Why Fish Oil?*

Our food sources today are severely lacking in the Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are called essential fatty acids because they are essential to good health. Our early ancestors had a diet rich in the Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. However, today typical diets have an abundance of Omega-6 fatty acids and a severe deficiency of Omega-3 fatty acids. The Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fresh cold-water fish such as salmon, sardines, and mackerel. These are not popular protein sources in the American diet. With a decreased consumption of fatty fish and the advent of low-fat, no-fat dieting, Americans have became severely fatty acid deficient. Also, most of the fats in the typical diet come from foods heavily laden with "trans fats" found in foods processed by hydrogenation methods, further increasing our deficiency in essential fats such as Omega-3 fatty acids.

Research has finally shown the importance of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) to maintaining good health. Diets deficient in these long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids, such as extremely low fat diets have been shown to be harmful to health. It is now widely accepted that the Omega-3 fatty acids are essential and necessary in our diets. These long-chain Omega-3 essential fatty acids known as EPA and DHA are found most abundantly in many cold-water fish. While shorter-chain Omega-3s can be found in some vegetable oils such as canola and flaxseed, these must be converted by your body to EPA and DHA to obtain the maximal health benefits of these oils. Even if your body had a maximum conversion efficiency, only about 4% ends up as DHA. Therefore, the best way to add these important long-chain Omega-3s (EPA and DHA) to your diet is by eating fatty fish two or three times a week and by taking Omega-3 EPA/DHA dietary supplements.
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What is EPA/DHA?*

In 1982, the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded for the understanding of the master hormones in the body called the eicosanoids. The discovery of these hormones led to numerous studies of the role of essential fatty acids in health. Now there are numerous studies published in refereed journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Numerous other journals and books have published thousands of scientific and clinical studies establishing the benefits of these essential fatty acids.

EPA, one of the of the long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil, is a regulator of key enzymes that control the conversion of the Omega-6 fatty acids. It regulates the activity of the enzyme that makes arachidonic acid. It is a precurser of eicosanoid hormone production and a secondary messenger for hormonal activity in the body. In other words, it is important for many processes in the body.

DHA is another long-chain Omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil. The brain is made up of more than 60 percent fat, and the most abundant fat in the brain is DHA. It is critical for certain cell membranes to transfer information and for the retina to receive visual input and the mitochondria to make ATP. Brain cells can't perform at peak levels without adequate DHA in their membranes. Without adequate DHA, your brain cannot function as it should and it will not be able to form new neural connections or even maintain what it has.
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What are Omega-3 Fatty Acids?*

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for good health. Our bodies do not make enough EPA and DHA to maintain good health, so these must come from our diet. But most people do not get enough from the North American diet, so we must take fish oil in supplement form. Fish do contain EPA/DHA; however, the majority of the fish eaten today are farm-raised and contain only small amounts of these long-chain Omega-3s. We don't need to supplement our diet with the Omega-6 fatty acids, as we get plenty from foods that contain corn, safflower, sunflower, or soybean oils. In fact, it is very important to watch the ratio of the Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids. Our research shows that the optimum ratio is 1 to 1. Research has shown that the average diet tends to show a ratio of 6:1 to as high as 25:1. Therefore it is now recommended to decrease Omega-6 and increase Omega-3 intake.

Numerous studies have shown health benefits associated with long-chain Omega-3 fish oil include:

