Fish Oil, It Is Not Optional- It Is Essential!

“I am writing a second article for the week for 2 reasons: First, many of you wanted to know more about finding a fish oil supplement that is high in quality and low in cost. Second, I got the impression from others that they think fish oil supplementation is “optional” at best, and is not really critical to improving and preserving their health. For those of you who are now taking fish oil to protect your health, I congratulate you! For those who are not taking fish oil, I beg you to reconsider! I have taken the time to provide all of you with more information to help you see how important this issue is and why I feel so strongly about it. Please read the following carefully, and share it with others. Thank you.” Dr. Craig

Other Health Benefits I Did Not Mention That You NEED To Be Aware Of: 1-5
Scientists made one of the first associations between omega-3s and human health while studying the Inuit (Eskimo) people of Greenland in the 1970s. As a group, the Inuit suffered far less from certain diseases (coronary heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, psoriasis) than their European counterparts. Yet their diet was very high in fat from eating whale, seal, and salmon. Eventually researchers realized that these foods were all rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which provided real disease-countering benefits.

In addition, nutritionists have come to recognize the importance of balancing omega-3 fatty acids with omega-6 fatty acids in the diet. Because most people on a typical Western diet consume far more omega-6-rich foods (including cereals, whole-grain bread, baked goods, fried foods, margarine, and others), the ratio is clearly out of balance for almost everyone. This means for most Americans the emphasis now needs to be on increasing omega-3s to make the ratio more even.

Specifically, omega-3s in fish oil may help to:
1) Improve heart health. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to play a part in keeping cholesterol levels low, stabilizing irregular heart beat (arrhythmia), and reducing blood pressure (hypertension).

2) Omega-3 fatty acids are also natural blood thinners, reducing the "stickiness" of blood cells (called platelet aggregation), which can lead to such complications as blood clots and stroke.

3) Improve rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Raynaud's disease, and other autoimmune diseases. Diets high in omega-3 fatty acids (such as fish oils) have been shown to increase survival in people with autoimmune diseases. This is probably because the omega-3s help the arteries--as well as many other parts of the body--stay inflammation free. In numerous studies over the years, participants with inflammatory diseases have reported less joint stiffness, swelling, tenderness, and overall fatigue when taking omega-3s.

In 1998, an exciting review of well-designed, randomized clinical trials reported that omega-3 fatty acids were more successful than a placebo ("dummy drug") in improving the condition of people with rheumatoid arthritis. The research also showed that getting more omega-3 fatty acids enabled some participants to reduce their use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, etc.

4) Improve depression and symptoms of other mental health problems. The brain is remarkably fatty: In fact, this organ is 60% fat and needs omega-3s to function properly. Now researchers have discovered a link between mood disorders and the presence of low concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids in the body.

Apparently, omega-3s help regulate mental health problems because they enhance the ability of brain-cell receptors to comprehend mood-related signals from other neurons in the brain. In other words, the omega-3s are believed to help keep the brain's entire traffic pattern of thoughts, reactions, and reflexes running smoothly and efficiently.

5) Aid cancer prevention and cancer support. Preliminary research from the University of California, Los Angeles, suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may help maintain healthy breast tissue and prevent breast cancer. Also, in a recent study, participants who supplemented their diet with fish oils produced fewer quantities of a carcinogen associated with colon cancer than did a placebo group.

Conclusion / Summary: Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s), are fats required by the body that the body is unable to produce on its own, so they must be supplemented from the diet. EFA’s are often called “the good fats” because unlike other fats that have received negative press, these fats have health promoting benefits. Essential fatty acids help modulate inflammation, protect against cancer, protect against heart disease, help to support the structure and function of the nervous system, help to maintain healthy skin, assist in modulating blood sugar, and help in the modulation and production of hormones. Essential fatty acids are extremely important nutrients for health and are present in every healthy cell in the body, and are critical for the normal maintenance, growth and functioning of the cells, muscles, nerves, and organs.

My recommendation is this: Each and every person should be taking a fish oil supplement because their body can NOT produce essential fats on its own, and the average person is NOT getting them in their foods in adequate amounts. I recommend the Body By God product for 2 main reasons: great quality control and its inexpensive compared to everything else I have tried. You will never find this quality of fish oil in any health food store because it is simply too expensive for them, considering that ultra-refined fish oil concentrates are up to 1,000 times more pure than health-food grade fish oils. At Body By God, it is all about results. There is nothing else that really matters when it comes to your health, just RESULTS!

Your Maximized Health Mentor,

Dr. Craig

Fish Oil Reduces Heart Disease: The Evidence Increases

Previous studies have suggested a link between Eskimos’ high intake of omega-3 fats and their reduced risk of heart disease. Since then, several other studies have strengthened the association between the intake of omega-3 fats and the reduced risk of heart disease.

In one study, 11,324 post--myocardial infarction patients were assigned to receive either omega-3 fats eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or vitamin E, a combination of the two, or neither for a 3.5-year period. No statistically significant benefit was observed with vitamin E, however the omega-3 fat group experienced a 20 percent decreased risk of total mortality, a 30 percent lower risk of cardiovascular mortality, and a 45 percent lower risk of sudden death.

