Fish oils help brain health in old age

Equazen eye q mind 50+Certain nutrients and ‘omega’ n-3 (omega) long chain fatty acids found in fish oils may offer a benefit to cognitive function in older age, according to a review by Dr Carrie Ruxton, independent public health nutritionist on behalf of Equazen, the brains behind Equazen eye q mind 50+.

Commenting on the research, Dr Ruxton notes: “My review shows that nutrition has an important preventive part to play in cognitive decline among older people. In particular long chain n-3 fatty acids, certain antioxidants, B vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins contribute to preserving brain function in this growing population group.

“Given that the brain is rich in lipids, it is not surprising that long chain n-3 PUFAs such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) found in fish oils, might have an impact on cognitive retention. Studies have variously shown that fish oils lead to better performance in working and verbal memory indicating the potential to delay the onset of cognitive decline and that supplementation with DHA could improve learning and memory function.

“Turning to B vitamins, my review shows some inconsistencies in the scientific data although a large trial in 266 older people aged 70 years or over with mild cognitive impairment found that a supplement containing 800 μg folic acid, 500 μg vitamin B12 and 20 mg vitamin B6 over two years appeared to slow cognitive and clinical decline, especially those with elevated homocysteine levels (a type of amino acid that may be harmful at high levels).

“With regards to zinc, a trial in 387 healthy adults aged 55 to 87 years receiving either 15 or 30 mg per day zinc, for up to six months showed some improvements in spatial working memory after three months.

“Fat-soluble vitamins D, E and K could also have a role in preventing cognitive decline. Epidemiological studies have shown links between higher levels of these vitamins and reduced cognitive impairment. A placebo-controlled clinical trial involving vitamin E and a drug used to manage Alzheimer’s disease found that the group taking vitamin E experienced slower functional decline and needed less caregiver time compared with the placebo group.

“The latest findings from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey reveal poor dietary habits among our elderly population with only 41% meeting the 5-a-day recommendation for fruit and vegetables and mean oily fish consumption, at 90g weekly, falling below the government’s recommended intake of 140g weekly.

“Given these poor dietary intakes, the increasing incidence of compromised cognitive function in older people as well as the importance of long chain n-3 PUFAs, certain antioxidants and B vitamins in cognitive health in this population group, a supplement, such as Equazen eye q mind 50+, containing these key ingredients would be a good start to help maintain cognitive function in older age”.

Family GP, Dr Paul Stillman notes further Equazen eye q mind 50+ is a formulation specifically researched and developed for adults that includes a combination of the highest quality nutrient blends of Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids, B vitamins, zinc and magnesium. The Equazen eye q mind 50+ also includes a blend of B vitamins, zinc and magnesium. It also provides nutrients to support normal cognitive function and normal functioning of the nervous system while zinc within the supplement contributes to maintain normal cognitive function. Magnesium and vitamin B6 within the Equazen eye q mind 50+ also help contribute to normal functioning of the nervous system too. As a result, Equazen eye q mind 50+ provides a good insurance policy for those of us ageing and helps bridge some of the nutrient gaps that many of us are missing within our daily diets. Equazen eye q mind 50+ is also great news for those people who find it hard to eat oily fish because of the bones or chew and digest nutrient rich foods.
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Good fats help brain decline in older people, new study reveals

