Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids

Heart disease and omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to improve heart health in dogs, cats and humans. They play a part in keeping cholesterol levels low, stabilizing irregular heart beat (arrhythmia), and reducing blood pressure. Omega-3 fatty acids are also natural blood thinners, reducing the "stickiness" of blood cells (called platelet aggregation), which can lead to complications such as blood clots and stroke. Specifically, two papers published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with investigators from the University of California in San Francisco have shown levels of omega-3 fatty acids to be inversely correlated with the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke. When used as directed, Grizzly Salmon Oil is naturally balanced to deliver a large amount of omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help your dogs or cats avoid arthritis and stiff joints

As dogs and cats age, their movement can become labored, their joints can stiffen, and they may suffer from arthritis. These signs of inflammation can make them less comfortable and can greatly limit the amount of exercise they get. Scientific studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids can help to reduce joint stiffness, swelling, tenderness and overall fatigue. Numerous studies report that participants with inflammatory diseases who ingest omega-3s are more successful in combating arthritis.

Help your dog or cat to stay happy with omega-3 fatty acids

"Fatty acids contained in fish such as salmon may prove to function as nature's own anti-depressants", says a study of 30 patients conducted by a research team headed by Andrew Stoll, MD, director of the pharmacology research laboratory at Harvard University. The university's McLean Hospital found that some of the patients' symptoms of manic depression responded favorably to treatment with fish-oil supplements. Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University in Toyama, Japan, showed that one omega-3 acid, DHA,  prevents an increase in extra aggression during periods of stress. Omega-3 fatty acids, both DHA and EPA, are found in fatty fish, including salmon and cod. They may work by increasing serotonin levels, thus boosting neurotransmitter activity, as do anti-depressants such as Prozac. They may also help by restocking the outer brain cells, which receive chemical signals.

Additional information regarding the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids:

Medical research shows omega-3 fatty acids have health benefits

Scientists made one of the first associations between omega-3 fatty acids and good health while studying the Inuit (Eskimo) people of Greenland in the 1970s. As a group, the Inuit suffered far less from certain diseases (coronary heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, psoriasis) than their European counterparts. Yet their diet is very high in fat from eating whale, seal, salmon and other fish. Eventually researchers realized that these foods were all rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which provided real disease-countering benefits.

Omega 3s help prevent discomfort related to inflammation

Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Raynaud's disease and other autoimmune diseases greatly decrease quality of life. Diets high in omega-3 fatty acids (such as fish oils) have been shown to increase survival in people with autoimmune diseases. This is probably because the omega-3s help the arteries - as well as many other parts of the body - to stay free of inflammation. EPA and DHA are successful at this because they can be converted into natural anti-inflammatory substances called prostaglandins and leukotrienes, compounds that help decrease inflammation and pain.