Fish Oil

It is well known that stress can potentially have a negative effect on both physical and mental health, but recent research conducted by the University of Valencia in Spain indicates that high-grade ethyl-epa fish oil could possibly prevent some of the adverse effects associated with chronic or prolonged stress. Ethyl-epa is a concentrated and purified form of the Omega 3 essential fatty acid Eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA. Researchers found that ethyl-epa helps transport the stress hormone cortisol through the blood brain barrier. This indicates that ethyl-epa fish oil could help cortisol to return to normal levels, which is important when we consider that during periods of prolonged stress, cortisol levels can remain very high and pose a significant risk to health.

Previous Research

Previous studies have already shown us that Omega 3 fatty acids can help us deal with stressful situations. For example, an Israeli study by Yehuda and colleagues reported in 2005 that Omega 3 fatty acids appear to lower cortisol levels, reduce anxiety and improve test anxiety responses. Stress and anxiety related to tests and exams is quite common and can be a major problem for some people and the implications are that increasing intake of Omega 3 fatty acids by supplementing with fish oil might offer some relief. But it’s when we are under sustained pressure that we are most at risk of the negative effects of stress, particularly when we cannot relax and allow the body to return to normal afterwards.

A study at Lausanne University published in 2003 found that after giving fish oil for 3 weeks, there was a reduction in stress hormones. Also in 2003, Dr David Horrobin reported that EPA was effective for reducing cortisol and anxiety levels. According to Robert Sapolsky, a neuroendicronlogist and expert on the effect of stress on the body, sustained high levels of cortisol can actually damage the neurons in the hippocampus, the part of our brain we use for learning and memory. Indeed, a recent study conducted by the University of Edinburgh and published in February 2006 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, suggested that high levels of cortisol could be a cause of Alzheimer’s disease later in life.

What is Cortisol?

Cortisol is an important chemical that is produced by the body to help us cope with stress. It is part of the “fight or flight” mechanism and without it we would not survive. It is at its highest level first thing in the morning and at its lowest last thing at night. Problems arise when we are subjected to prolonged or continuous periods of stress when cortisol levels are likely to remain very high for some time. Some of the health problems associated with prolonged stress include:

cardiovascular disease
depression
skin problems
digestive problems

memory loss
high blood pressure
inability to concentrate
decreased immunity
mood swings
fatigue
anxiety
feeling of negativity

How can EPA fish oil help?

Research has shown that people under stress have an increased ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids in their blood. Omega 6 fatty acids are known to be pro-inflammatory and result in an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines and eicosanoids which can not only lead to many new health problems arising, it can significantly worsen any existing health conditions.

Fish oil that is high in the Omega 3 fatty acid EPA helps the body to produce anti-inflammatory cytokines and eicosanoids, reducing the risk to health and at the same time can provide some relief for many existing health problems. The following list represents just some of the other health benefits of EPA fish oil:

Helps the blood flow more efficiently through the body and to the brain
Increases serotonin levels, the ‘feel good’ hormone, the opposite one to Cortisol, the ’stress hormone’
Stabilises mood and alleviates depression
Alleviates symptoms of skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema and acne

Improves memory, concentration and mental processing
Lowers high blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides
Reduces risk of cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis and stroke
Lowers risk of sudden death in heart attack patients
Boosts the immune system
Reduces inflammation and associated pain of arthritis

Conclusion

Stress is a natural and necessary part of life and can be described as any event, external or internal, that causes us emotional worry and/or physical distress. It is when it is sustained and prolonged that it becomes a major risk factor for illness and disease. Increasing our intake of Omega 3 fatty acids by supplementing with fish oil can play a role in helping us to face and deal with stressful situations. However, ethyl-epa fish oil in particular, would appear to be an effective, natural and safe option not only to help us deal with stress as it arises, but to reduce the risk posed by the potentially serious effects of prolonged stress.

Copyright 2006 David McEvoy

Dave mcevoy is an award winning personal trainer with over 20 years experience; he also owns high quality health supplement website that sells a high quality EPA in a VEG capsule.be sure to come a visit his site which is packed full of information about fish oil.

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The long chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, found in the greatest abundance in fish and fish oil but also in some other foods as well, play a key role as components of cellular membranes. During the regular aging process, cell membranes become much more rigid. This can adversely effect the function of tissues throughout the body, including the brain.
Perhaps the top asset to the brain of them all is DHA, the principal polyunsaturated fat in the central nervous system. DHA is appears to have a very direct
effect on brain chemistry, development and
functioning. DHA is essential for both kids
and adults, but DHA is as vital to a kid’s
diet as sitcoms are to prime time television. The top
source of omega-3 fatty acids of them all is
cold-water fish and fish oils, but omega-3 fatty acids can also
be found in varying quantities in other foods such as certain vegetable oils walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, peanuts, flaxseed
and also eggs.