The increasing evidence supporting the view that omega-3 fats reduce the risk of death from heart disease should not be ignored. The American Heart Association states that Americans must increase daily intake of EPA and DHA per day. Failure to do so will lead to increased risk for heart disease. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2003, Harris 77 (2): 279

Dr. Craig’s Comments:
Always remember omega-3 fats are essential to you and your children's health. The best source for omega-3 is fish oil, as, unlike other sources such as walnuts or flax seeds, it is high in two fatty acids crucial to human health, DHA and EPA. These two fatty acids are pivotal in preventing heart disease, cancer, and many other diseases. The human brain is also highly dependent on DHA - low DHA levels have been linked to depression, schizophrenia, memory loss, and a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's.

Generally, our diets contain not only far too little omega-3 (fish oil type), but far too many omega-6 fats (fast food type). Experts looking at the dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids suggest that in early human history the ratio was about 1:1. Currently most Americans eat a dietary ratio that falls between 20:1 and 50:1 (BAD : GOOD). The optimal ratio is most likely closer to the original ratio of 1:1. For most of us this means not only increasing our omega-3 intake through fish oil, but also greatly reducing the omega-6 fatty acids we consume.

As for fish itself, patients consuming nearly every type of fish these days are showing high levels of mercury in their systems. In short--and sadly, as it would otherwise be one of the healthiest meats on the planet--I now advise patients to start taking a “good” fish oil supplement instead of only eating fish because most are contaminated with mercury. If you do consume fish, you should be certain the provider can demonstrate that the fish are free of detectable levels of mercury and other toxins. We can help you find a supplement that is high in quality.

EFA (Essential Fatty Acids) are basic, essential building blocks for the brain, nerve system, and gastrointestinal tract- to name only a few bodily systems. If you ignore your body’s needs and fail to provide your body with the basic building blocks- absolutely nothing good came come of it. In fact, extremely serious consequences can be the only expectation!

If you feel this information is of value to you and your health, please let Mark or myself help you get started on reversing your Bad:Good fat ratio now by getting you started on a fish oil supplement that I have taken for years, and will continue to take for the rest of my life! Heart Disease is the #1 leading “Killer Disease” in the United States, and has been for many years. I believe most people are simply failing to understand and implement health strategies that significantly increase their health, and therefore their chances of developing heart disease. Don’t wait for it to happen to you!

Your Maximized Health Mentor,
Dr. Craig

M.D.'s Thoughts on Chiropractic

"I started out, as do most beginners in the medical art, to conquer the demon ‘disease’ with drugs. I too, often failed, as they all do...the more I studied and experimented, the more I was convinced that the real cause of dis-ease was impinged nerves, and that the chiropractic adjustment was the most scientific way to release them...results are what count, and chiropractic care, when scientifically given, brings them..."
- William A. Seeley, M.D.
"The contrast of osteopathy to chiropractic is as great as the contrast of an old-fashioned blunder-bus to a modern high powered rifle...this opinion is based on knowledge gained through my experience in drugless therapy, and is so firmly fixed in my mind that I no longer practice osteopathy at all."
- Dr. S.C. Wyatt, former osteopath
To Live Longer MD Recommends Avoiding MDs
As a retired physician, I can honestly say that unless you are in a serious accident, your best chance of living to a ripe old age is to avoid doctors and hospitals and learn nutrition, herbal medicine and other forms of natural medicine unless you are fortunate enough to have a naturopathic physician available, like a Chiropractor. Almost all drugs are toxic and are designed only to treat symptoms and not to cure anyone. Vaccines are highly dangerous, have never been adequately studied or proven to be effective, and have a poor risk/reward ratio. Most surgery is unnecessary and most textbooks of medicine are inaccurate and deceptive. Almost every disease is said to be idiopathic (without known cause) or genetic – although this is untrue. In short, our mainstream medical system is hopelessly inept and/or corrupt. The treatment of cancer and degenerative diseases is a national scandal. The sooner you learn this, the better off you will be.
- A.Greenberg, M.D.
“Look well to the spine for the cause of disease.” Hippocrates (460-357 B.C.), “The Father of Medicine”
“Drugs never cure disease. They merely hush the voice of nature’s protest, and pull down the danger signals she erects along the pathway of transgression. Any poison taken into the system has to be reckoned with later on even though it palliates present symptoms. Pain may disappear, but the patient is left in a worse condition, though unconscious of it at the time.”
- Daniel H. Kress, M.D.

“Look well to the spine for the cause of disease.” Hippocrates (460-357 B.C.), “The Father of Medicine”

Dr. Craig’s comments on the above:
I know many people today still consider medicine to be mainstream, and chiropractic to be an alternative form of healthcare. I would challenge you to consider how this perception came to be, and whether it is truly accurate or not. Consider the word healthcare… do you honestly think that medicine(s) are the ultimate source of health and healing power? Are M.D.’s known for their treatments and teachings when it comes to learning more about health in general? I would strongly answer NO to both questions and argue that the chiropractic profession and especially this chiropractic office strives to TEACH and TREAT the cause of illness and not merely focus on symptoms (affects). Therefore, I would argue that our chiropractic office is a no-alternative approach to healthcare. Meaning everyone needs to care for the health of their spine and nerve system as if it were top priority. Everything after that should be considered alternative, and that would include drug therapy and surgery. The people around us at work and at home need to be taught that Chiropractic should be the first option when it comes to healthcare, and not last resort. What is the alternative to maintaining your health naturally?

Your Maximized Health Mentor,
Dr. Craig