- 1. that algal omega 3 oil is the most sustainable form of this supplement, since we are not putting more pressure on rapidly declining fish stocks (from whence most producers of omega 3 supplements derive their product)
- 2. that our omega 3 algae oil capsules are actually purer than most competitors versions – since the capsules are smaller and not bulked-out with any additional Omega 6 in the form of sunflower oil or sunflower lecithin which actually impedes the absorption of the ‘good’ omega 3 long chain fatty acids EPA and DHA.

But some people worry that because our supplements are not fish oil they are not as good, and yet nothing could be further from the truth.

Algae oil is packed with DHA and can also be naturally EPA-rich when produced correctly in properly controlled environments. And as the technology has improved we have learned how to increase the percentage totals of Omega 3s during the manufacturing process. The products we are selling are now on a par with the beneficial omega 3s from fish oil. How come? Because it’s microalgae that fish eat to make their omega-3s. If you like, we’re just skipping one step of the process. We’re cutting out the middle (fish)man! Algae-derived DHA is now good enough to be approved for infant formulas and already is found in many standard foods, such as cooking oil, fruit juices, milk and many others.

But don’t just take our word for it. The (US-based) Journal of Nutrition, with articles written and peer-reviewed by proper scientists with lots of initials after their names and white coats and test-tubes and everything, published in 2012 a systematic review of randomized controlled trials published between 1996 and 2011 on the efficacy of algae-derived DHA. The researchers were from some very serious institutions: the Wellness Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, the Dept. of Nutrition and Dept. of Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health, Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard Medical School. A summary of their work can be found here: Is Algae DHA As Healthy as Fish Oil DHA?
Mark Anthony, Ph.D., Technical Editor – A review of research earlier this year found mostly good news in this vegetarian source.

Most omega-3s come from cold-water fish and there simply aren’t enough of those in the sea

As more and more people learn about the health benefits of omega 3 fatty acids and expert nutritionists and health organizations keep promoting them, the pressure on fish stocks increases year-on-year and prices rise inexorably. There is also the additional issue that fish can have high levels of toxic mercury and pollutants.

Plant-based omega-3s are another alternative but they’re not ideal. The omega-3 fatty acids most prevalent in plants are called alpha linolenic acids (ALAs) and these aren’t converted efficiently by the human body into the optimal forms.

So, as nutritionists and other experts tell us to supplement our diets with omega 3s but the main source for them (fish) gets more rare and expensive, algae derived omega 3 supplements fit the bill perfectly. And that’s we do at Nuique – make algal omega 3 supplements. Best you get some now!

Some 266,848 participants were surveyed in the latter half of 2012 in New South Wales (NSW) in one of the biggest health studies on the older generation ever completed. According to the data, a staggering 32.6% of the sample reported having taken an omega 3 supplement in the four weeks prior to the survey.

Use of Omega 3 fatty acid supplements was higher amongst men, those residing in a major city, those having higher income and those with private health insurance. Now, NSW is the most metropolitan of the Australian states, but if these figures were replicated across the country, we estimate that somewhere in the region of 1.5 million older Australians recognise the benefits Omega-3. Good on yer cobbers!

Australia and New Zealand are one of the more important markets for us at Nuique, representing about 5% of total sales. We are noticing a slight bias towards the 10mg EPA and 400mg DHA capsules recently – but that may be a result of the special 3 for 2 offer we have on at present.

Whilst the USA and UK remain the bulk of our sales we do sell across the globe on all continents, and as word-of-mouth spreads about the efficacy of our high-dose DHA and EPA supplements we are seeing new countries on our sales forms almost every week – so it’s not just the 45 and older generation of Australians that are including omega 3 as a regular part of a healthy diet.

Omega-3 supplements can help reduce very premature births

In another recent Australian study, this time of 2,400 pregnant women, it was reported that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation curbed the incidence of very early preterm birth (defined as a birth before 34 weeks of gestation. Normal full-term pregnancy lasts from 37 to 40 weeks).

The head of this study, Professor Maria Makrides of The University of Adelaide, presented her findings at an April 2013 meeting of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ), noting that the research indicated that omega-3 fatty acid supplements made pregnancy last longer, allowing more development and growth time for the baby. Women who took the supplements tended to have slightly heavier and larger babies and gave birth some days later than a placebo group.

Prof Akrides said: “…we have intriguing new evidence that long-chain omega-3 fatty acid supplementation does reduce the prevalence of very premature birth.”

