Related Products: Brands > Natrol Supplements > Essential Fatty Acids > Fish Oil

Suggested Dose: 2 Each 1 Times Daily

Product Description: Increasing research reveals the health-promoting properties of Omega-3 fatty acids - EPA and DHA - in supporting a healthy cardiovascular system.* Derived from a variety of select fish and analytically screened to contain less than 1 mg of cholesterol per softgel. Fish Oil Concentrate 2 g EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) (18%) 360 mg DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) (12%) 240 mg Folloing information is taken from Natrol.com Why is vitamin E included in the product? Fish oils can iodize and turn rancid. Vitamin E functions as an antioxidant and stops the oxidizing of the oils. What are ''Omega-3'' and ''Omega-6'' fatty acids?'' Omega-3'' and ''Omega-6'' are scientific terms for two different families of EFAs - but the body needs a balance of each fatty acid regardless of the ''family'' it belongs to ''Omega-3'' and ''Omega-6'' are scientific names for two different categories - or ''families'' - of essential fatty acids. These names are derived from the chemical composition of the fatty acid molecules. ''Omega-3'' fatty acids include Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). ''Omega-6'' fatty acids include Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), Linoleic Acid (LA), and Arachidonic Acid (AA). Although the terms ''Omega-3'' and ''Omega-6'' may be scientifically useful, they are not particularly useful for the average person. In truth, the body needs a balance of each fatty acid, regardless of the ''family'' it belongs to. For this reason, it may be easier to think not in terms of ''families'' but simply about the importance of each essential fat - like vitamins, the body needs all of them for good health. What are ''Fish Oils''? Fish Oil is an oil prepared from the good fats in fish, containing both EPA and DHA. Many of us remember swallowing spoonfuls of cod-liver oil in the distant days of childhood. Well, our mothers were right - fish oil, containing the fatty acids EPA and DHA, is a valuable supplement to a healthy diet. With the modern invention of encapsulation, we no longer have to swallow fish oil by the spoonful - manufacturers offer fish oil in a variety of capsule sizes and as part of many combination formulas. What are Essential Fatty Acids? Essential Fatty Acids are ''good'' fats and we generally don't get enough of them Essential Fats, or Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are essential nutrients that the human body can't produce itself. The only way humans can get these nutrients is through the diet. EFAs are polyunsaturated fats, which are considered ''good'' fats. EFAs contribute to the healthy functioning of cell membranes, and are also critical for the synthesis of eicosanoids, a family of hormone-like substances that help in cell maintenance on a minute-to-minute basis. Just like other essential vitamins and minerals, EFAs are necessary for the maintenance of good health. Research with EFA supplementation has shown promise in a number of areas including: rheumatoid arthritis, skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, high blood cholesterol, coronary heart disease, diabetic neuropathy, high blood pressure, high blood triglycerides, and cancer. Why are essential fatty acids good for me? Essential fatty acids are used by every cell in your body -- and healthy cells make healthy people! EFAs control or modulate an amazing number of cellular processes. Essential fatty acids regulate a large number of mechanisms including increasing the fluidity of cell membranes and improving their ''gate-keeping'' abilities. These mechanisms help keep toxins out and bring nutrients into your cells. Essential fatty acids also influence the activation of cell genes, acting as second messengers and producing good eicosanoids. These hormone-like compounds help reduce inflammation in the body, help keep blood from clotting, and help keep your blood vessels dilated. Furthermore, a diet rich in EFAs can be helpful in many diseases . What are fatty acids? Fatty acids are basic building blocks for all lipids... Fatty acids are the nutritional components found in dietary fats and oils, and are chemical ''chains'' consisting of carbon and hydrogen and ending with an acid group. Fatty acids vary in length and degree of saturation, and are generally up to 26 carbons long. The specific chemistry of the fatty acid, including the number of carbons and double bonds, will affect how it functions in the body, including its health benefits. What are saturated fats? Saturated fats are a ''bad'' form of fatty acid Saturated fatty acids result when all carbons in the chemical chain are ''saturated'' with hydrogen. This means that the fat molecule does not contain any double bonds. Saturated fats are dense, solid fats that do not melt at room temperature - for example the white fat in beef and lamb. These are the so-called ''bad'' fats that are known to contribute to cardiovascular disease when consumed in excess. What are unsaturated fats? Unsaturated fats are the ''good'' forms of fatty acidsUnsaturated fatty acids result when not all carbons in the chemical chain are saturated with hydrogen. This means that the fat molecule contains one or more double bond. The double bonds create ''kinks'' in the molecule, producing a fat that is fluid at room temperature. Unsaturated fats are known as ''good'' fats because they help cellular function and promote heart health. There are two types of unsaturated fatty acids: Monounsaturates are fatty acids that contain one double bond. These fats are fluid at room temperature. For example, oleic acid, which is found in olive and sesame oils. Polyunsaturates are fatty acids that contain more than one double bond. These are the most fluid fats of all and include fats such as corn, soybean, and sunflower oils. Essential Fatty Acid oils also fall into this category. What are triglycerides? A triglyceride is a grouping of three fatty acids attached together by glycerol. This is the way most fatty acids are stored in the body Both Saturated and Unsaturated fats are usually consumed in the form of trigycerides, which consist of three fatty acids bound to a glycerol backbone. The attached fatty acids can be either the same or different. The presence of saturated fatty acids will result in a saturated fat; similarly, the presence of one or more unsaturated fatty acids will result in an unsaturated fat. In the human diet, Triglycerides are by far the most abundant form of dietary lipids, constituting approximately 95% of total fat consumed. The remaining 5% is in the form of phospholipids, free fatty acids (fatty acids not bound to a glycerol backbone), cholesterol, and plant sterols. In addition, triglycerides are the predominant storage form of fat in the body.