Omega-3 and Heart Health
It was 1970.
Jorn Dyerberg, Hans Olaf Bang and Aase Brondum Nielsen arrived in Greenland knowing that very few Greenlanders had poor heart health.
It didn’t make sense.
After all, Greenland Inuits ate a poor diet with insufficient fruits and vegetables. And they ate a lot of fat.
When they tested the blood samples of 130 Inuit, everything was normal. Except for one thing. They found very high levels of “polyunsaturated fatty acids, EPA and DHA.” EPA and DHA are Omega-3 found in fish.
They concluded that the healthy hearts could be from the Omega-3 fats that the Inuit ate in abundance.*
The science of Omega-3 was born.
Today, Dr. Jorn Dyerberg is considered the “father” of Omega-3.
“I have done some computing,” said Dr. Dyerberg in a recent interview with the online nutrition blog, Nutra Ingredients, “and since we published the first paper in 1971 there are now some 14,000 published papers on Omega-3, including close to 8,000 human studies.”
“The most pressing issue for the 21st Century is nutrition problems linked to diet. In that aspect, omega-3 will play a major role,” said Dr. Dyerberg.
14,000 studies and Counting
A majority of the 14,000 published papers have focused on heart health.
Research shows that Omega-3s:
- Help support healthy heart rhythm*
- Manage healthy triglyceride levels*
- Help support healthy blood vessels*
- Manage healthy blood pressure (slightly)*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Omega-3 helps everyone’s hearts – the healthy or not. Almost every nutrition and scientific organization recommends that you eat fatty fish or take Omega-3 supplements to support heart health.
The American Heart Association recommends 1000 mg of Omega-3 per day. OmegaVia provides – 1105 mg of Omega-3 in just one softgel.
* When used as part of a healthy diet that is high in vegetables, seafood, and fiber along with an exercise program. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. OmegaVia and its logo are registered trademarks of Innovix Pharma Inc.
i presently take statin, but just 10 mg per day which is quite low. i am 45 with a family history of high cholesterol but want to begin taking this product. I will consult my doctor but wonder what dosage I should take and how can one determine if I can go off statins? Is trial and error the only way or can some blood tests reveal if your product is helping me manage my cholesterol statin-free. Of course I am also paying close attention to diet (presently reading Omega Rx Zone by Sears) and also working out regularly.
Hi Ted – Omega Rx is a great book. Also read Perfect Health Diet by Jaminet.
Your doctor will have to make the call whether you can go off statins or not. To be clear, fish oil does not reduce cholesterol. If someone told you so, they are incorrect. Fish oil reduces triglycerides and inflammation – two independent risk markers of heart health. See more here: http://www.omegavia.com/fish-oil-cholesterol/ Dosage, well, I would suggest a minimum of 2000 mg of Omega-3 per day. But most doctors suggest 3000 mg per day. That’s about 3 to 4 pills. There is no trial and error needed – this dose (3000 mg) is standard.
I have been researching about your product, since I have high triglycerides and also cholesterol. My triglycerides are near 500 and my cholesterol 215 as of my last lab work. cholesterol was higher but I managed to get it down taking Jarrows red yeast rice with CoQ10. My doctor prescribed me Vascepa but my health insurance doesn’t cover it so I am looking for an alternative and seems that your product may be such.
I have a question though, can I take red yeast rice (my doctor told me about it, as I wanted a natural approach for reducing my cholesterol, I didn’t want to take statins, and I tried this approach first) and omegavia at the same time? There is also another product called “Heart Savior” from Amazon that also have red yeast rice and gugul, that i want to try to help me manage my cholesterol levels, do you think i can take that with Omegavia.
Thanks for your input.
Javier
Hi Javier – yes, if your doctor is OK with it, yes, you may certainly take red yeast rice with OmegaVia. I do not think it is necessary, but many of our customer take both of these ingredients together. However you may wish to read this: http://www.omegavia.com/fish-oil-red-yeast-rice/
My opinion is that your triglyceride number is a lot more dangerous-looking than your cholesterol number. I would work with your doctor to tackle the triglyceride problem first. We are launching a product called OmegaVia EPA 500 that is very similar to Vascepa in formula. It will be available on Amazon.com by end of August 2013 or early September and on this website by late September.
Thanks for fast reply. What dose do you recommend for my triglycerides? Should I begin with 1 pill per day and increment the following week until i reach 3 per day or 4 per day?
I appreciate your advise.
Javier
Hi Javier – the dose for triglycerides is 3000 to 3000 mg of Omega-3 per day when combined with a healthy diet and exercise plan. Start with 1 pill per day and if you don’t have any stomach discomfort, increase by 1 more pill every couple of days, until you get to 4 per day.
I am 65 year old male and trying to lose weight and lower my very high triglycerides. I am taking 3000 mg unopposed EPA and Lipitor 20 mg. Triglycerides have come down but still high. Also my fasting blood sugar level is 112.
I would like to go on the low-carb diet you recommend, but it is difficult because I have CKD stage III and must limit my protein intake to 50-60 gr per day. Any suggestions?
Hi Joe – first, a clarification: very-low-carb diets are not ideal for everyone. They are great for some, OK for many and not OK for others. People often take low-carb to an extreme and that has its own problems. But having said that, if you have high-triglycerides and you’ve taken it as low as you can with Omega-3 and exercise, it is time to reduce sugar, starch and carbs. Kick out the grains and flour…just dont eliminate complex carbs from vegetables, fruits and tubers.
Second, you have enough going on that I think you should work with a professional – an integrative nutritionist or dietitian to get you sorted on the details.
Third, low-carb does not mean high-protein. Our society’s misguided fat-phobia has many of us worshipping at the altar of lean proteins. You can replace your sugar and refined carbs with healthy fats like olive oil and high fat foods like fish, avocados, nuts etc.
All this will require you to look at foods differently. Don’t stress out – make gradual changes and don’t overthink it.
More here: http://www.omegavia.com/fish-oil-and-belly-fat/
http://www.omegavia.com/cut-triglycerides-in-half-without-lovaza-or-fish-oil-1/
http://www.omegavia.com/how-to-cut-your-triglycerides-in-half-without-lovaza-or-fish-oil-part-2/
I was wondering if i can change the time that i take fish oil. I am taking it before bed with a snack. I would like to change it but I was told you have to take it same time every day or else.
Hi Marlene – you can take fish oil at any time, as long as you are taking it with a meal. Snacks are OK but meals help the fish oil absorb better.
Is it good to take with flaxseed, i assume it is.
Yes, Marlene, it is.
I have been take 3 a day and for the first time in a long time my blood pressure was down. I was amazed. Is the fish oil working for me.
Hi.. Im 25 yrs old and has heart murmur is it okay to take fish oil 1000mg?
Hi Marie – fish oil is OK for most people to take, but please check with your doctor if adding this to your routine is fine in your case.