HEART
- Decreases triglycerides up to 30%
- Reduces blood clotting
- Lowers blood pressure
- Decreases blood viscosity
- Reduces the development of arrhythmia
Research suggests that the Omega-3 fatty acids are necessary for a healthy heart. They have also been shown to help maintain a healthy level of blood triglycerides. The Omega-3 fatty acids are important for better circulation and help maintain overall cardiovascular health
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BRAIN
- Reduces the risk of brain disorders
- Improves memory
- Enhances cognition, awareness, and mood
The most polyunsaturated of the Omega-3 fatty acids (DHA) makes up a large portion of the brain and neurons, as well as the retina of the eye. Research at Harvard Medical School has shown that diets rich in both EPA and DHA from fish oil help promote and maintain a healthy emotional system and help create a positive mood.
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PREGNANCY
The Omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, are essential for a healthy, well-functioning nervous system and brain, and for the eyes. It is especially important during the last three months of pregnancy, and the first six months after birth. Research at this time shows that an unborn baby cannot make sufficient amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids for its rapidly growing brain. The baby depends on the mother for this important nutrient. Therefore breast-feeding, if the mother has sufficient Omega-3 fatty acids, is a very important way for the baby to get this important nutrient. To ensure that breast milk contains enough DHA, mothers should include fatty fish or fish oil supplements in their diets.
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IMMUNE SYSTEM
- Lessens inflammation in the joints and muscles
- Increases natural levels of anti-inflammatory agents
EPA functions as the raw material for the series-3 prostaglandins (hormone-like substances) that are very important in the immune system.
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How much EPA is in a teaspoon of Nature's Mighty 3s™ liquid?
One teaspoon contains 1.8 grams of EPA and 0.9 grams of DHA. It is a 40/20 (EPA/DHA) blend of the Omega-3 fatty acids and it is a phamaceutical-grade fish oil.
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How much Nature's Mighty 3s™ should I take?
In April 1999, the consensus of a National Institutes of Health conference was that the recommended dose is 3 grams of the long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids per day.
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What does the Nature's Mighty 3s™ taste like?
Nature's Mighty 3s™ liquid "Mighty Fresh Mint" tastes like a breath of fresh mint. We have perfected it so there is no smell, taste, or feel of fish oil. The experience is like having a mint drop after you eat.
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Does fish oil can contain mercury and other toxins?
There are three grades of fish oil. Unprocessed Cod Liver Oil, the lowest grade; partially processed health food grade as an 18/12 oil; and then highly processed EPA/DHA concentrated fish oil.
Cod Liver Oil has a low concentration of long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids and has the highest level of contaminants (organic mercury, PCBs, and DDT, unless specifically processed to remove these contaminants. High doses of unprocessed oil are not recommended because it has high levels of Vitamin A and is usually of lower quality, resulting in higher levels of man-made pollutants.)

Regular Health Food Grade Fish Oil (unprocessed 18/12) is usually made from salmon and mackerel and, depending on how the fish are processed, may have higher levels of pollutants. Most oils are extracted from the body oils of the fish. They are often sold in capsules to mask their poor taste. Some have been molecularly distilled to remove contaminants, but others have not. It is not possible to tell by looking at the capsules which 18/12 oil is of good quality.

Fish Oil Concentrates are distilled and refined into fractions rich in long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids. Contaminants such as heavy metals, PCBs, and dioxins present in the original fish oil are removed during the concentration process. This oil is exceptionally pure. A second advantage of fish oil concentrate is that high EPA and DHA doses can be achieved in lower overall volumes of oil, so that less oil is consumed to maintain good health. For further information regarding purity of the Fish Oil check out the Council for Responsible Nutrition voluntary monograph. It spells out very clearly the quality of the Omega-3 oils. Nature's Mighty 3s™ oils are compliant with the new CRN voluntary monograph, at: www.crnusa.org/about_specialty_o3.html
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Is flaxseed oil a good source of the Omega-3 fatty acids?
Some flaxseed oils are a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids, however not the long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Flaxseed oil is a good source of short-chain fatty acids such as alpha-linolenic acid. Short-chain fatty acids are converted into EPA and DHA in the body. However, this conversion process is very inefficient, so a large amount of short-chain fatty acid is needed to produce a small amount of long-chain fatty acid. You must consume 30 grams of flaxseed oil to make 1 gram of EPA and 0.1 gram of DHA. You really cannot get enough long-chain fatty acids through this conversion to provide your EPA/DHA requirement. Fish oil is far superior, as it already contains large amounts of the essential Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.
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How does Nature's Mighty 3s compare with other fish oil?

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Nature's Mighty 3s Quality Control:
- a proprietary and patented delivery system with the highest efficacy, stability, and bioavailability of active ingredients
- a guaranteed supply of natural marine resources
- only products that are scientifically proven, safe, and efficacious
- only products that meet strict government standards
Nature's Mighty 3s™ are developed by a company that:
- harvests natural resources from the sea
- discovers and develops new ingredients
- manufactures quality marine natural products
- operates the largest privately owned marine natural products research facility in North America
It is the only manufacturing plant in North America that can commercially refine and concentrate Omega-3 fish oil.
- The plant is government certified.
- The 30,000-square-foot plant is one of only five worldwide able to process concentrated Omega-3 fish oil in commercial quantities.
- It is a world leader in production capacity of concentrated Omega-3 fish oil.
- It has the most sophisticated analytical and quality control labs in the world for testing Omega-3 fish oil.
- It has designed a unique Omega-3 refining and concentrating process that produces a superior quality product.
- The plant is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
- Nature's Mighty 3s are the purest Omega-3 fish oil on the market.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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