Omega-3

Posted on by Robert Lapsley

There is More to Omega-3 than Heart Health

During the month of February, we’ve mostly discussed cardiovascular health for Heart Disease Awareness Month and thus we’ve touched on the benefits of incorporating Omega-3 in ones diet to promote cardiovascular health. However, more and more we are finding that consuming Omega-3 can benefit more than just the heart. Omega-3 has been known to also help with joint health, inflammation, mental, and prenatal health.

An article on Nutraingredients that talked about a study conducted on pregnant women who were given prenatal supplementation with the omega-3 fatty acid DHA. Although many studies have already found that consuming DHA during pregnancy can help with visual and neurological development in infants, this study found that DHA also has great benefits on the overall health of the pregnancy. Specifically, the study which was led by Professor Susan Carlson from the University of Kansas, found that mothers given 600 milligrams of DHA throughout the pregnancy had babies who were less likely to be low birth weight and/or born before 34 weeks of gestation.1 Delivering a healthy baby at full term has many benefits not only for the child but also the entire family, which can mean less delivery complications and shorter hospital stays.

What’s really great about this specific study is that it will follow the infants whose mothers were taking the prenatal DHA supplementation through their early childhood in order to truly determine the overall benefits of DHA on a child’s neurological development and general health. The mothers and infants who were given the DHA supplementation will continue to be assessed at regular intervals until the children are 6yrs old. Since previous studies have already determined that omega-3 helps with a newborns cognitive and intellectual development, this study could truly demonstrate the benefits of omega-3 on a child’s intelligence over the long run.

This study goes to show that it’s never too early to start thinking about the health of your children. Also, that continued consumption of vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids is vital to our health. To start getting your dose of essential fatty acids, such as Omega-3, try Ultimate Multi-EFA, a new, smaller and easy to swallow capsule ideal for children.

Remember it’s never too early to start a journey to optimal health!

New Zealand Blackcurrant

Posted on by Robert Lapsley

The King of the Blackcurrants… the New Zealand Blackcurrant

There are blackcurrants and then there is the New Zealand blackcurrant. I’m sure by now many of us have heard the buzz around blackcurrants and their high levels antioxidants which come from anthocyanins, flavonoics, and polyphenols, which are found in New Zealand blackcurrants. The antioxidant level found in New Zealand blackcurrants is higher than any other commercially available berries, fruits, and vegetables, with more vitamin C than the average orange.

What makes New Zealand superior in the blackcurrant farming kingdom than say Europe or Asia? Some may argue that it’s the soil, while others may say that it’s the weather, or perhaps it’s the combination, whatever the reason is, blackcurrants thrive in New Zealand. Currently, New Zealand produces approximately 12,000 tons of blackcurrants annually.1 Additionally, New Zealand blackcurrants contain higher levels of anthocyanins than those produced by other countries; anthoycyanins have been known to contain anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties.

There is a great article on Nutraingredients.com, “Kiwi blackcurrants can reduce mental fatigue,” that talked about a study which was conducted by Plant & Food Research showing that an extract of New Zealand blackcurrants high in anthocyanins can help reduce stress. In this specific study, New Zealand blackcurrants were shown to help people stay more alert, reduce mental fatigue and work with greater accuracy while under significant mental stress.2 Participants were asked to watch a series of random numbers and respond when three consecutive odd numbers appeared and it was found that compared to the placebo, taking the enriched blackcurrant extracts helped participants with accuracy and significantly decreased mental fatigue.

Helping with stress and mental alertness is just one of many benefits of consuming New Zealand blackcurrant extracts and supplements. Previous research conducted by Plant & Food has also found New Zealand blackcurrants to have many other health benefits such as supporting immune response and reducing muscle fatigue and damage.

The health benefits of the New Zealand blackcurrant are many. Try getting your dose of blackcurrants with Pollen Burst Plus.

Get your dose of antioxidants! Remember prevention is the key!