Tokyo: The decline of cognitive function in older people is less in those who take a combination supplement, containing, food fats, a new study from Japan has revealed.
The findings of a three year study that evaluated the effects of capsules containing 1,182 milligrams purified fish oils containing 290 milligrams eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 203 milligrams docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); 84 milligrams lycopene from tomato and 240 milligrams Ginkgo biloba extract.  The pill was given to 41 participants aged 65 and older,  daily for three years.
Salmon.jpgThe total control group consisted of 622 participants with no supplement intake or serious diseases. Tests of cognitive function, including attention, memory, language and reasoning skills, were administered at the beginning and end of the study. Blood samples collected at the initial examination were analyzed for apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and other factors. 
The authors of the study said:  “An increasing number of studies in cell lines, targeted replacement rodents, and human volunteers indicate higher oxidative stress and a more pro-inflammatory state associated with the apolipoprotein E4 allele (APOE4).”
Although memory scores improved in both groups, the increase was larger in those who received the supplements compared to the controls. Language ability and attention declined in those who did not receive the supplements, while remaining stable in supplemented participants. When test scores were evaluated as a whole, a significant improvement occurred only in supplemented subjects. Improvement was noted in both supplemented APOE4 carriers and noncarriers; however, the benefit was greater in those positive for APOE4.
Mechanisms for EPA and DHA in maintaining cognitive function are well known, and include the fatty acids’ anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, although omega-3 fatty acids have an antioxidant effect, they are also subject to lipid peroxidation, therefore, combining them with compounds that have antioxidant properties such as lycopene could improve their benefits.
“When just one of these agents or nutrients is used by an elderly person, its effect on cognitive function is not enough to prevent aging decline, at least not with the usual dosage in human trial studies,” the authors remark. “When these agents or nutrients are used in combination, they may cover the vulnerability of other agents and synergistically potentiate their respective antioxidant properties, which might then be effective for the improvement of cognitive function. Additionally, this may decrease the oxidative stress associated with the E4 allele and improve cognitive function among APOE4 carriers.”

New vegetarian Omega 3 launches

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London: New vegetarian omega-3 brand Echiomega is five times more effective than flaxseed, according to new research

Igennus has launched Echiomega, a new vegetarian omega 3 supplement that offers similar health benefits to oily fish. While most vegetarian-derived omega 3 oils only offer the benefits of short chain fatty acids, Echiomega, made from Croda Health Care’s IncromegaÔ V3 echium oil product, converts to long chain fatty acids up to 5 times greater than other vegetarian omega 3 oils.

Echium oil is obtained by refining oil extracted from the seeds of the Echium plantagineum plant (pictured above), a species of the Boraginaceae family, cultivated in the UK

Dr David Cherry, Vice President of Croda Health Care, said: “Now that Croda Health Care’s IncromegaÔ V3 has its Novel Foods approval we are delighted that Igennus is using it in their new supplement Echiomega. IncromegaÔ V3, which goes through Croda’s advanced Super Refining® process, was developed following years of dedicated research into alternative polyunsaturated fatty acids and fatty acid sources.

“Vegetarians, and particularly vegans, consume low levels of essential long-chain fatty acids in comparison to fish eating populations. Whilst supplementing with the oils found in flaxseed increases their consumption levels slightly, they remain significantly lower than those of fish eaters. The nutritional industry has, therefore, long searched for a vegetarian polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acid such as the type provided in Echiomega.”

Dr Jav Nazemi, CEO of Igennus, said: “As Igennus already produced Vegepa, a pure pharmaceutical-grade fish oil supplement, we identified a great demand for a plant-based omega 3 source to cater for vegetarians, and those who prefer not to consume their recommended weekly intake of oily fish.

Echiomega caters perfectly for this market, and is already approved by the Vegetarian Society.” Echiomega is priced at £11.70 for 60 softgel capsules.

· For more information about Incromega V3Ô and fish oil supplements visit www.croda.com

· Echium:

o Echium plantagineum (Purplu Viper’s Bugloss) is a species of Echium. It is an annual or biennial plant growing 20-60 cm tall, with rough, hairy, lanceolate leaves up to 14 cm long. The flowers are purple, 15-20 mm long, with all the stamens protruding, and borne on a branched spike.

· Echium Oil and Benefits:

o Echium oil is a vegetable oil rich in stearidonic acid, an omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid that the body converts to longer chain Omega 3 fatty acids, such as Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosapentaenoic Acid (DHA). It is obtained by refining oil extracted from the seeds of the Echium plantagineum plant, a species of the Boraginaceae family, cultivated in the UK.

o EPA is essential for the regulation of brain functioning and plays an important role in controlling the inflammatory and immune systems. While DHA is beneficial for maternal supplementation for infant development, eye health, depression and improving cognitive functions – especially in the elderly.