At the 3:05 mark in the video, Dr. Petsko talks about three ways to protect yourself against Alzheimer’s disease, and shows a slide that says that consumption of Omega 3 fatty acids is one of these three protections.

Here’s the video.

The European Parliament has approved a package of major reforms to the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), designed to cut waste and stop overfishing in European waters.

Under the current legislation, fishing crews that haul in more than the agreed quota often throw large quantities of dead fish back into the sea – as they are not allowed to land the fish. The current system is called Total Allowable Catches (TACs), launched in 1983 is at the heart of the EU policy and is based on the each country’s previous catches.

We all know why changes have to be made – cod for example is has declined by 70% over the last 10 years, European fishing fleets have grown too large and are now too efficient for the dwindling fish stocks and fishery ministers have been reluctant to see their national quotas (TACs) cut. However, without the proper controls, there is a risk that surplus fish landed will simply be sold and incentivise overfishing.

The current system is also not meeting the European market’s needs. Fish imported from non EU countries now accounts for two-thirds of fish sold in the EU.

The Proposed Changes to the EU Common Fisheries Policy

In the approved package, in future fishing crews will have to land their entire catch. This is good news; surely discarding perfectly healthy dead fish back into the sea can’t be right and isn’t going to help. The commission says that fisheries should be managed on an ecosystem basis- with more flexibility in the system and scientific data should be collected on a larger number of fish species.

So, discards from 2014 should be phased out and the plan to start MSY (maximum sustainable yields) approach will be phased in by 2015. More has to be done, this is only the start.

A good start – but you can help stop overfishing now

It will be two years minimum before these proposed changes begin to phase-in, and doubtless there will be problems with non-compliance and policing the new rules. In the meantime there are concrete actions you can do to hep stop overfishing:

- If you must eat fish, buy a wider range of fish and avoid species that are endangered
- If you take fish oil supplements, opt for an algae omega 3 alternative.
- At your supermarket fish counter, make staff aware that their employer also needs to act responsibly to help create consumer demand for lesser known species. You might be surprised how some staff will acknowledge your concern and demonstrate knowledge about the subject. Their feedback makes it back to supermarket bosses surprisingly often
- Join Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall’s Fish Fight campaign – get involved and show your support.

Further Reading:

* After 30 years of waste EU finally moves to end scandal of dumping deadfish – Daily Mail

* MEPs back fishing policy reform – Guardian

TV, newspapers, radio and online media went negative about omega-3 fatty acids twice in recent months. First, a review of brain studies said good fats don’t sharpen thinking skills. But there’s plenty of other research showing that fish oil, and especially the king of omega-3′s, DHA, is good for memory and mental sharpness — and skimping on it puts brain cells at risk. Second, a big review of heart studies concluded omega-3s don’t keep tickers in tip-top shape. But that analysis looked at people with already troubled hearts, didn’t factor in their fish oil doses, or factor out those taking heart drugs (like cholesterol-lowering statins) that may overshadow good fat’s inflammation-cooling effects.

The fact is, omega-3s are safe and packed with serious talents for slashing your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease. The latest great news:
» Omega-3s cool body-wide inflammation. Inflammatory chemicals in your bloodstream — spinoffs of your body’s efforts to fight infection, an immune-system overreaction, or even from belly fat — put you at risk for heart attack, stroke, diabetes, joint pain and more. But a daily dose of omega-3s turns off pro-inflammatory genes embedded in fat cells, while giving your body the building blocks it needs to produce more inflammation-cooling compounds. Good deal!

» Omega-3s keep your DNA young. Taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements daily keeps the protective “caps” on the ends of your DNA longer. These caps, called telomeres, get shorter with age, eventually allowing DNA to fray. That raises risk for heart disease and an early death.

» Omega-3s reduce free-radical damage. Rogue oxygen molecules in your body can ding your DNA in ways that increase odds for heart disease and brain decline. A regular fish-oil habit reduces this “oxidative stress” by 15 percent.

» Omega-3s pamper brain cells. Bumping up your DHA-omega-3 intake by just half a salmon filet per week could lower levels of brain cell-strangling beta amyloids in your bloodstream by 20 percent to 30 percent. Less in your blood means less in your brain — a good thing, since they’re responsible for the tangles around brain cells that characterize Alzheimer’s disease!

