by Ross Voorhees

Created on: April 21, 2009

Omega 3s are all the rage now. We're seeing them pop up in milk, cereal, yogurt, and even candy. The reason? Because they have been scientifically proven to have numerous health benefits... without any extreme side effects. But most people in the U.S. Don't fully understand the whys and hows of Omega 3s and why Fish Oil is the most beneficial source.

What are the proven benefits of Omega 3s?

The National Institute of Health and the Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fish-oil/NS_patient -fishoil have declared that Omega 3s are of definite benefit in the following three areas:

1. Lowering Triglycerides Why is this important? Because Omega 3s are beneficial in lowering the risk of developing certain types of diabetes, and in keeping people who are in the early stages of developing diabetes from fully contracting the condition. Omega 3s SIGNIFICANTLY reduce Triglyceride levels.

2. High Blood Pressure Omega 3s reduce high blood pressure safely and effectively.

3. Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Reduces the risk of non-fatal and fatal heart attacks, sudden death, and deaths due to any cause associated with histories of heart attacks.

These three issues alone make the benefits of Omega 3s compelling enough to include them as a supplement for anyone. But the benefits don't stop there. There is equally compelling evidence from scientific studies that Omega 3s have far reaching benefits for pregnancy, child development, mental health, and many other conditions and diseases. But before we get to those, there is one tremendous misconception about Omega 3s:

Not all Omega 3s are the same!

What exactly does this mean, and why is this important?

Many people hear about the benefits of Omega 3s, but don't obtain the benefits from the supplements. Why is this so? A little history into the research of Omega 3s gives us the answer. The two primary sources of Omega 3s are Flaxseed Oil and Fish Oil. What scientists discovered was that Fish Oil contained high concentrations of two key acids that normally are made by the human body when Omega 3s are broken down in our digestive system. These two compounds are known as DHA and EPA. What researchers determined is that many people lack the ability to properly break down Omega 3s into these two important compounds, and it is within these compounds that the health benefits are derived.

In other words, the type of Omega 3 supplement you take is tremendously important. Many people shun fish oil because of the perceived taste, or because

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