Facts & Myths About Omega-3 Oil

This is an article I shared with West Hartford Patch: http://westhartford.patch.com/groups/dr-chris-chases-blog/p/facts--myths-about-omega3-oil_82c04d58

A recent study has attempted to link people ingesting omega-3 (not specifying the source or the quality level) with prostate cancer. Like most things in life, the storyline and the truth are usually worlds apart.

It appears that study didn't look at other factors such as lifestyle, medications, etc. It simply is suggesting that folks who have omega-3 in their body also, as well as blood, and most other goodies found in the human body, also had a bump in prostate cancer. Basically, the quality of this study is like saying, "People who breathe air also end up eventually dying." In other words, most folks looking at this study are looking at it as they did when a study came out suggesting that fiber is not necessary in one's diet. That was later shown to be very incorrect (LOL).

The American Heart Association, along with every reputable health care professional on the planet, agree that omega-3 oil is a critical component to good health. The list of benefits is quite extensive.

When it comes to nutritional supplements, most studies reach for the quality-challenged selection that you would find a large discount department store. Why? Because they're assuming that this is what most consumers purchase. For example, in a study on the merits of taking a multi-vitamin, the brands they chose to use for their "analysis" were the inexpensive nationally known names that were and are commonly advertised on television, and of course, available at your local drugstore.

Any reasonably intelligent person can tell you that there is a big difference between the beef you get when you purchase a .99 cent burger at any given fast food joint and the quality of beef you would find at a decent steakhouse. The difference is huge.

When it comes to fish oil, the differences are even greater. Quality factors include where the fish is raised, how the oil is extracted, how it is filtered, encapsulated, etc. In other words, EVERYTHING matters. The point here is that - even if this study was truly respectable, and even if the oil was the culprit, the fact of the matter is that putting low-end omega-3 oil in your body is like eating an unwashed, non-organic strawberry that has been sprayed with pesticides, cow manure, and touched by many dirty human hands.

One of the most critical factors when it comes to selecting a omega-3 product is where the fish are raised. Are they farm-raised fish - which are fed a diet of breadcrumbs, byproducts and fillers OR are they sourced from pristine waters, having been raised in a natural environment, on a diet from their natural habitat?

Another critical factor is how the oil is processed. Would you drink water that left a water treatment plant unfiltered (i.e. toilet water)? Of course not. Only the finest oils go through a high-level filtration process called MOLECULAR DISTILLATION. This takes an already incredible oil, and then filters out anything and everything that may have made its way into the fish's body - so that you are left with pure liquid gold.

At Advanced Chiropractic we carry only the finest omega-3 oil available anywhere. It is sourced from the best sources and is molecularly distilled. Omega-3 oil is a critical component of good health. Sure - you could eat a couple of large daily servings of wild cold water fish (ocean - not lake, river, stream or pond), but that is hardly realistic.

One final word on this matter: Omega-3 oil delivers so many positives to the human body, that - to some folks in the health care community, it is more of a threat than it is a benefit. If you could truly prove that the American Heart Association, Dr. Weil, Dr. Oz and pretty much every celebrity and reputable non-celebrity health care profession in the world was WRONG about their positive endorsement of omega-3 oil, then you could probably make a very strong case for other prescription products designed to treat a world of conditions.

If I could prove that all produce was bad for you (including all organic produce), then I could make a very strong case why you should buy my "Super-Duper Veggie & Fruit Pill."

People ask me, "Dr. Chris why do you write about nutrition"?

As a Structural chiropractor, which is different than convential chiropractic, we are focused on detecting and then correcting abnormal shifts of the spine that adversely affect your spine, nerves and spinal cord. Anything that complements our care we recommend to our patients - one of these recommendations is a healthy diet, including Omega-3 fish oils.

This helps with patient outcomes and if results matter than so does technique.

Have a GREAT Day!

About Dr. Chris...

Dr. Chris Chase is a Chiropractor that focuses on the Structural Correction of the spine at his practice Advanced Chiropractic, located in West Hartford, CT.  In contrast to traditional chiropractors whose goal is to provide temporary relief of pain, Dr. Chase's goal is to shift the underlying framework of the body back to the stability of what all healthcare professionals agree is normal.

Dr. Chase can be reached at 860.523.5465
and www.advancedwesthartford.com or www.facebook.com/advancedwesthartford1

Look for our blog on Patch of West Hartford: http://westhartford.patch.com/groups/dr-chris-chases-blog/p/facts--myths-about-omega3-oil_82c04d58