Omega-3s may deliver extra protection if you’re overweight or are a smoker. Getting back to a healthy weight and kicking cigs are important, but omega-3s can help protect you from the health risks that pile on from smoking and excess body fat. Fish oil reduces the stiffness of a smoker’s arteries (that contributes to heart attack and stroke risk). If you’re extremely overweight, a daily dose of fish oil can dial down inflammation.

Ready to get your daily helping of omega-3s? Here’s how to get ‘em like we do:

» Feast on omega-3-rich fish. Only two types of fish — salmon and wild trout — that are widely available in the U.S. and Canada are good sources of omega-3s. If you’re getting your omega-3s by eating two fist-size servings of fish per week, make sure it’s one of these. Canned salmon is one affordable way to do that.

» Pop the best omega-3 supplements. We recommend a daily 900 milligram DHA algal supplement (Dr. Mike heads the scientific advisory committee of one manufacturer). DHA is the most potent omega-3; from it, your body can make another type, EPA, which has heart-health benefits. Algal supplements are also great if you’re a vegetarian or don’t like fishy burps. Also, some fish oil supplements contain 30 percent palm oil (loaded with inflammation-boosting saturated fat), and algal oil doesn’t.

Balance omega-3s and omega-6s. Some experts say cutting back on omega-6 fatty acids, which may increase inflammation, while increasing omega-3s is a smart balancing act. Reduce your omega-6 intake the easy way by choosing canola or olive oil instead of corn or soybean oil for cooking and drizzling over salads.

Dr. Mehmet Oz is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Dr. Mike Roizen is chief medical officer at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. For more information, go to realage.com.

To read the article on Washington Examiner http://washingtonexaminer.com/omega-3-alert-the-news-you-really-need/article/2513085#.ULiu4eS6cV8

the brain is my second favourite organ

As Woody Allen once said “the brain is my second favourite organ.”

We need to look after it.

Already hailed for promoting healthy hearts – It seems that taking a daily omega 3 capsule also has beneficial effects in the brain.

ADHD

A study this year at the  University in Queensland testing omega 3 on children with ADHD saw improved reading skills, spelling, and a drop in oppositional behaviour and decreases in hyperactivity. The scientists concluded that - “ If DHA supplementation can improve sustained attention and frontal lobe function in healthy children then future research should explore the benefits of omega 3 supplements for children who have development-delayed school performances.”

Pay attention kid!

SCHIZOPHRENIA

 For schizophrenia there is also good news.

Researchers for the Archives of General Psychiatry said -

“The finding that treatment with a natural substance may prevent, or at least delay, the onset of psychotic disorder gives hope that there may be alternatives to antipsychotic drugs,”

Antipsychotic drugs often do not sit well with lots of patients and can have side effects. Omega 3 supplements, on the other hand, are generally well tolerated and easy to take.

The international team from Austria, Australia and Switzerland tested people  at particularly high risk of developing psychosis. Half of the individuals with a family history of the illness took 1.2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids for 12 weeks, while the other half took a placebo.  Dr Paul Amminger and his team followed the group for a year.

Two in the Omega 3 group developed a psychotic disorder compared to 11 in the placebo group.

Based on the results, the investigators estimate that one high-risk adult could be protected from developing psychosis for every four treated over a year. They believe the omega-3 fatty acids found in the supplements may alter brain signalling in the brain with beneficial effects.

Can Omega 3 enhance positive feelings?

Alison Cobb, of the mental health charity Mind, said: “…This is hugely preferable to treating them with antipsychotics, which come with a range of problems from weight gain to sexual dysfunction, whereas omega-3s are actually beneficial to their general state of health.”

DEPRESSION

 For those people suffering from depression there also seems to be value in taking omega 3 supplements - several scientific studies have highlighted that abnormal cell membrane fatty acid composition is related to depression, and that taking omega-3, appears to help normalise fatty acids in brain. A recent meta-analysis of 14 studies looking at the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in depressive patients found that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels were significantly lower.

As 1 in 4 individuals will suffer from depression at some point in their lives, it is good to know that there is a safe and natural way not only to alleviate the symptoms of depression but also that taking omega 3 could reduce the possibility of developing the condition.

All told the evidence of the benefits of omega 3 in maintaining a healthy brain for yourself and your children seems to be gathering pace.

SOME FASCINATING BRAIN FACTS.

Weight. The weight of the human brain is about 3 lbs.

