Chemical contamination of our oceans has seriously affected our fish and the oils derived from them today.
Omega oils from land plant versions and sea vegetables (whose function is, in part, to clear the ocean of pollution, and can do so, up to a point, without becoming contaminated themselves) remain the ideal sources of omega fatty acids.
The more broad spectrum nutrition in vegetables, herbs, seeds, and sea vegetables (being superior to ocean fish) is a second reason why they serve the needs of the body better. Several of these plants are listed in this report.
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association representing the dietary supplement industry has filed the following report on PCB contamination of fish oils.
Low levels of PCB’s (Polychlorinated biphenyl) can now be found throughout the world, “which means that all fish—whether fish found in oceans and rivers or fish oil supplements—contain at least trace amounts of PCBs.”
According to FishOilSafety.com, PCB’s have “been officially recognized for 20 years as causing... reproductive toxicity, and studies show they are endocrine disruptors (for example, changing some fetuses from male to female in animal studies). These gender-bending properties of PCBs affect both physical characteristics and behavior.”
When FishOilSafety set up a booth in 2011 at SupplySide East to share the dangerous PCB levels in major fish oil brands, the fish oil product manufacturers compelled the show host to boot FishOilSafety out of the show (one big manufacturer even threatened him physically and his site has since been taken down for unknown reasons).
However, here is another site that spells out the obvious dangers: How has PCB exposure affected human health?
PCB exposure varies greatly from person to person in terms of amount and type of PCB mixture. In addition, humans can be exposed to different contaminants in PCB mixtures, as well as PCB combustion by-products. Differences in exposure make it difficult to establish a clear relationship between PCB exposure and any observed effects on human health.
Nonetheless, the evidence suggests that exposure to PCBs is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers of the digestive tract, liver and skin. PCB exposure is also associated with reproductive deficiencies, such as reduced growth rates, retarded development, and certain neurological effects which may or may not persist beyond infancy. The immune system can also be affected, leading to increased infection rates, and changes in the skin such as chloracne and pigmentation disturbances.
Fetuses, nursing infants, and those with compromised liver function are particularly susceptible to these toxins. Children born to women who worked with PCBs in factories showed decreased birth weight and a significant decrease in gestational age with increasing exposure to PCBs.
PCB exposure induces various adverse health effects in animals and humans. Environmental and occupational exposures to PCBs have been associated with liver, kidney, endocrine, and neurodevelopmental adverse effects.
PCB exposure was also reported to adversely affect enamel development in children in a dose-dependent manner... PCB exposures of vulnerable populations (pregnant women, fetuses, infants, and children) are of particular concern because of heightened sensitivity during this period of brain development.
Congress banned PCB manufacture back in 1979, but PCBs are extremely persistent in the environment (they don’t break down), and they accumulate up the food chain.
Toxins consumed by small bottom feeder fish are eaten by the larger fish, then fed to our livestock, end up on our dinner plate and in our health food supplements.
The liver (fish liver being a source of omega’s) is the main detoxifying organ of the body and can easily become overloaded with the vast number of pollutants in our environment today.
Many pollutants are drawn to, or deliberately stored in, the fats and oils of the body.
Even after the fish oil industry attempts to remove PCB’s, dioxins and other pollutants using state-of-the-art molecular distillation or absorbent technology, some PCB’s, along with other chemical pollutants, remain in fish oils.
No refining technique today has proven to remove 100% of all pollutants from fish oils.
The quality of the fish oil and its omega oils are altered or denatured through purification treatments as well.
The flesh and body oils of the fish will contain high amounts of PCB’s and other industrial chemicals.
Chemical and GMO pollutants among farmed fish products are particularly abundant due to the increased number of farm chemical contaminates and GMOs in their feed.
Some pollutants, like PCB’s and mercury can be tested for, and often are, but with over 80,000 chemicals known to be hazardous to human health today, with millions of pounds of these pollutants entering our environment every year, most of the chemicals in our food and supplements are not going to be recognized. (See Steven Schecter, N.D., author of "Fighting Radiation and Chemical Pollutants With Foods, Herbs and Vitamins", paperback.)
Seaweeds and algae are the two main sources where fish originally obtain their omega oils from.
By reaching for seaweeds and algae when you want your omega oils you will also receive a phenomenal array of additional nutritional benefits that fish oils cannot provide. Sea vegetables contain a full array of minerals, amino acids, and vitamins, in addition to omega oils.
The most popular and readily available land plant versions of omega oils include flax seed and chia seed, although omega oils are also present in several other sources like olives, avocado, leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, grains, pomegranate, coconut, and raw cheese.
