Omega-3 and Diet

Diet has an enormous impact on heart health. Dr. Esselstyn, a world renowned doctor, is a pioneer of a diet-based approach for cardiac disease treatment and prevention. In his book, “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease”, he states “If you eat to save your heart, you eat to save yourself from other diseases of nutritional extravagance: from strokes, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis, adult-onset diabetes, and possibly senile mental impairment, as well. You gain protection from a host of other ailments that have been linked to dietary factors, including impotence and cancers of the breast, prostate, colon, rectum, uterus, and ovaries.” Dr Esseylstien preaches a WFPD (Whole Foods Plant Based Diet), that is rich in plant-based omega-3’s as an important part of preventing and reversing heart disease.

The benefits of Omega-3’s for cardiovascular health are well known throughout the medical community and are now recognized amongst the public. Omega-3’s also include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are the marine forms of omega-3s, commonly found in cold-water fatty fish like salmon, herring, sardines, and mackerel. These fatty acids can be made from ALA in the body, but the conversion rate isn’t good. Because of this and the fact that EPA and DHA are strongly correlated with cardiovascular disease prevention, getting EPA and DHA through a nutritious diet and supplements is the best bet.

But wait, doesn’t Dr. Esselstyn, a heart health guru, promote a plant based diet? How are we supposed to get omega-3’s if we do not eat fatty fish? Let’s take a closer look at the food chain. Because fish aren’t able to produce EPA and DHA, they get it by eating microalgae. Seaweed and algae also supply EPA and DHA. Thus, algae are the true sources of the omega-3 fats in fish. This means that we can bypass fish and seafood for our omega-3 needs and instead consume algae and seaweed. In fact, eating fatty fish can sometimes not be as beneficial to our bodies as previously supposed due to pollutants in oceans and bodies of water. This means that some of the best sources of omega essential fatty acids are from algae produced in clean, pure ways. For instance, the omega vitamins in JuicePlus supplements are processed in an environment free of contaminants, and is cold pressed, so that none of the nutrients are destroyed from heat. JuicePlus Omega is unique in that it contains omega 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9, whereas in most drug stores and even health food specialty stores, you can only find omega 3, 6 and sometimes 9. In addition to algae, the best plant based sources of omega-3’s are chia seeds, avocados, flax seeds, brussel sprouts, hemp seed, walnuts, and perila oil.