· Omega 3 and The Western Diet

o The human body requires adequate amounts of omega 3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids for healthy brain and immune function, cardiovascular health and inflammatory response. The highest yielding source is found in oily fish, whereas vegetarian sources of omega 3 (such as nuts, seeds and flaxseed oil) contain high levels of the short-chain omega 3, alpha linolenic acid (ALA). Unfortunately, it must first of all be converted into the long-chain fats before it can offer benefits such as the regulation of inflammation, immunity and cardiovascular health.

o Due to changes in the modern diet and lifestyle we are exposed to several inhibiting factors – including caffeine, alcohol, deficiencies of vitamins and minerals, viruses and stress, which means that many people cannot convert short-chain fatty acids into the more important long-chain fatty acids. As a result, it can be difficult for vegetarians and vegans to maintain sufficient amounts of the beneficial long-chain omega 3s in their diets. Therefore, The Food Standards Agency currently limits omega 3 health claims (including heart and joint health) to the long-chain omega 3 fatty acids typically found in oily fish.

· Croda Health Care’s Super Refined Process:

o Croda’s growing range of Super Refined® products offer more options for formulation purity. The purity afforded by Croda’s proprietary Super Refining® process helps to maintain an API’s chemical profile, reducing the chances for oxidation and offering the promise of an extended shelf life. Starting with Super Refined® Oils in the 1990’s, the range of Super Refined® products keeps growing, now including PEGs, Polysorbate 20, 60 & 80 and our newest product – Super Refined® Arlasolve™ DMI. With such a wide range of choices, Croda offers even more high purity options for parenteral, oral and topical applications.

Top fitness tips from celebrity beauty guru Dr Neish Joshi

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London: Celebrity health guru Neish Joshi has devised easy and simple New Year resolutions for great skin, which anyone can follow and you’ll also notice the benefits within a few weeks.

1. Easy food swaps

• Making healthy food choices doesn’t mean you have to exist on lettuce alone. Try these simple food swaps which will to give your health a boost, without compromising on taste:
– Swap potato for sweet potato when making wedges
– Snack on wasabi peas instead of dry roasted peanuts
– Use GOOD OIL on your salad instead of heavy dressing
– On pasta, ditch cheese sauce and use fresh tomato instead
– Use spices instead of salt when seasoning food
– Swap sweets for dried fruit (dried mangoes are the sweetest)
– Ditch crisps for salted popcorn
– Desperate for dessert? Try chopping up a banana, dipping the chunks in melted 70% coca chocolate and pop in the freezer until the chocolate hardens. Delicious!
– Carry figs around with you for an emergency on-the-go sugar fix. A great substitute for chocolate bars
– Swap a drizzle of cream in tomato soup for a drizzle of GOOD OIL
– Swap regular milk for semi skimmed or skimmed. Or for the more adventurous, try soya milk
– Add extra vegetables whenever you can. A few sautéed pieces of celery to Bolognese sauce or try adding mushrooms and peas to your favourite curry
– Swap butter in chocolate cake for beetroot – yes really, this works! Beetroot also gives the sponge a rich red hue
– Swap bar snacks for your own roasted soya nuts

2. Aim for ‘as much as you can’ a day
• We all know we should aim for 5 portions of fruit and veg a day, but unfortunately this isn’t always possible. Instead aim for as much as you can and don’t throw in the towel if you have a bad day and give up altogether. Just remember tomorrow is another day and a fresh start.

3. Don’t avoid oil
• When people go on a health kick, they immediately think about foods they should eliminate from their diet, which often includes oils. In fact you should include oil in your diet on a daily basis, just make sure it’s the right kind. GOOD OIL is a good source of essential omega-3 and omega-6, which the body needs to maintain a healthy heart. Research shows that reducing saturated fat intake and swapping it for oils rich in EFAs contributes to an improvement in cholesterol.

