Why you need Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Review and Giveaway

Chances are you've heard the terms fatty acid, EFAs and omega-3 before, but do you know what a fatty acid really is or why your body needs it? No sweat! I make it all very easy for you to understand.  What about the different types of fatty acids, what foods you can naturally find them in and whether or not you should supplement? 

 

Fatty acids are important for all systems of the body to function normally, including your skin, respiratory system, circulatory system, brain and organs. The two essential fatty acids that the human body cannot produce are the omega-3 fatty acid and omega-6 fatty acid, which are important for brain development, immune system function and blood pressure regulation. Today we are going to talk about Omega-3. Stay tuned for my write up on Omega-6.

What is Omega-3 Fatty Acid?

Omega-3 fatty acids, also known as "good fats,"  are essential for optimal health. Like vitamins and minerals, omega-3 must be provided by our diet as it is not produced by our bodies. Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) are the active forms of omega-3 required by the body to perform vital functions.

Omega-3 Foods

Fatty Fish, Eggs, Nuts and Seeds, Flax Seed and Flax Oil, Leafy Green Vegetables, Spirulina

Omega-3 function in the body    Promotes cardiovascular health   Reduces inflammation   Supports mental focus and cognitive function   Supports positive mood and emotional well-being Promotes brain, eye and nervous system health   Supports healthy immune system function   Enhances appearance of skin and hair Promotes optimal fat metabolism Health Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acid    Research on the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acid have shown that it may be useful for supporting the following conditions. Asthma  Diabetes  Arthritis  Osteoporosis  Some Cancers  Skin Problems High Cholesterol  High Blood Pressure  Attention Disorders Depression Digestive Disorders Obesity

Why you Should Supplement

If you don’t eat fish—the main food source of the omega-3s DHA and EPA—at least two to three times a week, you might consider a supplement. Go for DHA+EPA. Studies suggest that this combination of omega-3s is best for overall health (e.g., preventing heart disease and depression, promoting healthy brain development). A third type of omega-3 fat, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), found in flax, is not very effective at promoting overall health but is still very healthy for you and a great complement to a whole and healthy diet.

Individuals who consume a high amount of fatty fish in their diet tend not to need to supplement with fish oil  as much or as often, however you should also remember that many of the fish varieties do contain higher levels of mercury, which also needs to be monitored in the human body.

If these levels of mercury get too high, that can cause a boat load of problems, so it's vital that you keep a good balance. A high quality and trusted fish oil supplement along with fatty fish on occasion will be the best way to meet your body's needs safely.

Giveaway

A BIG thank-you to Ascenta Health  for awarding one lucky My Wholesome Home follower a prize pack valued at $150 which includes:

NutraSea Mango
NutraSea with Vitamin D
NutraSea Canine
NutraSea Feline
NutraSea Kids

Why I love Ascenta products

Every Ascenta product is manufactured under government audited, Good Manufacturing Practices. 

Before their products leave their facility, they are sent to an external laboratory to ensure that they 

exceed the stringent quality standards of the World Health Organization and the  

Global Organization for EPA and  DHA (GOED).  Their fish oils do not smell like a fish market! 

Instead they smell and taste of fresh ripe fruits likes mangos and citrus. You can easily add your oil 

to a smoothie, yogurt or salad. All Ascenta products are third-party tested for contaminants 

including mercury, PCBs and dioxins. Now that is a clean and high-quality product if you ask me!

 

My personal supply of Ascenta products

To Enter

Become a My Wholesome Home blog follower and visit Ascenta Health. and leave a comment here about your favorite product or something you learned about the product and/or company.

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one):

* Blog about this contest 
* Subscribe to my updates
* Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect
* Follow @mywholesomehome on Twitter and tweet this giveaway, leaving a link to your tweet in the comments. You can tweet once per day (leave a comment each day). You can copy and paste my tweet if you'd like: Win an @Ascenta_Health Gift Pack at @mywholesomehome http://mywholesomehome.blogspot.com/2012/02/why-you-need-omega-3-fatty-acids-review.html #giveaway
*Follow @Ascenta_Health on Twitter
*Like me on Facebook
* Read one of my blog entries and leave a comment
*Facebook mention this giveaway (include link to my blog)

If you posted on your blog, Twitter or Facebook page (one entry each per day) be sure to include it in your post so I can check it out and also so I can return the follow.

Canada Postal addresses only.

You must do the first entry in order to enter.
 
You will have until Monday March 12, 2012. at 11:59pm EST to enter.
 
The winner will be chosen via random number generator (www.random.org) the next day and notified by email. I'll also post the winners on my blog in the comments below. If I don't hear back from the winner within 72 hours, I'll pick another.

Good luck!

