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EFA - Essential Fatty AcidsWhat else can good oils help you do? Essential Fatty Acids can actually assist you in losing weight, relieve constipation (remember castor oil), relieve eczema and PMS. They are critical to growth and development in addition to the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease, hypertension, type II diabetes, arthritis and other immune and inflammatory disorders. They are found in seeds, nuts, grains and legumes. Why are they called essential? They are essential because without them our bodies do not function properly. I previously took Evening Primrose Oil. This really helped relieve my PMS symptoms. I would take two 500 mg gel caps twice a day. Efamol is my preferred brand.
Updated Guidelines for Omega-3 Essential Fatty AcidsThe American Heart Association (AHA) recently published new recommendations for healthy people on dietary consumption of omega-3 EFA. The report, published in the AHA's journal Circulation, reviews the heart health benefits of these fatty acids, which include thinning the blood to prevent formation of clots that could block coronary arteries and protecting against irregular heartbeats that can cause sudden cardiac arrest.Since 2000, the AHA has recommended that healthy individuals consume at least two servings per week of fatty fish such as mackerel, salmon, and sardines and others rich in two omega-3 fatty acids - eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA). Plant sources such as tofu, walnuts and flaxseed contain a third, but less potent, form of omega-3s called alpha-linolenic acid. The AHA also suggested that people who have elevated triglycerides may need as much as two to four grams of EPA and DHA per day provided as a supplement as most people are unable to consume this much through their diets, and noted that even the one gram per day dose recommended for patients with existing cardiovascular disease may be more than can readily be achieved through diet alone. Fish Oils and Depression All of the patients had tried other medications for depression before enrolling in this new study. Results were published in the October (2002?) issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. Previous research suggested that the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the brain are low in people suffering from depression, and that fish oil supplements can help alleviate the symptoms of a number of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and manic depression. A University of South Australia study gave more than 130 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder a combination of fish oil and evening primrose oil for up to seven months. At the end of the trial almost half the children showed a reduction in their symptoms. Ms Sinn says supplements should be considered in the treatment of ADHD patients. "I think parents who want to look into this should make their doctor aware perhaps of this research so that they can make an informed decision about it," she said. "There's a paper about to be published in an international journal that they can access to find out more about it." http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200606/s1668130.htm
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