wastes.

Despite the possibility of these metals being found in ocean fish, it is recommended that people should consume sufficient quantities of fatty fish at least twice a week. Quantities of vegetable products which also contain quantities of Omega 3 fatty acids, especially walnuts, flax seeds, and canola oils, can be taken as well. Persons who have a diagnosed problem of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension and high blood pressure, should take additional amounts of Omega 3, available in gelatin capsule form. This also goes for those who have an aversion towards eating fish, or due to a non availability of quantities of fatty fish, should take Omega 3 capsules as well. General dosage of Omega 3 in capsule form is at least two 500 mg capsules per day; taken during or after meals.

In addition to helping to reduce the likelihood of heart attacks and other related diseases, Omega 3 fatty acids have been found beneficial in helping to relieve instances of lower back pain, often caused by degeneration of the discs which are found between spinal joints and act as “shock absorbers” for the spine. This also holds true to neck pain as well; and Omega 3 fatty acids are being seen as being even more effective then certain types of paid medications.

It doesn’t take much convincing to show that using a natural approach to maintaining good health just make good sense.

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No Fish Tale: Omega 3 Capsules Keep You Healthy

Sorry CharlieMany people remember when their mothers made them take a disgusting tablespoon full of cod liver oil daily. Though it was said that this preparation, made from the livers and other parts of codfish was supposed to be good for you, the ordeal of having to swallow this foul tasting stuff was something many children could only endure if given a small bribe.

It’s only been recently that the benefits of fish oil containing an ingredient known as Omega 3, is very beneficial for maintaining good health. Eating fish has been shown to be an excellent source of both protein and two important non-saturated fatty acids, Eicosapentcenoic Acid (EBA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), which are very beneficial in helping to reducing cholesterol levels and helping to prevent heart disease. Though nutrition experts recommend that people eat fatty fish such as cod, mackerel, sardines, and tuna, for many, these fish are either not readily available or just not desirable (many people simply cannot stand eating fish). Omega 3 is also rich in vitamin E, a powerful anti-oxidant which not protects the body against cardio vascular disease but many forms of cancer as well.

Omega 3 is now available in gel capsule form, making it easy to take by everyone, including those who are disgusted with the thought of eating fish. By taking at least two 500 mg capsules a day, either during of after meals, the benefits of Omega 3 will work its wonders in our system. Studies made have shown that taking Omega 3 capsules are beneficial in the following manners:

1. they decrease the risks of blood clots which can lead to sudden cardiac deaths such as embolism
2. they decrease tryclyceride levels (fats in the blood)
3. they decrease the risks of atherosclerotic plaque which restrict blood flow through the arteries to the heart

Since Omega 3 also is a blood thinner, people with blood clotting problems should consult as physician before taking it. Despite this problem, the benefits of taking Omega 3 fatty acids far outweigh any cautions for their use.

Omega 3 capsules are available in pharmacies and stores setting vitamin supplements. It is recommended to store them in a refrigerator once the bottle has been opened.

Omega 3 fatty acids can also be found in flax seed oil, canola oil and in Soya products such as soya oil and tofu. These products contain alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) which the body can convert to Omega 3 fatty acids. A higher level is found directly in either fatty fish or fish oil, however.

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Eating Less and Healthier Food Prolongs Your Life

LemonMany people have become advocates of organic and natural foods, knowing that these foods are healthier than those that are commercially processed, vitamin enriched, and laced with antibiotics and other drugs. What many may not realize, however, is that the amount of foods consumed, even whole and natural ones, is even more important for longevity and better health.

Studies recently made in the research departments of some major American universities have found that by consuming 20 to 30% less calories per day, a person may actually add between 10 to 15 additional years to his or her life. Aside from this revelation, it has also been found that even those who consume what some may consider as non-wholesome foods (including “junk foods”) this overall reduction in total calories is still basically the same. Using laboratory rats, and feeding the control group a standard diet, it was found that those given less food actually lived longer, even though they may have been smaller and thinner than the control group.

