<<< Back to Cures Naturally Articles
<<< Back to Cures Naturally Prevention-Treatments
One of the best things you can do to prevent heart disease,
cancer, depression and Alzheimer's disease and treat rheumatoid
arthritis, diabetes, ulcerative colitis, Raynaud's disease
and a host of other diseases is increase your intake of the
omega-3 fats found in fish oil.
However, as you increase your intake of essential fatty acids
like omega-3, you also increase your need for fat-soluble
antioxidants. Why? Because fish oil is extremely perishable,
and the antioxidants will ensure that the fish oil doesn’t
oxidize and become rancid in your body.
Ensuring that you have plenty of fat-soluble antioxidants
will make certain that you receive the maximum benefits that
fish oil has to offer.
What type of fat-soluble antioxidant is best?
As you likely know if you have been following this newsletter,
we each have a unique biochemistry that requires different
foods to run at its most optimum level. Your ideal combination
of protein, fat and carbohydrates is largely dependant on
your Metabolic
Type. Along these lines, your Metabolic Type will also
determine which type of fat-soluble antioxidant will be most
beneficial for your unique chemistry.
Carbohydrate Types
Fresh vegetable juice, made from a variety of carb-type vegetables
such as cucumbers, collard greens, red leaf lettuce, tomatoes
and swiss chard, is the best source of antioxidants for a
carb Metabolic Type. You should drink the juice at the start
of a meal for best results.
A vitamin E supplement, which is what is commonly thought
of when speaking of fat-soluble antioxidants, is not a priority
for carb types, who are typically slow oxidizers. Too much
vitamin E will only serve to further slow down a carb type’s
oxidation rate.
If you are a carb type and you choose to take vitamin E,
you should be sure to only take the dry form of vitamin E,
D-alpha tocopherol succinate, as opposed to the oil form,
and you should take no more than 100 units a day. If you can
only find 200 unit capsules, you will need to break the capsule
in half to get the proper dosage.
Supplements such as CoQ10, lipoic acid and vitamins A and
D are also beneficial. Cod liver oil, as opposed to fish oil,
contains vitamins A and D already. However, cod liver oil
should only be taken during the cold weather months when sun
exposure is limited, and if you are taking cod liver oil,
it’s important to have your vitamin
D level monitored, as it is possible to overdose on vitamin
D.
Mixed Types
A person with a mixed metabolic type will also benefit from
the antioxidants in fresh vegetable juice. Additionally, you
may want to consider taking a vitamin E supplement.
Mixed types should take the oil form of vitamin E with mixed
tocopherol/tocotrienols in a dose of 400 units per day.
Supplements such as CoQ10, lipoic acid and vitamins A and
D are also beneficial. Cod liver oil, as opposed to fish oil,
contains vitamins A and D already. However, cod liver oil
should only be taken during the cold weather months when sun
exposure is limited, and if you are taking cod liver oil,
it’s important to have your >vitamin
D level monitored, as it is possible to overdose on vitamin
D.
Another healthy option for mixed types is the convenient
super food, Living Fuel
Living Fuel contains a mix of antioxidants that are most appropriate
for a mixed metabolic type. While vegetable juice will also
provide these for you, Living Fuel can be useful when you
simply don’t have time to juice, such as when traveling.
Protein Types
The oil form of vitamin E is most appropriate for protein
types, who are typically fast oxidizers. You can take 800
units of vitamin E in two doses, one in the morning and one
in the evening.
Protein types can also benefit from fresh vegetable juice,
but it should consist of only protein-type vegetables like
celery, spinach, cauliflower and asparagus. Celery and asparagus
make an especially tasty combination.
In order to keep the optimum metabolic balance, protein types
should drink vegetable juice after their meal.
What type of fish oil is best?
When choosing your fish oil or cod liver oil, it is important
to remember that not all brands are the same. In my research--and
in my clinical experience with my patients--I have found that:
- The liquid form is superior to capsules
- Certain brands definitely seem inferior to others
- The Carlson's brand of
fish oil/cod liver oil is of an exceptional quality
and purity
It is likely not the only brand in the world of such high
quality, but up to this point it is the only one of such quality
that I can recommend, so I now offer the Carlson's
fish oil and cod liver oil on Mercola.com; you can also
check your local health food store to see if they carry it.
To better preserve your fish oil, use a wine saver to create
a vacuum on the bottle. If too much air gets into the bottle,
the fish oil will oxidize and go rancid. Simply transfer your
fish oil to a bottle that fits the wine saver cap (many conventional
containers). The Vacu
Vin Wine Saver is an exceptional choice as it allows you
to pump out the air inside the bottle prior to sealing, and
it is very durable.
Dr. Joseph Mercola
Back to top of document