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Health & Weight Loss with Omega-3 Fats
by Carolyn Porter
For years the newest “fad”
was to eliminate most fat out of your diet. This was
to assure you of weight loss and better health. But
take a look around you. Does it look as if Americans
are slimming down? Not hardly. In fact, it has been
documented by many who are interested in health that
our society is getting fatter and fatter, even amongst
our children. According to a recent study, 61 % of women
are overweight and 71% of men are also overweight! So
how can this be if the supposed culprit was eliminated?
Well guess what! Removing fat from
the diet has created more problems since that isn’t
what was necessary to eliminate for weight loss. In
addition, when most people consume fat they ingest unhealthy
fat. The typical bottled oils available on a grocery
store shelf that are most frequently purchased - oils
like corn, canola, cottonseed, peanut, or any of the
many kinds found in our normal grocery store shelves
- are highly toxic to your body. The reason is they
have been heated to high temperatures in order to preserve
them for months on a grocery store shelf. Once heated
to such high temperatures the oil becomes carcinogenic,
or cancer-causing. It has turned into a trans fatty
acid, which is very detrimental to your health; it has
then become high in omega-6 fat which your body does
not need in such large amounts and becomes toxic when
too much is ingested. These unhealthy fats contribute
immensely to all those extra pounds. And the same unhealthy
oils mentioned above are what fast food businesses use,
as does processed food.
Let’s talk about the benefits
of good fats and what kinds are the best choices for
your health. The main fat your body needs is omega-3
oils, commonly referred to as EFA’s. 95 % of Americans
are deficient in these highly beneficial omega-3 oils.
In fact, most Americans receive less than 10% of their
daily requirements for omega-3 oils.
Fish is a great source of omega-3
rich fat, but not all fish is alike in quality. Never
purchase or consume farm raised fish as it is likely
contaminated with steroids, estrogen, pesticides, mercury,
and other chemicals. Always choose fresh, wild-caught
fish. But even then you must be wary about whether or
not it is truly pure. You can also take fish oil capsules,
but often companies don’t provide a pure product.
I have found, along with many health care doctors and
practitioners, that Carlson Labs produces high quality
mercury-free cod liver oil and fish oil in liquid form
and capsules. (There are of course other companies that
also produce top quality products) Liquid is always
best I feel as it is more readily absorbed into your
body and more of the nutrients are also absorbed. But
capsules can be beneficial as well.
Perhaps you were made to take cod
liver oil when you were a child and hated the taste.
I truly understand, but cod liver oil has many benefits
for your body. As I matured in my understanding of what’s
good and what isn’t, I am able to consume this
product with ease and appreciation for what it does
for my health. Different health advocates recommend
different doses, anywhere from 1 teaspoon per day to
2 tablespoons per day. Listen to your body and decide
for yourself by trying different amounts. It is especially
important to ingest some daily when you are not out
in the sun because it also contains the much needed
vitamin D which many Americans also lack. Good news!
Carlson makes lemon-flavored cod liver oil – a
lot better than what grandma used to have!
Omega-3 oils consist of several
parts. ALA, or Alpha-Linolenic Acid, is found in flax,
hemp, canola, soy bean, dark green veggie leaves, and
walnuts. In addition there are EPA and DHA oils which
are found in cold water fish like tuna, salmon, mackerel,
trout and sardines. The latter are the best source of
omega-3’s because your body can directly use these
without converting them. The ALA oils must convert within
your body and most people do not have the proper enzymes
to make the conversions due to stress and improper nutrition.
So why are these omega-3 oils so
beneficial to you?
•They provide lubrication
to the skin, arteries, veins, intestinal tract and connective
tissue, thus are an aid in fighting aging, heart disease,
colon disease, digestion problems and arthritis.
•Can increase your energy
level.
•Has shown the capability
of improving your concentration, thus enabling a benefit
in hyperactivity, Alzheimer’s, depression and
many other cognitively impaired situations.
•Can benefit those with cancer
and other serious diseases.
•Softens skin and makes it
smoother, and renews dry hair.
•Reduces inflammation and
benefits muscle recovery from trauma, overdoing, over-exercise
and arthritis.
•May help you sleep better.
•Can improve constipation
as lubrication is one of the basic needs for easier
and better elimination.
•Has often increased healing
capability.
•Can produce calmness and
even vitality in an individual.
•Reduces blood pressure.
•Is necessary for the conversion
of all hormones within your
body.
•Can help eliminate the “bad”
fats you’ve ingested from your body, thus aiding
weight loss.
•Vital for building lean muscle.
It has been said that you cannot
overdose on omega-3 oils – the more the better.
If you truly wish to be vibrantly healthy and maintain
or regain youthful vitality, you need omega 3’s.
Simply reading the above list of benefits should convince
you of their importance. Even if you’re turning
up your nose just thinking about consuming fish oil,
remember that everything begins in your mind. Once you’re
convinced of a benefit in something suggested to you,
it’s easy to decide to do it! It’s all about
choice!
What’s a good dose to use?
Here again, it’s according to what your body needs,
but begin with the dose suggestion on the label of your
supplement. I use Carlson Labs cod liver oil and fish
oil, taking 2-3 teaspoons of cod liver oil per day and
2 or 3 capsules of fish oil daily. As a result I’ve
found improvement in my skin, hair, joints and energy.
Of course I consciously live a healthy lifestyle in
every aspect which in turn adds to the benefits of the
omega 3’s I consume regularly. It is a lifestyle
commitment to be vibrantly healthy.
Carolyn Porter, D. Div.
Empower Productions, Inc., owner
All About Health, Inc., co-owner
info@drcarolynporter.com
www.drcarolynporter.com
Carolyn Porter,
D. Div., is a Health Advocate in all dimensions. She
is an Inspirational Speaker, Spiritual Wholeness Coach,
Author of multiple books, ebooks and audios, and an
Energy Facilitator, whose passion is to help you move
beyond your self-imposed limitations and become all
you are meant to be. This provides multidimensional
healing in body, heart, mind and spirit. I invite you
to visit http://www.drcarolynporter.com
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