Grey matter. The brain’s grey matter is made up of neurons, and the glial cells which maintain them  Neurons are made up of axons – which carry the nerve impulse, and  the dendrites – branched nerve endings -which gather and transmit signals between cells. 

White matter. The white matter is also made up of dendrites and axons, which have a sheath around them and create the network by which neurons send their signals from one part of the brain to another. 

Neurons. Your brain contains about consists of about 100 billion neurons. Synapses are the connecting areas between neurons. There are anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 synapses for each neuron.

No pain. There are no pain receptors in the brain, so the brain can feel no pain, but it interprets what is causing the pain, how bad it is,  and what to do about it.

Fat. The human brain is the fattest organ in the body and may consists of at least 60% fat. About a third of the fat is made up of long chain omega 3 compounds containing DHA and EPA.

So look after your brain with  our  naturally  vegan Omega 3.

“The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office.”

 - Robert Frost -

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In a world where medicine and health have become (and quite rightly so) major, heavily publicised concerns, the importance of vitamin supplements for our wellbeing has become heavily commercialised, and to impressive effect. An abundance of food products now boast ‘added vitamins/nutrients’ taglines or healthier versions, and these flashy claims of GDA-fulfilment draw health-conscious customers to nutrient-toting products like moths to a flame.

O-Mega-Healthy

One of the most celebrated and most popular nutrients to receive commercial acclaim in recent years is Omega 3 EPA and DHA. Derived from algae and fish oils, Omega 3 is a fatty acid which cannot be produced by the body, and so must be ingested through foods or, failing that, dietary supplements. Yielding impressive health benefits, including improved cognitive function, enhanced growth and development, and reduced risk of heart disease and cancer in later life, it is easy to see why Omega 3 is perceived as a purveyor of good health and vitality. Indeed, its particularly positive effect on children’s brain development, and thus performance and behaviour, is a key reason why Omega 3 has become such a popular dietary supplement; parents keen to maximise their children’s development are desperate to provide their loved ones with the healthiest, most beneficial nutrients around.

Essential Omega 3 fatty acids can only be obtained by eating fresh fish or taking algae dietary supplements.

Unhealthy assumptions

With Omega 3 being eulogised as a vital and supremely beneficial nutrient, and scientific research backing these claims, the mere mention of the word ‘Omega’ is enough to send the public into raptures of health-oriented delight. However, not all types of Omega fatty acids are quite so beneficial, and some have even been proven as not essential in our diet. As well as the aforementioned, proven as healthy Omega 3, there are also Omega 6 and Omega 9 fatty acids being sold on the market.

Higher numbers aren’t always better numbers

While Omega 6 is, like Omega 3, an essential fatty acid, it is far more abundant in foods we eat in our diet than Omega 3, which can only be obtained from fresh oily fish. As most foods we eat are cooked in vegetable oil, corn oil or soy oil, we ingest plenty of Omega 6 in arbitrary foods such as chips, crisps, meat and eggs. However, to intake even more Omega 6 through additional dietary supplements can be actively bad for the body, as Omega 6 displaces Omega 3, and yields less benefits when consumed in such high doses. Consequently, by overloading the body with additional Omega 6 molecules through dietary supplements, when more than enough have likely been ingested in one’s daily diet, the less abundant yet vital Omega 3 molecules get forced out, reducing their benefits significantly http://www.nuique.com/pages/faq.aspx Meanwhile, Omega 9 is even less necessary to take as part of a dietary supplement, as not only can it be made out of other fats, but it is already profuse in olive oil, which is used plentifully in most people’s diets. However, molecular size of Omega 3s is important. It is the long chain Omega 3′s like DHA and EPA in fish oils and algae that are the vital building blocks for brain and retina www.nuique.com

A not so ‘complete’ package

Despite the scientific evidence proving the negative effects of Omega 6 and Omega 9 on the body, many unscrupulous companies are quick to label their products with the buzzword ‘Omega’ in whatever form they can in a shrewd attempt to garner more sales. Indeed, boasting such instantly positive connotations as improved cognitive function and enhanced bodily development, customers are instantly enticed by products that mention the word ‘Omega’, as all the health benefits offered by Omega 3 spring to mind. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies advertise ‘Omega 3 6 & 9’ supplements as all-encompassing complete packages, and naturally, customers see the added, even higher Omega numbers and are eager to add them to their diet, presuming that they must offer enhanced health benefits.