4. Sip sip and sip again
• The thought of drinking the recommended 2 liters of water can be pretty daunting. Don’t panic and try to gulp it down in one go. Make sure you have a bottle to hand and sip throughout the day, you’ll reach your target before you know it.

5. Juice it up
• Not everyone is happy to eat through piles of vegetables and fruit every day, so make life simpler and start juicing. It’s easy to replace one portion of fruit and veg a day with a juice, here are some of our favourites:

– Carrot, ginger and celery for breakfast
– Mango, mint and lime for a lunch treat
– A tasty blackberry and cranberry smoothie with a drop of GOOD OIL for a healthy afternoon drink

6. Swap coffee for herbal tea
• We know you’ve heard it before and that despite previous attempts to switch to green tea your body still craves a caffeine-laden pick-me-up in the morning. However, consider this: herbal teas have a multitude of benefits and they don’t over-stimulate, as coffee tends to do, helping you to maintain a sharper concentration and have more energy.

Try swapping a least one cup of coffee a day for a herbal tea and gradually reduce your intake of coffee. Green tea also has the added benefits of antioxidents

7. Get green fingered – the new way to workout
• Grow your own is becoming more popular than ever. But what’s more, a gardening session burns an impressive 350 calories. So ditch that gym class and get digging in your back garden or join a local community gardening project.

8. Cheat exercise
• Don’t like the thought of spending hours in front of the latest WAG workout DVD. Neither do we. Incorporating exercise into your daily routine is easier than you think and we have a few suggestions to get you started. Start with taking the stairs, try getting off the bus a stop earlier and walking, carry your bags home from the supermarket and do a few squats or sit ups in front of TV when no one is looking.

9. Reward yourself the smart way
• You’ve had a promotion or it’s your birthday, no matter how big the celebration, don’t use it as an excuse to binge on unhealthy food and drink. Instead reward yourself with a holistic treat such as a massage or shopping trip for a new yoga outfit. The result? You’ll feel great inside and out.

10. Eat in the right environment
• With busier than ever lives, many of us don’t sit down for our three meals a day. Eating on the go or not eating at all has become common practice. Having ad hoc eating patterns can result in poor digestion and eating on the go makes it difficult to choose healthier foods. Make a conscious effort to eat at least one of your meals a day sat down at a table. You only need to set aside 30 minutes and you can invite work colleagues, friends or family to join you.

11. Have a ‘sin’ day
• Going on a New Year ‘health’ kick’ often involves cutting out the foods you love and when it comes to chocolate, cherish. Keep yourself motivated and sane by having a ‘sin day’ every week, where you can treat yourself to your craving of choice. A week long of deprivation would fail to inspire the most enthusiastic of us; by having a ‘sin day’ you’ll have something to look forward too, which will keep you motivated.

“And above all remember to take one step at a time. Each day at a time. If you fall of the track, start again! Don’t think of this new you as “What do I need to eliminate from my diet?” Think more as what can you increase in your diet and “What can you have instead of…”

About GOOD OIL

– Produced in Devon, GOOD OIL is a pure natural oil made from 100% cold pressed hemp seed
– GOOD OIL is a perfect blend of delicious taste, health benefits and stylish packaging
– The GOOD OIL founders, Glynis Murray & Henry Braham, spent ten years perfecting the processes to ensure the taste was just right and the nutritional value optimized. This involved finding the best varieties to grow for the right taste, developing growing and harvesting methods, and mastering the cold pressing technique
– GOOD OIL is a delicious, versatile culinary oil. Use it as you would an olive oil: drizzle it on salads and vegetables, pour on pasta or baked potatoes. Add to soup, smoothies, use to roast potatoes or just eat with crusty bread, on its own or with Balsamic
The GOOD Taste:
 GOOD OIL Original has a delicious fresh and nutty taste
 GOOD OIL Mild & Light has a milder flavour, but still contains the same level of hemp seed goodness
 Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is a fan; “GOOD OIL is the most interesting culinary oil to come my way for a long time. It has a unique nutty flavour, with a pleasing, lingering aftertaste. As a ‘gourmet’ oil, it stacks up with the best extra virgin olive oils, having plenty of character for trickling on toast, over soups and salads, and making all kinds of dressings. And – perhaps the ultimate test – it makes terrific roast potatoes.”