Note: While consuming sources high in fatty acids is essential for optimal health, more is not always better. Moderation is key, especially in the area of nuts, seeds, meat, dairy, and liquid oils. An excess of fat beyond the body's true needs will feed viruses and other pathogens. It is also the prime culprit in the development of diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, sleep apnea, and snoring. (18 Sugar & Fat Miracle Benefits and the Health Problems Caused By Their Excess)
On the nutritional side, green algae like spirulina, chlorella, and wild blue-green contain more chlorophyll than any other foods. Dried micro algae are the richest source of proteins, beta-carotene, and nucleic acids (RNA and DNA), and a very rich source of GLA.
GLA, an omega 6 fatty acid, is key to the body's ability to make vital prostaglandins, substances that control body functions and help alleviate health problems such as arthritis and heart disease.
The primary reason for consuming the popular omega 3 fatty acid ALA (alpha linolenic acid) found in flax and chia seed is not to get ALA, but to ultimately obtain DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), both of which are able to be manufactured in the body from ALA.
DHA, EPA, ALA and other fatty acids are essential for brain function, heart health, the circulatory system, energy production, hormone balance, immune system strength, etc.
Both red and brown seaweeds (like gigartina and kelp) contain ARA (arachidonic acid, an omega 6 fatty acid) which supports the brain, muscle development, liver function, and neurological health.
Red marine algae are naturally high in EPA. EPA is an important omega 3 essential fatty acid not commonly found in land plants (other than purslane). EPA helps with the elevation of moods and is the stepping stone in the body’s conversion of the omega 3 ALA into the omega 3 DHA. (Cole and Sheath, (Ed.), "Biology of the Red Algae", paperback)
The Teagasc Food Research Centre research paper entitled: "Marine Bioactives as Functional Food Ingredients: Potential to Reduce the Incidence of Chronic Diseases"documents the known benefits of algae and seaweeds:
PUFAs [polyunsaturated fatty acids] account for almost half of this lipid fraction [in seaweeds and algae], with much of it occurring in the form of omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids such as eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (AA). PUFAs regulate a wide range of functions in the body including blood pressure, blood clotting, and correct development and functioning of the brain and nervous systems. Furthermore, PUFAs have a role in regulating inflammatory responses through the production of inflammatory mediators termed eicosanoids.
DHA and ARA are the two most abundant omega fatty acids found in the brain, with DHA composing approximately 30% of the brain’s fatty acid content.
11 kinds of Omega 3 (The most prominent are ALA, EPA, DHA, and DPA.) EPA is abundant in sea vegetables. DHA can be made from EPA. Common land sources of ALA are chia, flax, sesame, nuts, purslane, and beans. Any healthy human body is readily able to convert vegetable ALA into EPA, DHA, and DPA.
2 kinds of Omega-5: (The most prominent are Punicic Acid and Myristoleic Acid.) Common sources include pomegranate, raw cheese, coconut, nuts, and saw palmetto.
10 kinds of Omega 6 (The most prominent are GLA & ARA.) Common sources include sea vegetables, black current seed, evening primrose seed, green leafy vegetables, nuts, sunflower, chia, and flax seeds.
7 kinds of Omega 7 (The most prominent are vaccenic acid and palmitoleic acid.) Common sources include sea buckthorn berries, olives, avocado, nuts, raw cheese, and butter.
5 kinds of Omega 9 (The most prominent are oleic acid, eicosatrienoic acid, and erucic acid.) Common sources include olives, mustard/cruciferous vegetables, avocado, nuts, chia, flax, and sesame seeds.
The brain is roughly 60% fat. The nerves depend on these fatty acids (the myelin sheath) to protect themselves and to deliver nerve impulses.
The best sources of fatty acids should include not just the liquid omega oils by themselves, but the whole plant or seed containing a broad spectrum of other nutrients which work hand-in-hand with the fatty acids to deliver numerous health benefits to your body (and yes, these plant sources are also preferred over krill oil due the over-harvesting of krill that is affecting the fish populations that feed on the krill).
With a spectrum of sea vegetables and land plants you gain greater nutritional profiles and a greater ability to make your own omega fatty acids when needed.
Sea Vegetable Blend plus Moringa
Vital Cleanse & Nutrify (contains Earth & Sea Greens plus Fiber Blend)
Earth & Sea Greens (a spectrum sea vegetables, moringa, adaptogens, mushrooms, and other herbs
Thyroid Balance (mostly adaptogens & seaweeds including gigartina, spirulina, chlorella, and blue green algae)
Fiber Blend (contains chia seed, moringa, and spleen supportive herbs)
Many blessings of health & success.
Enjoy the simple gifts from Nature!
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