Macknight Smoked Salmon - Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fat & Smoked Salmon

Omega-3s are a type of polyunsaturated fat and is an essential nutrients just like the vitamins and minerals, as our body cannot make them and they play many critical roles, it is essential to include Omega-3s in our diet.

The Omega-3 (called ALA) found in plant sourced foods such as canola oil, linseeds and walnuts needs to be converted by the body to the long chain Omega-3s to be used effectively. Unfortunately this conversion is very inefficient so it is desirable to include long chain Omega-3s in the diet as well. These are found in oily fish, other fish and seafood and to a lesser extent in meats and eggs. Foods enriched with long chain Omega-3s are beginning to appear in supermarkets. Supplements of fish oil are rich in long chain Omega-3s.

Long chain Omega-3s are used effectively in the body. DHA is a major building block of the brain. The retina in the eye is very concentrated in DHA. Other vital organs such as the heart are rich in long chain Omega-3s. Both EPA and DHA are transformed to other active substances in the body which have anti-inflammatory and protective roles. It is much more difficult to ensure enough long chain Omega-3s are in the diet as so few foods contain these essential nutrients. The shorter chain Omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid or ALA, is very poorly converted in the body to the long chain Omega-3s.

Why are long chain Omega-3s important?

These are vital nutrients required by every cell in the body
Omega-3 DHA is a major building block of the cells in the brain and retina so it is crucial for brain growth and visual development
Long chain Omega-3 DHA is important for the signalling processes in the brain and nervous system
The long chain Omega-3s DHA and EPA form hormone-like substances which help reduce inflammation, increase flexibility of blood vessels and help blood flow
The long chain Omega-3s DHA and EPA help reduce the risk of a heart attack
Scientific research continues to identify important roles for long chain Omega-3s, including the role of DPA another type of long chain Omega-3.

Whilst fruits, vegetables and cereal grains make important contributions to a healthy diet, they do not supply long chain Omega-3s.

To *prevent a deficiency* of long chain Omega-3s health authorities recommend 90mg/day for women and 160mg/day for men. However, to *optimise diets for lowering chronic disease risk* a much higher amount is recommended:

For women 430mg per day
For men 610mg per day

For some health conditions (such as arthritis and high blood triglyceride levels) doctors recommend higher intakes and fish oil supplements are required.

Most people have very little long chain Omega-3s in their diet because it is found in so few foods - in fact, most New Zealanders and Australians consume less than a quarter of the optimal recommended intake. Those who regularly consume fish and seafood (at least twice a week) and who choose food varieties enriched with long chain Omega-3s may reach their target intake. Oily fish such as Salmon is a high source of natural Omega-3s.

Omega-3 and Children

The latest information based on extensive research by the Omega-3 Centre focusing on children, has shown that Omega-3s found in oily fish such as salmon are extremely beneficial in a number of ways for children. This is of particular interest as a range of health problems among New Zealand children is being partly attributed to diets lacking oily fish and other foods rich in long chain Omega-3s.

This dietary shortfall in Omega-3 is causing concern for health experts who recommend that growing children should increase their intake of Omega-3s by as much as five times their current level. The evidence supporting the benefits of Omega-3 is strong enough to suggest healthcare professionals should consider Omega-3s as an adjunct in the treatment of children with developmental brain disorders such as ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. Long-chain Omega-3s are required by every cell in the body and are essential nutrients for a number of key health functions with an important role in brain growth, development, behaviour, learning and bone health.

Mind and Body

As well as being a superb and nourishing food and rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, Salmon is a natural source of healthy Omega-3s, of which the known health benefits are many and affect the body, and mind.

Body Food

Omega-3s have been linked to protection against heart disease by reducing hypertension ^1,2 as well as lowering cholesterol levels.³ It also smoothes blood flow through constricted arteries.⁴ The Omega-3s found in salmon lubricate the painful joints of arthritis sufferers,⁵ reduce the risk of breast cancer⁶ and help to prevent Crohn's disease⁷.

Baby Food

*DHA (one of the long chain Omega-3 polyunsaturates) has been shown to be important in building a foetus's brain, eyes and nerves during pregnancy.⁸ Eating Omega-3 rich fresh salmon* regularly during pregnancy also substantially reduces the incidence of low birth weight and premature delivery.⁹

*Pregnant women should avoid eating pre-cooked seafood products (unless eaten hot) and uncooked seafoods.¹

Mind Food

Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon are essential components of brain cell membranes, and their role in cell structure is thought to improve the powers of memory and boost learning power as well as protect the cells from diseases of ageing such as Alzheimer's and dementia.¹¹

High concentrations of Omega-3s in the brain and nervous system also enhance mood and may help prevent depression and alleviate the symptoms of manic depression.¹²

Sources:

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"Fish Consumption and Cardiovascular Disease in the Physician's Health Study" by Morris, M.C. et al. /American Journal of Epidemiology,/ 1995, 33-38.
"Effects of Supplementation with Fish Oil Derived n-3 Fatty Acids and -linolenic Acid on Circulating Plasma Lipids and Fatty Acid Profiles in Women", Maggie Laidlaw and Bruce J Holub /American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2003,/ 77 (1): 37-42.
"Dietary Fish Oil Augments Nitric Oxide production or Release in Patients with Type Two Diabetes Mellitus", G.E. McVeigh, /Diabetologica/ 1993, 36:33-38.
"Effects of Fish Oil Supplementation on Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Requirement in Patients with Mild Rheumatoid Arthritis and a double blind placebo controlled study", C.S. Lau et al. /British Journal of Rheumatology/ 1993, 32: 982-989.
"Dietary Intervention Increases Omega-3/Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUMA) Ratios in Breast and Gluteal Fat in Women with Breast Cancer", S. Lee, Capone, D. Bagga and J. Glaspy, /Division of Hematology/Oncology, UCLA School of Medicine/.
"Effect of an Enteric-coated Fish-oil Preparation on Relapses in Crohn's Disease", A. Beluzzi et al. /New England Journal of Medicine,/ 1996, 334:1557-1560.
"Essential Fatty Assets", Elizabeth Hiser, /Eating Well/
"Role of Essential Fatty Acids in the Function of the Developing Nervous System," Ricardo Uauy, Patricio Peirano, Dennis Hoffman, et al, /Lipids/, 1996, 31 (Supplement).
"Low Consumption of Seafood in Early Pregnancy as a Risk Factor for Preterm Delivery: Prospective Cohort Study", Sjúr ur Fró i Olsen and Niels Jørgen Secher, /British Medical Journal, /2002, 324:447.
"Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Pregnant Women - A Background Paper", Ministry of Health, 1996.
"Consumption of Fish and n-3 Fatty Acids and Risk of Incident Alzheimer Disease", Martha Clare Morris, Sc.D. Denis A. Evans, M.D. Julia L. Bienias, Sc.D. Christine C. Tangney, Ph.D. David A. Bennett, M.D. Robert S. Wilson, Ph.D. Neelum Aggarwal, M.D. Julie Schneider M.D. /Archives of Neurology,/ 2003, 60:940-946.
Dietary Polyunsaturated Fats abd Depression: when cholesterol does not satisfy", Joseph R. Hibbeln and Norman Salem, Jr., /American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,/ 1995, 62:1-9.
"Boost Your Brain Power with Omega-3s," Holly McCord, R.D. Prevention www.nutritionnews.com