It’s no secret the people who are overweight have more health problems including cardio-vascular disease, diabetes, and incidents of colon and other cancers, Thinner people are generally healthier and have a more positive mental outlook, which also affects their longevity. Taking these findings into account, this does not mean that people who are “super thin” will live longer. Those suffering from eating disorders, including anorexia are damaging their health by not consuming enough calories.

Types of food consumed, particularly diets with less red meat and dairy products, also help influence longevity, as well as a person’s genealogical makeup. People coming from families with longer life spans are more likely to live longer than those from families with shorter life spans. A diet of whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruit is much more beneficial that a diet consisting of fatty and starchy foods, including most dairy products.

In many Western countries, including the USA, far too much fatty and starchy foods are consumed as against more wholesome diets of less, but more whole grain and other wholesome foods. Diet is not the only factor however, as daily exercise of at least half an hour will help people maintain more healthier lives. This exercise can include a brisk walk around the block, or even inside a shopping mall. The most crucial factor, according to the aforementioned studies, is that by simply exercising one’s “table muscles” to leave the dinner table before too many calories are consumed will eventually work wonders toward maintaining better health.

All in all, it’s not only the old saying “you are what you eat”, but how much you eat as far as the deciding factor that may add longer and more productive years to your life.

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Olive Season – The Organic Way

Olive Season - The Organic WayLike many other Mediterranean countries, Israel is blessed with the climate suitable to grow an array of fruits indigenous to the region as well as the land’s history. Olives are one of the oldest fruits known to man and have been mentioned in biblical texts all the way from the story of Noah in the Book of Geneses: “And lo, the dove returned to Noah, this time with a freshly plucked sprig of olive branch in her mouth”. Both the fruit as well as the oil are used extensively, not only in Israel, but all over the world. The benefits of using non-saturated olive oil in cooking is well known; and is gaining in popularity everywhere, despite the higher price for it, as compared to vegetable oils made from soy beans, corn, peanuts, and even canola. Olive oil was used to anoint kings in many ancient lands, and was used extensively by the ancient Greeks as both a protection against sunburn as well as to make their bodies ‘glisten’ during athletic competitions.

Olive oil comes in many varieties, and flavors, ranging from more acidic (and bitter) natural varieties, to the more refined types which foreign households are accustomed to using.

Today, one sees olive trees all over Israel; and many parks, private homes, and apartment buildings have olive trees gracing their lawns and gardens. Olives are ‘in season’ from mid-September to late March, depending on location and type of olives picked. The most popular type of olive is the round Maraschino which is grows in most locations as ranges anywhere in size from around 1 cm to 2 1/2 cm in length. These olives are either picked green or ripe, and can either be found in cans, jars, or in barrels in many grocery stores and open air markets. My favorites are the extra large Greek olives, most of which are imported either from Greece, Turkey, or Cyprus. They have a unique taste that appears to be from secret recipes handed down from generation to generation. One of the favorite types more indigenous to Israel and the Middle East is the Syrian olive which is longer and more pointed than the Maraschino. It is often found in open air markets and is usually ‘cracked’ or partially broken during processing to enhance its flavor, together with the addition of lemon wedges and garlic cloves.

I like to process my own olives, which, if done properly, taste better than the commercially processed ones. A simple recipe involves taking about two kilograms of freshly picked olives and soaking them in water for about two weeks, changing the water daily. After this process, place the olives in clean jars with intermittent layers of salt, lemon wedges and garlic cloves. Olive leaves can be added as well for both taste enhancement and eye appeal. Fill with water until full. Before closing the jars, add a layer of olive oil on top to enhance the flavor and prevent mold from forming. Place the filled jars in a dark place like a pantry for a minimum of 2-3 months before opening. It’s a good idea to write the date when the jars were filled so as not to open them too early. Olives not stored long enough will have a bitter taste.