The bottom line is, Omega-3 fatty acids appear to protect
the brain, which is why many physicians recommend taking an omega-3 supplement, usually fish oil because of it’s high
concentration of readily absorbed dha and epa (flax and other sources have to be converted in the body instead of being directly assimilated).
Even our President and Governer Shwarzenagger take omega-3 supplements.
There have been a considerable amount of clinical research studies conducted related to the benefits of omega-3 dietary supplements (especially fish oil) in certain inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in people, including but not limited to arthritis, ulcerative colitis, lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and heart disease.
This research goes back to 1970’s Greenland and beyond. Some if not most of the placebo trials of fish oil in inflammatory conditions show substantial benefits such as for

example a lessened disease activity and a lower overall requirement of various anti-inflammatory drugs.

Because omega-3 fatty acids are a very key component of development during the entire course of a person’s life cycle, they should be included in the diets of each individual. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are not interconvertible in the body and are therefore vital components of almost all cell membranes. Cellular proteins are genetically determined, however the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition of cell membranes is to a large degree dependent on dietary consumption.

To learn more about Omega-3’s visit Fish Oil Research and look at some of the studies there.

Ryan Joseph is a writer/researcher. More info. regarding Fish Oil and Omega-3 Fatty Acids may be found at http://www.fish-oil-100.com

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Since Dr Malcolm Peet, a consultant psychiatrist at Sheffield swallow court hospital released his findings about the effects of Ethyl Epa and its effects on people suffering from depression and low moods, many other studies have been performed using Ethyl Epa to help treat depression and related disorders. The vast majority of the studies that have been performed consistently confirmed that Ethyl Epa, a natural substance found in omega 3 fish oil, helps relieve depression and low moods.

The idea that high grade omega 3 EPA could be used to help combat depression and other related disorders came from the late Dr Horribin, who as early as the 1970s was a pioneer in lipid research involving the brain and central nervous system. Since the findings at Sheffield, studies have been conducted round the world, Harvard university 1999, London Hammersmith hospital 2001 and Israel Ben Gurion University 2002 to name but a few.

EPA As Part Of A Healthy Diet

EPA is part of the Omega 3 chain of ecosanoids and is most commonly found in fatty fish such as fresh salmon, mackerel, pilchards and sardines. Over the past 100 years the diet patterns of most people in the west has shifted dramatically to include far more hydrogenated oils and Trans fatty acids (bad fats) this is largely due to the increased consumption of fast food and ready made meals. Even people who think they eat a healthy diet consume way too much omega 6 and not enough omega 3.

Researchers have recently found that a diet high in Tran’s fatty acids could affect the mood stabilizing hormones within the brain, this is thought to be due to the saturated fats slowing down the messaging system within the brain, should this happen then the onset of depression could occur.

How Does EPA Work?

While the benefits of high grade EPA have been well documented, the scientific community still don’t know exactly how EPA works on the brain, one theory released by Dr Basant Puri is that it eases the passage of the signals over the tiny gaps in the brain called synapses. Another theory was that the high Grade Epa actually worked similar to lithium and had anti depressant properties of its own.

Until recently it was widely accepted in the medical community that once a human reached maturity that the adult brain could not grow anymore, in a recent paper just released by Dr Puri his findings show other wise. Dr Puri scanned a 21 year patient before treating him with high grade Pure Epa, after the course of treatment he rescanned the young man only to find that the grey matter of the brain had increased in size.

Omega 3 EPA And The Body

As well as EPA being very good for helping to balance mood it has other well documented effects on the body, these included:-

Blood thinning properties
Decrease risk of heart attack
Decrease growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque
Slightly lower blood pressure

There is also some limited scientific evidence to show that high grade EPA has helped people suffering from:-

Bipolar disorder
PMS
Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME
Huntington’s disease
Fibromyalgia
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Schizophrenia
ADHD
ADD

Although more research needs to be done in these areas, the current evidence looks very promising.

EPA Versus DHA

Omega 3 fish oil contains another omega 3 nutrient called DHA, there is a currently a controversial argument as to which omega 3 nutrient is the more beneficial in dealing with depression and related disorders. This Argument is born from doctors who have used high grade Epa , Horribin, Puri and Peet They claim that the higher the ratio of Epa to Dha the more effective the results have been, just recently Dr Andrew Stoll has also come out in support of this theory.

EPA From Food

Any good doctor or nutritionist will tell you that the best way to get any nutrient is to eat a very balanced diet of the correct amount of carbohydrates , protein and omega essential fatty acids. In the case of Omega 3 epa this would be in the form of fish, unfortunately due to the high concentration levels of epa needed to obtain a therapeutic dose you would have to consume a large amount of oily fish daily and sadly due to the pollution levels found in our oceans today this is not advisable.

Omega 3 Epa can also be found in high doses in certain fish oil supplements, when choosing a fish oil supplement you should choose only the fish oil of the highest quality it should also have as high an EPA to DHA ratio as possible,for maximum therapeutic effect.

Conclusion

The large majority of scientific trails using high grade Omega 3 Ethyl Epa point towards this natural oil being very beneficial for many conditions. The argument about the DHA rages on and probably will until some solid scientific evidence is presented to us .In the mean time a product with a high EPA to DHA ratio is considered more beneficial by some leading UK doctors.

The Author

Jane Stewart: A great resource for high grade omega 3 Ethly EPA , with a 90% concentrate of EPA and Zero DHA visit http://www.mind1st.co.uk

Jane Stewart

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