The Eskimo Stress Relief Pill

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The Eskimo Stress Relief Pill

 

 

By Bill Sardi

 

Stressed out? Which pill do you take? Paxil? Valium? Xanax? Klonopin?

Ativan? The Eskimos have a remarkable remedy for stress.

 

Anybody scanning the vault of medical literature at the National Library of

Medicine cannot ignore the vast amount of recently published research on the

health benefits of omega-3 oils, from fish or flaxseed oil. One particular

report caught this reporter's eye.

 

Researchers in France studied the role of fish oil in dealing with mental

stress. After 3 weeks of supplementation with 7200 milligrams of fish oil a day,

the concentrations of adrenal stress hormones were " significantly blunted. "

[Diabetes Metabolism 29: 289-95, 2003] Given that 8 in 10 North Americans are

deficient in omega-3 oils in their diets, fish and flaxseed oil should be

mandated, in particular for adults under unusual stress. Smaller amounts of

omega-3 oils still produce beneficial results in regards to stress relief.

 

Charlemagne mandated flaxseed consumption for all Roman citizens in 800 AD.

Unfortunately, the National Academy of Sciences has yet to declare omega-3 oils

as essential for health maintenance and establish a recommended daily intake

level. This is despite conclusive evidence dating back to the 1930s which showed

that Greenland Eskimo populations were virtually free of disease (heart,

diabetes, cancer) consuming more than 10,000 milligrams per day of fish oil.

 

Fortunately, the American Heart Association recently recommended fish and/or

fish oil consumption as a preventive measure against heart and blood vessel

disease. A report published in the World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics

asked: " From Eskimos to clinical cardiology-what took us so long? " [World Rev

Nut Diet 88-90 2001] After all, it's been over 1200 years since Charlemagne

mandated food fortification with omega-3 rich flaxseed.

 

Studies conducted in the 1970s renewed interest in omega-3 oils, prompting 4500

subsequent published studies. Yet, little change in dietary or supplemental use

of omega-3 oils took place.

 

Just 1000 mg per day of omega-3 oils may have beneficial effects, reducing the

risk of sudden-death heart attack, lowering triglycerides (3000-5000 mg per day

reduces triglycerides by 30-50% and the risk of cardiovascular disease and

pancreatitis). [Mayo Clinic Proceedings 75: 607-14, 2000; Am J Clin Nut 78:

65-71, 2003]

 

Consumers are often confused over oils. They hear about the health benefits of

olive oil, an omega-9 monosaturated oil, but these oils should be used sparingly

and their health benefits primarily arise out of their green antioxidant

polyphenol content. Most brands of extra virgin olive oil look clear yellow, not

dark green like the real olive oil used in the Mediterranean region and consumed

traditionally throughout history. [british J Nut 89: 819-26; J Agric Food Chem

50: 6521-26, 2002; J Med Food 5: 1-7, 2002] Suppliers of olive oil often provide

their products in green glass bottles so consumers can't distinguish the color.

Extra note: while olive oil is a cooking oil, flaxseed and fish oil cannot be

used for cooking.

 

One of the criticisms of dietary supplements is that they are often billed as a

panacea for everything that ails a person. Well, omega-3 oils live up to that

claim. The pharmaceutical companies only wish they had a pill that does all of

the following. Among other health benefits of omega-3 oils reported in the

medical literature just this year are:

 

Prevention of premature births. [Obstetrics and Gynecology 101: 469-79, 2003]

Reduction of blood pressure. [Exp Biol Med 228: 299-307, 2003]

Reduction in risk for stroke. [Preventive Cardiology 6: 38-41, 2003]

Prevention of diabetes (even when chemically induced in animals!). [Nutrition

19: 213-28, 2003]

Improved IQ scores and better vision among infants provided omega-3 oils in

formula feedings. [Pediatrics. 11139-44, 2003; J Family Health Care.12 :5, 2002]

Reduced risk for asthma. [Ann Allergy Asthma Immunology 90: 371-77, 2003]

Improvement in symptoms of arthritis. [Drugs 63: 845-53, 2003]

Reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease. [Canadian J Psychiatry 48: 195-203,

2003; Archives Neurology 60: 940-46, 2003]

 

Copyright 2003 Bill Sardi Copying for individuals is permitted. Not for posting

on other websites or commercial duplication.

Knowledge of Health, Inc.

San Dimas, CA

 

 

 

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Copyright 2003 Knowledge of Health.