Are you one of the millions who take over-the-counter omega-3 supplements to improve your heart health? If so, you might want to eat more fish instead and get real omega-3.
fish-oil
“Researchers looked at 20 studies involving nearly 70,000 people, many of whom were heart patients. Adding omega-3 to their diet did not appear to lower the chance of having a heart attack or stroke or lower the risk of death from these and other causes,” says WebMd.
Many people take fish oil capsules to get omega-3. But, as in this study, not all omega-3 came from fish oil. It also came from other sources. The study appears in the Sept. 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
A study published last spring failed to show a benefit for omega-3 supplements in people with existing heart disease.
Thanks to www.consumerworld.org for pointing us to the story.
Please do us all a favor and turn to functional doctors who actually care about our health and well being, rather than rely on some study that now is mis-directing so many people who are currently taking fish oil with good results. Check out Dr. Mark Hyman’s (a fantastic functional doctor) website for all kinds of health info and nutritional topics. Fish oil if you are taking enough, lowers inflammation in the body–inflammation is what we all want to avoid, which is a big contributor to heart disease. Fish oil= good; nutritional supplement studies backed by those with their own agendas= bad. http://www.drhyman.com
Interesting study. We know that what is declared this week might be updated and out-of-date three weeks hence. Sometimes it all seems to be just a crapshoot. We CAN get most of our essentials if we eat properly; however some people do have compromised systems which disallow the absorption of vitamins & minerals etc. And we can eat properly 3/4 of the day and then digest foodstuffs which counteract all of the good we do. I do not take omega-3 pills but dine on sardines, salmon etc. Hey, I can’t fault anyone who uses supplements. But suggesting one’s hmo physician is the end all and be all of medical knowledge is almost idiocracy. As per a practioner who insists you take certain pills and discounts any input you have as to symptoms that arise. This has occurred in my life, and I doubt most people have NOT experienced the same. In fact, lowering cholesterol has EVERYTHING to do with less of a risk of plaque in the arteries which circulate blood to and from your heart.