Omega 3′s and Eye Health

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So what’s all the fuss about Omega 3′s?  There are many types of nutrition supplements being recommended to us these days, but none is as important for our overall health than Omega 3′s.

Fish Oil Capsules

Here are some myths:

1.  Grain and Organic sources of Omega 3′s are better than Fish – False – per unit volume, the proper triglyceride formulation of clean sourced fish oil is safer and far more potent than flax seed oil, or bilberry, or any fruit/grain sourced oils.

2.  Fish oil has heavy metals, PCB’s and impurities that are harmful for the body – Falseish – Most but not all fish oil suppliers have removed these impurities.  However, most companies leave in the cleaner, which transforms the fish oils into an alcohol based oil, ethyl ester, which produces “fishy” burps, and is not readily absorbed by our bodies.  Only a select few companies throughout the world purify the fish oil, and then remove the alcohol content again – producing a triglyceride form of the purified fish oil.  This form is nearly 100% absorbed by our bodies – so even if the triglyceride products cost a little more, you are actually absorbing 100% vs 50%.  Now that cheap box-store brand doesn’t look as cheap when you have to take two bottles to equal one of the good stuff.  Make sure you always take the TG or triglyceride form.  For more on this see Forms of Omega-3.

3.  I’m already taking Omega 3-6-9, so I’m good – False – Did you know that the typical North American diet is very rich in Omega 6 & 9′s (especially 6)?  Our bodies crave the Omega 3′s to counterbalance the inflammatory effects of excessive Omega 6 in our diets that lead to inflammatory joint disease (arthritis, etc), inflammatory heart disease, and inflammation of the eyelids leading to dry eyes.  Taking a healthy daily dose of high quality fish oil is the key to continued health and may add years to our lives, and because I am the eye doctor – it will increase your lids’ ability to counterbalance dryness.  See Omega 3 in our diet.

We recommend a high quality fish oil supplement like those available from PRN, Physician Recommended Nutriceuticals (See PRN Canada).  Cheers, and here’s to your continued eye health.

Dr. James Thompson