Why Do I Need Fish Oil?
By Dr. Ryan Betz: East Colorado Springs, Colorado 100% Chiropractic A Wellness Center
One of the most common questions that I get asked by my patients is, “What will it take to get me healthy again?” WOW, talk about a loaded question! But rather than going on a tangent and rattling off dozens of “To-Do’s,” I find it much more beneficial to simplify things. You see, television has done a marvelous job of confusing us as to how to get healthy. Whether it is the latest workout fad, the newest smoothie concoction, or the next “miracle drug” (and its list of side effects), marketing campaigns have caused more confusion rather than help. In order to answer the question of how to get healthy, we must first define what health is.
Health, by definition, is a state of consistent homeostatic cell function. This means that sickness, by definition, is a lack of consistent homeostatic cell function. So can you see that the function of your cells is at the root of a healthy body? If your cells are healthy, your body is healthy. Much like if the individual trees of a rainforest are healthy, then the entire rainforest is healthy. The problem at hand is that we have more than 75 trillion cells in our body to keep healthy, talk about a tall order! Thankfully, our bodies have a system that controls and coordinates all of our cells… the nerve system. When your nerve system is healthy and fully functioning properly, then your 75 trillion cells will be in a constant state of homeostasis (HEALTH!).
So now, that initial question of how to get healthy has been simplified into one core task; to get our nerve system healthy. This is the role of chiropractic, to adjust the spinal column in order to remove interferences (subluxations) that cause the nerve system to become compressed and unhealthy. But what happens once the adjustment is delivered and compression is removed from the nerve fibers? We are left with damaged nerve fibers that are in need repairing. If given substantial time to heal and repair your body CAN and WILL accomplish that process without the aid of any additional resources. However, why prolong the healing process when we have at our fingertips the number one nutrient to heal and repair the nerve fibers… Omega 3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil). Yes, fish oil contains the primary nutrient that makes up the tissue of every nerve in your body. Just like protein is used to develop strong muscles and calcium is used to develop strong bone, omega 3’s are used to develop strong and healthy nerves. THAT is why it is so important that each and every person is taking a quality fish oil while they are receiving chiropractic care. It allows us to get the most out of the care we are receiving!
Scientific Validation for Omega 3’s
Omega-3 fatty acids support nerve system healing through several mechanisms at play. Omega-3 fats:
• Inhibit cell death
• Help reconnect damaged neurons
• Activate genes that help cope with nerve damage while turning off those that promote nerve inflammation
In a 2006 study of 250 chiropractic patients with non-surgical neck or back pain, when given fish oil supplements the following results occurred; 59% of patients had discontinued using prescribed pain killers and 60% reported improvement in their joint pain. These are groundbreaking results showing the vast potential of fish oil to assist the body in the healing process.
Another study reported in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience, provides evidence that two omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) are most useful in the nerve system, primarily by maintaining the nerve-cell membranes.
How to Choose a Quality Fish Oil
The only way to consume proper amounts of Omega-3 fish oil is by following these simple steps;
PURITY
• Triple Purified
• Molecularly Distilled
• Organically Filtered
• Pharmaceutical Grade
• 3rd Party Tested for Purity
• Proper EPA:DHA ratio of 18:12
• Free of Mercury, Contaminants and Pesticides
SOURCE
• Wild Cold Water Fish
• Anchovy, Herring, and Sardine preferably
Closing Thoughts
When it comes to taking a fish oil supplement, there are many products on the market these days to fulfill that task. However, keep in mind the quality of the fish oil you purchase for consumption. Rather than going for the cheapest selection (Low Quality), challenge yourself to invest into the product that will get you the best results. If you have further questions on how to select your fish oil, you may always inquire with your chiropractor at 100% Chiropractic. Enjoy your health journey!
References
American Psychological Association. “New study links DHA type of omega-3 to better nervous-system function.” ScienceDaily. 19 December 2009.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091216130718.html
Chestnut D.C., James. The Wellness & Prevention Paradigm. Brittish Columbia: TWP Press, 2011. Pg 33.
Maroon. Fish Oil in the Chiropractic Setting.
https://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=2525
Mercola. Fish Oil Helped Save Our Son. November 5, 2012.
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/11/05/fish-oil-benefits.aspx
Stone. Omega 3 Fish Oil.
https://stonefamilychiropractic.com/nutrition/omega-3-fish-oil.html