Take caution

In the same way that people may misunderstand the correct usage and permutations of emergency contraception, well-meaning consumers view the impressive sounding, seemingly all-encompassing ‘complete package’ of Omegas 3, 6 and 9 as superior to purer supplements that contain the more beneficial Omega 3. Additionally, when they see the enticing ‘Omega’ label daubed all over a product, they may fail to realise the misleading nature of the claim; meat companies, for example, often feed their livestock with roasted soy beans, which contain Omega 6, in order to boost their internal levels of Omega fatty acids and enable the produce to be advertised as ‘healthier’. However, unwitting customers may be misled into believing that this meat will yield the benefits of cognitive function and enhanced growth associated with Omega 3 consumption, when in fact the extra Omega 6 in these types of meat may be displacing the very molecules which facilitate such gains.

All things considered, it is important to be aware of the true effects of dietary supplements and the danger that; in this case, not all Omega numbers are good ones!

Lily Westbrook is a freelance health and parenting writer who works primarily in the pharmaceutical industry. She’s an advocate of healthy lifestyle changes, and writes frequently on addiction as she strongly believes that kids shouldn’t be the victim of passive smoking or similar social ills.

DHA AND EPA - SUPERHEROES TOGETHER.

DHA AND EPA?

Scientifically  the definition is  -

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) - an omega-3 fatty acid that is a primary structural component of the human brain cerebral cortex, and other important parts of the human body like the retinas of the eyes.

EPA is eicosapentaenoic acid. This is a nutrient extracted from omega 3 and is believed to be of particular importance for eye and brain function. EPA in particular may possess some beneficial potential in mental conditions, such as depression and schizophrenia. Several studies report a reduction in scores on symptom scales used to, when additional EPA is taken. So In short it’s another good guy! Like Robin is to Batman. It’s a fatty acid superhero.

 FATTY ACIDS?   That sounds bad.

No. They are good for you – These are the building blocks of fat and are absolutely essential to our health. As our bodies can’t manufacture them they must be obtained from food or supplements.

DHA is the primary building block of the human brain tissue and eye. Nearly a third of the structural lipid in the grey matter of the brain is DHA.

Structural lipid? I’m not a rocket scientist!

Lipids are chemical repositories involved in essential fats storage. They account for approximately 60% of the brain’s dry weight. These lipids are important for normal brain function. Increasing amount of data demonstrate decreased lipid content in common brain disorders like Alzheimer’s Dementia and depression.

So DHA  is required for the proper functioning of your brain. Without it you really would be a dummy.

Know your DHA from your EPA

Okay. Convince me I should take it.

You should take it because – You’re not getting enough.

DHA is required in high levels in the brain and retina as physiologically- Its an essential nutrient to provide for optimal neuronal (brain) functioning (learning ability, mental development) and visual acuity, in young and old alike.

DHA is thought to have beneficial effects in the prevention and management of heart disease as well as other chronic disorders. The problem is that DHA, is consumed at much smaller levels than the effective optimal dose in a typical western diet.

DHA is absent from plant food sources rich in ALA (such as flax, canola oil, and walnuts).  So you won’t get what you need from these foodstuffs. Since the metabolic conversion of ALA to DHA/EPA by metabolism is very limited in humans, the best way of providing DHA plus EPA for the body is via direct consumption.

In short our western diet is not giving us enough. In fact the extremely low intake of DHA/EPA in young children is of particular concern. We need to take more in our diet and the easiest and safest way is through natural algae based supplements.

In view of the widespread reluctance of the public to consume sufficient amounts of fish, supplements containing DHA/EPA will become increasingly important sources of these important nutrients in the coming years to support optimal brain/visual performance, for heart care, dementia, and other health conditions for all of us.

 So you could say it’s very important.

So if you want to get closer to being a superhero – Take your DHA/EPA the Omega 3 way with Nuique. Remember we don’t bulk out our Omega 3 with Omega 6. Omega 6 is one of the bad guys!

"OMEGA 6 IS MY ENEMY!"

We've got a good thing going on!

are you eating your own rubbish?

This fascinating info-graphic speaks for itself. It’s astonishing that people still eat fish based products when you realise just how heavily toxic some of them can be. That’s why we advise you to avoid fish based supplements because you cannot be certain they are not made from contaminated ingredients. This info-graphic was created by the design team at MastersDegree.net