Omega huh? So what's the deal about fish oils? (here fishy, fishy, fishy!)

Don't you wish getting enough fish oil in your diet was as easy as made out in the below video?  "Here fishy, fishy, fishy!"

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUusX1Js6R0]

As a child, I remember fishing with my grandpa and trying the Ernie fish call over and over... of course with no success.  But that aside, I'm a huge advocate for supplementing one's diet with good, high-quality fish oils.  That being said, there seems to be much debate over the amount one should take.  I take in about 2 to 3 tablespoons of Nutrasea fish oils per day.  I have done so for nearly 2-months now and swear it has helped me with a number of former problems.

Firstly, inflammation of my joints has decreased by more than half.  I used to have a problem where my lower extremities would be quite swollen after an intense workout.  Partially due to a form of edema I have battled for the past 10 years - but since starting regular supplementation of fish oil it has disappeared entirely.  Also, I find that my breathing has improved tremendously.  I used to take my salbutamol inhaler several times per day along with Advair twice per day for my asthma, but now find that I rarely use my inhaler at all.  Yes - it might just be a placebo effect, but honestly the only real difference in my training/diet has been the addition of fish oils every day.

I highly recommend trying it for 3 months religiously and experience for yourself the benefits.

Here's the sales pitch from the Nutrasea product website:

Omega-3 fatty acids are “good fats” that are essential for optimal health. Like vitamins and minerals, omega-3 must be provided by our diet as it is not produced by our bodies. EPA and DHA are the active forms of omega-3 required by the body to do vital functions.

Omega-3 (EPA & DHA) function in the body

• Promotes cardiovascular health


• Reduces inflammation


• Supports mental focus & cognitive function


• Supports positive mood & emotional well-being


• Promotes brain, eye, & nervous system health


• Supports healthy immune system function


• Enhances appearance of skin and hair


• Promotes ideal fat metabolism

A number of dietary habits, such as the widespread use of vegetable cooking oils (omega-6), industrial milling, and the decreased consumption of fish (omega-3), have contributed to an omega-3 deficiency, or imbalance, in the diets of many North Americans. As compared to the ancestral diet of Neo-Palaeolithic humans, omega-3 consumption has dropped 20 fold from a daily intake of 3.0 grams down to a meager 0.15 grams. At the same time omega-6 consumption has increased dramatically, far exceeding the recommended daily intake.

A decreased amount of omega-3 relative to omega-6 in the diet results in an increased risk of degenerative disease. Experts generally recommend that we consume more omega-3 and less omega-6.

And as if that might not be enough to convince you to try it, here's an exert from the Crossfit Journal article by Dr. Barry Sears :

“If I want to have an al-Qaida battle plan How to Destroy Health Care of America, the USDA food pyramid there would be exactly that. I can think of nothing that would accelerate the development of silent inflammation faster.”

In Part 4 of this series, Dr. Barry Sears pulls no punches in criticizing USDA nutritional prescriptions that are being adopted by countries around the world. Dr. Sears states that a Western diet that causes silent inflammation is one of the reasons for sick citizens and over-burdened health-care systems.

The cure? Adherence to the Zone Diet and the inclusion of large amounts of fish oils rich in omega 3 fatty acids.

Studies have proven that high concentrations of fish oil can be used to dramatically reduce inflammation, resulting in weight loss, improved blood chemistry and better overall health. More clinical research has shown that fatty acids, even when used to supplement a very poor diet, can help lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, MS, bipolar depression, ADHD, chronic pain and Alzheimer’s—all because fish oils reduce inflammation.

“It’s as close to a miracle drug as I’ll ever see in my lifetime,” Dr. Sears states.