Omega-3s supplementation?

Health Benefits of Omega-3

What is Omega-3?

When it comes to fat, there's one type you don’t want to cut back on: Omega-3 fatty acids. Two crucial ones - EPA and DHA - are mainly found in certain fish and Green Lipped Mussels. ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), another omega-3 fatty acid, is found in plant sources such as nuts and seeds. Not only does your body need these fatty acids to function, they deliver some big health benefits.

Not all fats are unhealthy. Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the "good" types of fat. They may help lower the risk of heart disease, depression, dementia, and arthritis.

Your body can't make them. You need to eat them or take supplements.

Signs of Omega-3 deficiency:

A lack of Omega-3 will show up as one or more of the following physical symptoms:

• Inflammatory conditions; Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis, Arthritis
• Excessive thirst
• Excessive ear wax
• Dandruff
• Frequent urination
• Irritability
• Attention deficit
• Soft, brittle or easily frayed nails
• Patches of pale skin on cheeks
• Allergies
• Lowered immunity
• Fatigue
• Hyperactivity
• Dry eyes
• Poor wound healing
• Frequent infections
• Learning and memory problems
• Cracked skin on heels or fingertips
• Craving for rich fatty foods

While further definitive research is required, there has been positive anecdotal information that boosting levels of omega-3 has assisted with improving symptoms of the following conditions:
Depression;

some researchers have found that cultures that eat foods with high levels of omega-3 have lower levels of depression. Fish oil, or oil from the NZ Green Lipped Mussel, also seems to boost the effects of antidepressants and may help the depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Baby development;

DHA appears to be important for visual and neurological development in infants.

Asthma;

a diet high in omega-3 lowers inflammation, a key component in asthma. But more studies are needed to show if fish oil or Green Lipped Mussel supplements improve lung function or cut the amount of medication a person needs to control the condition.

ADHD;

some studies show that fish oil or Green Lipped Mussel supplements can reduce the symptoms of ADHD in some children and improve their mental skills, like thinking, remembering, and learning. But more research is needed in this area, and omega-3 supplements should not be used as a primary treatment.

Alzheimer's disease and dementia;

some research suggests that omega-3 may help protect against Alzheimer's disease and dementia, and have a positive effect on gradual memory loss linked to aging. But that's not certain yet.

Where to Get Omega-3.

Types of fish that include: Anchovies, Bluefish, Herring, Mackerel, Salmon (wild has more Omega-3s than farmed), Sardines, Sturgeon, Lake trout, Tuna and NZ Green Lipped Mussel.

The oil from Green Lipped Mussel compared to Fish Oil as a source of Omega-3.

Doctors have encouraged the use of fish oil as a supplement to support heart and joint health for a long time now. The benefits are widely recognised. But is it better than Green Lipped Mussel extract for treating pain and inflammation?

What is the Difference Between the Two?

Fish oil, derived from the tissues of oily fish such as salmon and tuna, contains two kinds of omega-3 fatty acids — Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA), and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA).

Green Lipped Mussels, a shellfish native to New Zealand, are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. They are a potent source of a rare omega-3 fatty acid called Eicosatetraenoic Acid (ETA).

The reality is that all types of omega-3 fatty acids lower inflammation by tying up the enzymes (lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase) that make inflammatory compounds (leukotrienes and prostaglandins) in the body. However, ETA can go one step further than this. The ETA in Green Lipped Mussels works at the gene level to reduce the production of cyclooxygenase.

ETA also reduces the formation of Arachidonic Acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid that the body uses to produce the inflammatory compounds. Instead of making Arachidonic Acid, an enzyme called delta-5-desaturase (d5d) uses the ETA to make EPA (the same omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil)!

A  scientific compared the anti-inflammatory effects of the ETA in oil from the Green Lipped Mussel with salmon, cod liver, flax seed, and two mixed fish oils.

In the study, animals with existing inflammatory conditions such as arthritis were studied and recorded before and after taking a range of omega-3 supplements. The effectiveness of the various omega-3 supplements was tested by looking at the amount of swelling, as well as using a standardised arthritis score. This examined things like how sensitive the animals feet were, how much they groomed their inflamed paws, and how mobile the animals were.

The study showed that the ETA rich oil from the Green Lipped Mussel was clearly superior to other omega-3 sources at lessening inflammation.

The oil from the Green Lipped Mussel lowered the animals’ arthritis scores by a range of 42-75%, compared to a reduction of only 31% from conventional omega-3 sources. It also reduced rear paw swelling by 96-98% compared to a reduction of only 7-38% from common omega-3s.

What was also remarkable was that the dose of oil from the Green Lipped Mussel was significantly less than that used for the standard omega-3 supplements.

In addition to containing ETA, the mussels are also a substantial source of glycosaminoglycans. In short, these amino sugars are raw materials or building blocks that are used by cells to ensure healthy joints.

Another thing to keep in mind when taking fish oil is that the quality of supplements varies enormously. If you aren’t careful about selecting a reputable product, you could be harming your health. This is because some oils are high in mercury or other contaminants, aren’t completely natural, or aren’t fresh. The level of DHA that you’re getting also varies. 

The New Zealand commercial mussel industry has grown to a massive industry, regulated under the New Zealand Quality Assurance programs, which is one of the strictest for shellfish in the world.

AllinFlex NZ only uses Green Lipped Mussels which are farmed in the pristine waters of the Marlborough Sounds.

The waters are tested accordingly to the specifications and standards set out by both the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, European Union and NZ Food & Safety Authorities. No mussel can be harvested from farms without confirmation that the water and shellfish testing during the growing cycle, and environmental monitoring, have been declared to be safe.

Allinflex NZ’s Marlborough-farmed Green Lipped Mussels are processed in a modern factory, operating under the strict hygiene and quality control regulations implemented under the New Zealand Government regulations and International Food Processing Standards, including the USFDA and European Union.