For more information on NutraSea, NutraVege and their amazing products for children and pets, visit their website: www.ascentahealth.com

5 Stress-free Stress Busters

Lately I have been feeling rather stressed. Blame it on the female cycle, the full moon, unfulfilled expectations, financial difficulties, starting a new job…argh, I can go on forever these days. Feeling this way I thought it would be a good idea to take some of my own advice. Gee, what a thought. Interestingly enough I wrote a blog post on the effects of stress on the Nervous System last year right around this time. Strange. But first a recap of last year’s blog post Supporting your Nervous System. What stress actually does to our bodies.

During stressful events, our adrenal glands release adrenaline, a hormone which activates our body’s defense mechanisms causing our hearts to pound, blood pressure to rise, muscles to tense, and the pupils of our eyes to dilate. The Nervous System is the master control center in the body. It is designed to allow rapid internal communication by detecting and responding to constant changes inside and outside the body. None of our body systems (Digestive, Cardiovascular, Immune, Lymphatic.etc) are capable of functioning alone as they all work together to maintain homeostasis (balance). The Nervous System is the chief of all the systems and that is the exact reason why we need to take care of this important body system.

Why we must reduce stress
Reducing stress also reduces your risk for heart disease, the number one killer of American women, and certain types of cancer. Many women experience PMS and menopausal symptoms will find the severity of these symptoms improved dramatically, once reduced stress level is achieved. Untreated stress leads many people to depression, anxiety, headaches, and a host of other complaints, making reduction of stress important factor in improving your total health.

So where do we start? 5 Stress-free Stress Busters

Exercise

Physical exercise is one of the most effective ways of relieving stress. It improves blood flow to the brain and causes the body to release endorphins. Even just 7 minutes of intense exercise can get these little guys going and having you feel more energized and mentally relaxed. Beauty FIT Beast is an excellent source for fresh, new exercises to surely get the blood pumping. 

Keep a Journal

Reflect on your day, your emotions, and your personal goals. Include everything that stresses you, so you can start to recognize patterns and take appropriate action. Writing is also a great way to relax and put things into perspective.

Get Organized

Set aside a place for bills, paperwork, and important documents. Store items you use most often in accessible places. I  purchased some baskets from the dollar store to keep these loose papers in and out of the way. Spending five minutes straightening your office, purse/brief case or main living area at the end or beginning of your day will not only make your work more productive but also bring your mind to a sense of clarity. Keep a long-range calendar and a short-range to-do list. Check off items as you finish them for a sense of accomplishment.

Meditate

Ai-Linn Chua Henderson, A Natural Healing Practitioner says, When we become aware of our thoughts, we are then able to see certain things about the way we make choices in our lives, or the way we react to things, and this awareness is powerful. Because this awareness gives us the power to change the thought patterns that hold us back, and allow us to consciously create new ways of thinking and patterning. Follow her easy meditation to help you de-stress, Meditation Made Easy: 10 Steps to finding your Inner Self. 

and of course……

Proper Nutrition

This photograph belongs to Melissa Macchione. Unauthorized use is prohibited. 

Eat breakfast within 1 hour of waking to break the fast will give your body the much needed glucose found in your food to give you energy. Lack of energy equals lack of motivation, attention and mood. Start off the day on the right foot. Try my Morning Glory Oatmeal which is packed with feel good ingredients such as whole grains, blueberries, nuts and seeds. 

Small more frequent meals – You want to avoid drops in your blood sugar levels. Eating small more frequent meals, every 3-4 hours, will help control blood sugar levels resulting in an overall better mood. When drops in blood sugar levels happen we tend to become more on edge and depressed. Try some of My Favourite Stress Busting Snacks in between meals to avoid the icky lows. 

Reduce or Eliminate Caffeine Intake – Avoid going for a coffee mid-afternoon for the increase in energy, instead go for a Stress Busting Snack. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system. Heavy daily caffeine use (4 to 7 cups of coffee per day) can cause: insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, irritability, nausea or other gastrointestinal problems, fast or irregular heartbeat, muscle tremors, headaches and/or anxiety. If you are missing the caffeine go for a green tea. Yes, green tea contains caffeine however the benefits of green tea out weigh the negatives when compared to coffee.

Eat Consciously to elaborate on yesterday’s post, Conscious Eating, here are a few tips to help you eat mindfully.

1) When preparing your meal enjoy yourself. Put on your favourite music, have a clean and today work space, take pictures of your creations and have fun doing it!

2) When sitting down the meal you just prepared with love really look at the food.Recite in your mind or out loud what it is you are about to eat.

3) Eat slowly. As hungry as you may be and as delicious as the food is slow down! Twenty minutes is the time it should take to consume your meal. Tip: put your fork/spoon/hands down in-between bites.

The information presented here is not intended to replace professional medical care when needed. Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner for disease diagnosis, therapy choice, medicine selection and dosage.