The Health Benefits of GOOD OIL:
 With zero trans fats and approximately half the Saturated Fat of olive oil, GOOD OIL is one of the healthiest (and tastiest) culinary oils on the market

Good Heart
GOOD OIL is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, including essential omega-3 and omega-6
o GOOD OIL is rich in omega-3 and 6, which the body needs to maintain a healthy heart. Research shows that reducing saturated fat intake and swapping it for oils rich in EFAs contributes to an improvement in cholesterol
o The ideal ratio for human’s to absorb omega-3 and 6 is between 2:1 – 4:1. GOOD OIL is at 3:1 so the ideal balance to complement the body’s needs
o GOOD OIL has a higher omega quantity than most other culinary oils and provides an easy, versatile and delicious way to ensure the body is supplied with EFAs everyday – just 10ml of GOOD OIL per day will make a substantial contribution to the intake of essential fatty acids required for good health (Source: The Kings Report – available upon request)
Good Skin
 GOOD OIL contains GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid – a fat in the omega-6 family), the active ingredient in Evening Primrose Oil and considered to be a powerful key to vibrant health and radiant beauty
o Research shows GLA is good maintaining healthy skin, as well as having a beneficial impact on the effects of PMS
o 10ml of GOOD OIL contains as much GLA as 6 average Evening Primrose capsules

Keeping the Goodness in
 To maximize the health benefits, it is recommended to take 10ml of GOOD OIL per day in ‘cold’ format e.g. drizzled on salads and vegetables, added to smoothies and soups, as a dip, or used in cold recipes such as salsa or guacamole to name a few
 As a food oil, GOOD OIL can be used for roasting, baking and cooking and doesn’t need to be treated any differently to other oils. GOOD OIL can be used for a wide variety of every day uses for food preparation but is not suitable for deep-frying (deep-fried food is generally not a healthy way to prepare food). Heating above 150C reduces the beneficial properties of GOOD OIL.

The GOOD OIL Crop:
 Hemp is a very sustainable crop and beneficial to the environment
o Hemp crops require little water to grow
o When the remaining crop is left to rot on the ground following bailing, it imparts essential nutrients back into the ground, these nutrients are great for earth worms
o Hemp provides an excellent habitat for wildlife. The fields are left to fallow in winter, the birds are attracted to the earth worm rich ground
o Hemp is planted late in spring and requires no mechanical or chemical weed control during the growing period, thereby reducing fuel consumption on the farm
o Hemp’s long tap root is excellent for soil structure and conditioning
o The fast growing Hemp crop is a very efficient carbon sequester
 Every aspect of the plant is used – absolutely nothing is wasted

GOOD OIL Stockists:
 GOOD OIL is currently stocked at most branches of Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Co-Op, as well as leading department stores Harvey Nichols and Selfridges
 RRSP £5.99

The GOOD WEBSITE:
 For more info on the GOOD OIL farm in North Devon, delicious recipes, articles on nutrition and to sign up for the newsletter please visit www. Goodwebsite.co.uk

AROMATHERAPY

Essential oils of life – Udo’s Choice

Essential fatty acids are vital to human health and can help regulate weight and mood. Udo’s Choice Ultimate Oil Blend is a certified organic blend of essential fatty acids boasting the perfect ratio of Omega 3, 6 and 9.

Produced from plant and seed extracts, this oil blend can simply be added to food on a daily basis as a salad dressing, on vegetables, in smoothies or fruit juice, in cereal or even porridge. Just this simple step can help you to change your life in a variety of positive ways.

