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Anti-stress effects produced from Omega 3 fat. Essential fatty acids are important for many reasons. The Omega 3 fatty acids are especially important for the nervous system, as well as regulation of inflammatory cytokines (chemicals). Receptors, which there are many kinds, are important entities involved in cellular communication and therefore very important. They affect how we react to different nervous and biochemical input. In other words, receptors affect both how we feel and how we function. Receptors are membranes made up of lipids (fat) and protein. DHA is one of the active components of Omega 3 fish oil and is a very important substance in the membranes of the brains where it influences neurotransmission. When we are exposed to stress the body is releasing specific stress hormones. One of these stress hormones is norepinephrine (noradrenaline). The following shows the results of an interesting study where the investigators measured changes in cortisol, also a stress hormone, and norepinephrine, in students under continuous stress of final exams (Hamazaki T., et al. 2000). The study lasted 2 months and one group was given DHA and the control group was given placebo oil. The cortisol level did not change in any of the groups but the norepinephrine concentration significantly decreased in the group taking DHA. The norepinephrine stayed the same in the control group. In another study presented in the same article, the response to stress was measured differently by having two groups of students taking a psychological test at the start and at the end of the study. One group was given DHA and the other groups a placebo supplement consisting of mostly soybean oil. The hostility as measured by the psychological test was not significantly changed in the group taking DHA, but it had significantly increased in the control group. Other benefits of Omega 3 fish oil has been cowered in prior newsletters. One important thing to consider when using fish oil is that it needs to be checked various ways for impurities and toxins. It costs more to do so and fish oil which is priced very low is less likely to have been checked that rigorously. Fish oil containing toxins and or heavy metals can instead of being healthy produce problems. The Better Fish Oil from BioPro, Tissuerecovery is a high quality product I use myself everyday.
For more information and to order log onto www.tissuerecovery.com or call 1-800-883-1252. Wishing you the best of health, Didrik
References:
Hamazaki T, Itomura M, Sawazaki S, Nagao Y. Anti-stress effects of DHA. Biofactors.2000;13(1-4):41-5. |
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