It is important to avoid consuming too much fat, but fat is a critical component of a healthful diet. While it is true that most people consume far too much fat on a daily basis, there are two fats that are essential in the diet for sound health and are referred to as essential fatty acids (EFA's). These 2 EFAs are alpha linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fat, and linoleic acid, an omega-6 fat. Fats from both the omega-3 and omega-6 groups are critical to good health, but they must be kept in balance.1 Today there is a problem maintaining this balance. As stated in Fantastic Voyage, Chapter 6 "Fat and Protein": Two families of unsaturated fats--the omega-6 fats, found mainly in plant-based oils, and the omega-3 fats, found in fish, walnuts, and flaxseeds--were in relative balance a century ago. The modern diet now emphasizes omega-6 fats by as much as 25 to 1. Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.2,3,4 One softgel of EPA/DHA provides 300 mg of combined EPA/DHA omega-3 fatty acids. Coming Back to Balance The easiest way to bring the omega-3 : omega-6 ratio into balance is to decrease consumption of omega-6 vegetable oils like corn and safflower oil and eat more omega-3 rich fish and fish oil. The dry weight of your brain is 60% fat. The type of fat you incorporate into your brain reflects the type of fat you put into your mouth. The omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA are the preferred brain fats. Essentially the only place you can obtain these fatty acids is by eating fish and other seafood. The old wives' tale "Fish is brain food" is correct. If you don't eat fish and consume other less desirable fats such as the trans-fats found in margarine or heated rancid fats such as are typically found when food is deep fried, your brain incorporates these fatty acids into its infrastructure. The brain does not operate nearly as well on these less desirable fats.5,6 Omega-3 fatty acids are found in phytoplankton, a marine plant, which is eaten by fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, albacore tuna, halibut, and sardines. The importance of omega-3 fats was first recognized from research on the Eskimos. Although the traditional Eskimo diet is extraordinarily high in fat, the rate of heart disease and cancer found among Eskimos is low. The primary fat in the Eskimo diet is omega-3. Our fish oil is in strict compliance with California Proposition 65 and we have on hand a Certificate of Analysis for our EPA / DHA product. The guidelines set in the proposition are at <3ppm for the heavy metals and our formula comes in at <1ppm. Dosage The current RDA for omega-3 fats is 1100 mg for women and 1600 mg for men. Each capsule of Ray & Terry's EPA/DHA Formula contains 1000 mg of fish oil of which 180 mg is EPA and 120 mg is DHA (total of 300 mg EPA/DHA per capsule). We recommend 2 capsules twice a day for a total of 4000 mg of fish oil (1200 mg of EPA/DHA). This is an adequate dose for women, but men can obtain the RDA minimum by eating at least 2 servings of fish each week in addition to the 4 capsules of EPA/DHA a day. Otherwise, men need to take 3 capsules twice a day. Ray & Terry's EPA/DHA contains 120 softgels per bottle. Ray & Terry's EPA/DHA is equally effective when taken with or without food. However, if your digestive system is sensitive, you may want to take your supplements with meals. This product has been tested for PCBs and is well within the limits of California Proposition 65. Our material contains less than 10% of the level allowed by this regulation. | Supplement Facts | | Serving Size: 1 Softgel |
| | Amount Per Serving: 120 | % Daily Value |
| | Calories | 10 | * |
| Calories from Fat | 10 | * | | Total Fat | 1 g | 2% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.5 g | ** | | Fish Oil | 1,000 mg | ** |
| EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) | 180 mg | ** |
| DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) | 120 mg | ** |
| *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. **% Daily Value Not Established |
| | Other Ingredients: Gelatin, glycerin and purified water. | | ALLERGEN WARNING: Contains fish (Herring, Anchovy, Mackerel, Sardine, Salmon). | CAUTION: Consult with your physician before using this product if you are pregnant, diabetic or allergic to iodine. Do not take this product if you are using blood thinners or anticipate surgery. Do not exceed recommended dose. Pregnant or nursing mothers, children under 18, and individuals with a known medical condition should consult a physician before using this or any dietary supplement. |
References: - Biomed Pharmacother. Oct;56(8): 365-379. A. P. Simopoulos. 2002.
- Circulation (American Heart Association). Nov 19:106(21): 2747-2757 2002 PM Kris-Etherton et al.
- Circulation (American Heart Association). Nov 19:106(21): 2747-2757 2002 PM Kris-Etherton et al.
- Proc Nutr Soc. Aug;61(3): 345-358. P. C. Calder. 2002.
- J Am Coll Nutr 1999; 18: 487-9. Simopoulos AP, et al.
- Proc Nutr Soc. Feb;61(1): 61-69. 2002 Wainwright P.E.
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