Let’s put heart health in perspective, by time traveling back to February, 1964:
- The average American male weighed 166 pounds pounds (the current average is 196 pounds)
- On February 9th, a band called “The Beatles” launched their invasion of America, singing “I Want To Hold Your Hand” to throngs of screaming and crying girls on The Ed Sullivan Show
- Heart disease was becoming a huge issue in the US, and President Lyndon Johnson declared February as “American Heart Month”
Over 50 years later, heart disease is an even bigger issue than before. Granted, surgical treatments and a select few medications have made treatment more effective, but where are we in terms of heart disease prevention? Not very far. The public is more confused than ever, many more people eat highly-processed food daily, and there’s this thing called “The Internet” where everybody spouts their opinion on what’s healthy and what’s not. Luckily, the Internet also spawned instagram and blogs so we can keep you up-to-date on heart healthy helps.
Essential Fatty Acids, or EFAs, are an essential part of your health you must acquire from outside sources. The key components are Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, unsaturated oils that are considered essential because the human body must have them, but cannot manufacture them on its own. They play huge roles in muscle growth and maintain healthy levels of body fat. This translates into optimal health for that ever-beating muscle in your chest: your heart.
You need only several grams per day to maintain optimal EFA levels and heart health. Those same few grams are also involved in energy production, hormone production, oxygen transfer, hemoglobin production, cell membrane components, recovery from fatigue, and much more. Between the human body not being able to produce its own EFAs and the dramatic changes in the typical American diet, the population has developed a severe EFA deficiency, causing a rise in health issues, including heart disease.
Studies show that a diet rich in ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) can help protect against heart disease. These omega-3s have been show to reduce high blood lipids and blood pressure, and decrease blood clotting. Meta analysis of over 70 research studies show that both omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids can help with blood pressure.
EFA Sources
EFAs are found in quite a few food sources, most notably fish. Other sources include hemp, flax, walnuts, almonds, dark green leafy vegetables, eggs, and more. The challenge with most of the aforementioned sources is that it’s hard to hit your daily EFA goals without racking up the calorie count. This is often why people supplement; however, there’s a problem there, too.
Fish oil is the industry favorite source of EFAs. The problem is fish are often contaminated with mercury and environmental chemicals. This means the EFAs have to be processed over and over to get rid of the mercury, which destroys the end product.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are very sensitive; light, heat, and oxygen can destroy them. Both can be avoided by keeping them in dark bottles in the refrigerator. The main problem with most EFA products on the market today is the inability of keeping them fresh because of their exposure to oxygen. Oxygen easily permeates traditional capsules and, EFAs as liquids in bottles, are exposed to oxygen every time the lid comes off.
The Richest, Safest Source
Optimal E.F.A. is a unique blend of stabilized oils from plant sources only, making this a choice essential fatty acid source for vegetarians and for those who want to avoid any level of PCBs and other toxins found in supplements made from fish oils. We source our ALA from flax seed oil, the richest source of LNA, DHA from algae, the only vegetable-based DHA source, and GLA from borage oil, the richest source of GLA. This completely removes the risk of mercury and other contaminants.
OHS has teamed with one of the leading capsule manufacturers to encapsulate a complete blend of EFAs in a capsule utilizing a patented sealing process which virtually eliminates the end product’s exposure to oxygen. Traditionally DHA oil is obtained from fish. Unfortunately, there is no body of water that is free from the ravages of pollution. Fish contain high levels of toxic materials. Our DHA oil is derived from micro-algae grown in controlled vats, thereby yielding contaminate free DHA, and it’s vegan safe.
The body needs essential fats for essential heart health. Utilizing the same source of EFA’s as the fish get (algae), you are ensured to have heart healthy benefits without compromise.