Olive production has been recently hampered by pests like the Med-fly, which damages and deforms the fruit. For this reason, especially if you are ‘going organic’ and want olives from unsprayed trees, you will probably have to ‘cull out’ at least 20% or more of what you pick. The results are worth it, for you will not only have the pleasure of eating home processed organic olives, but the satisfaction of partaking in a tradition that is as ancient as the Bible itself.

Find out more about Organic Foods, Organic Teas, and Organic Herbal Supplements.

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‘Royal’ Nutrition and Health Care

Many people are aware of the natural health benefits of Royal Jelly; that mysterious substance that bees feed to young aspiring Queen embryos. Not everyone is aware of an improved formula, based on this magical elixir, with added beneficial ingredients, and used to treat a variety of disorders, as well as boosting people’s immune system, and even treating hair growth in adults.

Manufactured under the Irena product name, these products have helped thousands of people, particularly children, to treat a variety of childhood illness, as well as booster the brain’s learning capacity, and promote mental alertness. Irene Stein, who has been living in Israel for more than 35 years, became interested in the health and nutritional qualities of Royal Jelly, and has subsequently turned this interest into a very successful health and nutritional products concern, Irena Ltd. The products her company manufactures have become so successful, that people worldwide are swearing to the health benefits they receive from her ‘little bottles’ of Royal Jelly mixture, as well as other related products.

The benefits of Royal Jelly have been known since ancient times. But Irene as gone many steps further by combining this natural cure-all with other special herbs and healthful ingredients such as glutamic acid – nature’s ‘brain food’; a whole array of vitamins, and aluminum, reputed to be helpful for treating children with learning disorders, such as dyslexia. The benefits of Irene’s products are not confined only to children, but adults as well; even geriatrics suffering from arthritis and other advanced age problems, including senility. People who have used these products into middle age and beyond are not only healthier, but look younger as well.

It’s almost as if Irene has ‘discovered’ the Fountain of Youth through her development of these health care products. By taking them as small children, people will improve their entire immune system, as well as increase their natural mental learning capacities. The dietary supplement enclosed in these ‘little bottles’ is a natural, honey flavored liquid free of any ‘additives’ or preservatives. For less than $ 2.00 per day, you can discover the amazing effects that Irena’s ‘beauty from within’ products will have on your overall health and well being.

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Organic Psyllium Husks Natural Dietary Fiber

Psyllium husks, or plantago ovata in Latin, come from the skin or husks of the blond psyllium seed. A plant rich in soluble fibers, Psylliums are part of group of plants containing soluble fibers, also known as mucilage; fibers which retain water and resemble a thick, jelly-like substance when wet.

Psyllium husks can be used as a thickening substance in salad dressings, sauces, and creams. These fibers differ from non-soluble ones such as wheat bran, which do not dissolve in water. Other plants containing water-soluble fibers include oat bran, apple pectum and guar gum.

Health benefits of Organic Psyllium Husk include reducing blood cholesterol levels, thereby reducing risks of cardiovascular diseases, and are very beneficial to the digestive system. Mucilage digestive fibers maintain bowl regularity and help prevent conditions such as chronic constipation and diarrhea. Their greatest benefits are their ‘colon cleansing benefits’ in the prevention of colon cancers, especially in people over age 50. The advantages of ingesting soluble fiber, such as Psyllium, are that they can be included in the preparation of a number of foods, without the tell-tale fiber residues found in wheat brand and other non-soluble products. The risks of colon cancer increase dramatically once people reach their 60’s and 70’s. It is advisable to have a colonoscopy performed once every 4-5 years; and those who have had polyps removed from their colon, every 3 years. A healthy diet with a sufficient amount of dietary fiber, both soluble and non-soluble, will greatly reduce the risk of colon cancer, as well as avoidance of red meat and dairy products high in saturated fat.

Sources: healingdaily.com & OrganicIndia.com