Will your mental spark be dampened with a diet of low fat foods or refined processed foods? According to Dr. Richard Podell, M.D., clinical professor at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, when it comes to Essential Fatty Acids (EFA), the American diet of fast foods and processed ingredients falls short of what the body needs in terms of essential nutrients. EFAs are involved with producing energy in our bodies from food substances and moving that energy throughout our systems. They aid in transferring oxygen, hemoglobin products and play a role in controlling the flow of nutrients through cell membranes. One reason that people may overeat is that the body is looking for more nutrients, not just calories.

EFAs must be supplied by the diet as they can not be manufactured by the body and are lost in cooking. Fatty acids are chemical building blocks composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms linked in chains. Fatty refers to one end of this chain that does not dissolve in water. They come in two main categories, Omega-3 and Omega-6.

The Omega-3s are found in fish oils. Primary members of this group include ALA and DHA (a major component of the brain and retina). They are reported to lower fats in the blood and thus reduce the risk of coronary disease.Modern diets generally are lacking in Omega-3. You may remember your grandmother referring to these as brain food.

Omega-6s are more common. They include LA and GLA (produced in the body from LA) and are found in evening primrose oil, borage oil, and mother's milk. Research has linked the rising rate of depression among adults to an imbalance in the ratio of omega-3 fatty acids to omega-6 fatty acids.

Oleic acid is an Omega-9. Because it lacks two hydrogen atoms on one side, it has the property of melting at a low temperature.

For more information on omega oils.

The Green Turtle Bay Vitamin Co. recently introduced Signal -encompassing a broad spectrum of lipids, including fish oils from pristine Northern waters- to insure that you receive a desired balance of EFAs.

3 softgels contain:

% daily value

Calories

40

Total fat

3.5 g

5%

Saturated fat

0.5 g

3%

Cholesterol

10 mg

3%

Protein

1 g

2%

Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols)

30 IU

100%

ALA (Alpha-Linolenic Acid) Omega-3

675 mg

*

LA (Linolenic Acid) Omega-6

615 mg

*

DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) Omega-3

230 mg

*

EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) Omega-3

335 mg

*

GLA (Gamma-Linolenic Acid) Omega-6

270 mg

*

Oleic Acid, Omega-9

510 mg

*

Borage Oil

1200 mg

*

Flax Oil (certified organic)

1200 mg

*

Northern deep-sea, cold-water, fish oil
(salmon, halibut, cod, pilchard)

1200 mg

*

% of U.S. RDA (recommended daily allowance) for adults and children 4 or more years of age.

Ingredients: Certified organic cold expeller-pressed flazseed oil, deep sea cold-water fish body oil concentrate (sardine, anchovy), borage seed oil, gelatin, glycerin, purified water and mixed tocopherols (vitamin E). All natural formula

*Daily Value not established.

Daily values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Other ingredients: gelatin, glycerin, purified water

DIRECTIONS:

As a dietary supplement, take 3 softgels a day with meals along with a quality multi-vitamin supplement such as PowerVites.