Essential fatty acids are vital to humans for many essential bodily functions including brain function, hormone production, energy production, healthy digestion, weight loss/maintenance and detoxification. However, these EFAs are not possible for the human body to produce and so must be gained from food sources. Most people are in fact deficient in EFAs and in particular Omega 3. Although it is true that Western diets are rich in Omega 6, they are derived from oils such as sunflower and corn oil, which are produced in vast quantities and have also undergone highly damaging processes such as hydrogenation, frying, refining and deodorizing. This results in a change to the chemical structure of Omega 6, changing it from a health-benefiting to a highly health-damaging essential fatty acid through the creation of trans fat.

As Udo’s Choice Ultimate Oil Blend is made from plants, it is a healthier option than the more widely used Fish Oils, and is also ideal for vegetarians, vegans and individuals concerned with the ethical issues surrounding fish farming and pollution in the sea. Udo’s Choice is recommended by two of the UK’s most recognised nutritionists, Gillian McKeith and Patrick Holford.

So what can a simple serving of 3 dessertspoons of Udo’s Choice do for you? There are a great number of ways that this oil blend can improve both yours and your family’s health and appearance:

The Slimmer’s Choice – The EFAs in Udo’s Choice will increase energy production by helping the body to obtain more oxygen, increasing your oxidation rate, metabolic rate and stamina. It will also lower the glycaemic index of food and suppress your appetite, a little trick fitness guru Sting himself uses to keep his trim figure.

The Edible Cosmetic Choice – Udo’s Choice encourages the absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K by stimulating the production of hormones and promoting the transport of oxygen throughout the body. It will also protect against eczema, dandruff, psoriasis, dryness, fragile nails and hair loss, ensuring you remain beautiful inside and out. Beautiful celebs such as Elle McPherson, Sophie Dahl and Caprice are advocates of its positive effects.

The Parent’s Choice – Essential Fatty Acids, such as Omega 3 and 6, are critical for both female and male fertility as they help regulate the fluidity of cell membranes, allowing cells to function efficiently and effectively. Modern day phenomena, such as the increase in STD infections, binge drinking and excessive smoking have all had a negative impact on fertility. EFA’s are also vital for brain development in infants and children and can help with serious learning disorders such as dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The unique blend of EFA’s in Udo’s Choice make this, the perfect companion for both parents and parents-to- be.

Brain Food Choice – The brain is over 60% fat and avoiding all types of fat – in a low fat diet for example – can lead to anxiety and depression and other mental health problems. Omega 3 fats are particularly important to boost a positive state of mind and Udo’s Choice is packed full of good mood fats. Essential fats can also help promote a greater sense of calmness and enhance the ability to deal with stress better. Udo’s Choice can also help to increase brain-power and maintain concentration and certainly help brainy Carol Vorderman who is a fan.

Udo’s Choice = The Oil Of Life!

Udo’s Choice (£16.43, 500ml/£8.95, 250ml) must be refrigerated all at times and lasts for 6-8 weeks. Available from independent health food stores including Planet Organic, Nutricentre and Fresh & Wild. For stockist queries, call 08452 609 996 or visit www.savant-health.com for more technical information

Aromatheraphy

Highly-concentrated oils from spices and plants are combined with a carrier oil usually almond, and used to massage or inhaled to give relief from all kinds of ailments from coughs and colds to stress and breathing problems, as well as chronic fatigue, back pain and menstral complaints.

The essential oils, usually in a combination, are massaged into the body with light strokes or inhaled in steam, depending on the condition to be treated. The oils are absorbed by the body and enter the bloodstream – which is why pregnant woman and anyone with diabetes, epilepsy and heart problems should consult their doctor prior to any treatment. Each oil may have several therapeutic uses. For instance lavender and thyme can be combined to reduce inflammation:lemon oil is an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. See guide to oils.

Information:

The International Society of professional Aromatherapists
82 Ashby Road
Hinkley
Leicestershire LE1U 1SN. UK
Tel: ++ 44(0)1455 637987
www.ifparoma.org
email: admin@ifparoma.org

Also Aromatherapy Council
PO Box 355
Croydon, Surrey CR9 2PQ. UK.
Te: ++44 (0)20 8251 7912