90% of Americans are lacking in just one nutrient. And it shows…
Today, I want to take a close look at a list of top risk factors for preventable deaths every year in the US according to the Harvard School of Public Health:
- Smoking: 467,000
- High blood pressure: 395,000
- Overweight/obesity: 216,000
- Inadequate physical activity/inactivity: 191,000
- High blood sugar: 190,000
- High LDL cholesterol: 113,000
- High dietary salt*: 102,000
- Low dietary Omega-3 fatty acids: 84,000
- High dietary trans fatty acids: 82,000
- Alcohol use: 64,000
- Low intake of fruits and vegetables: 58,000
- Low dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids: 15,000
Overall, when you look at that list, it’s worth noting that it lines up perfectly with the acidic lifestyle most Americans live – obesity, too much sugar and table salt*, too many bad fats and not enough good ones, lack of fruits and vegetables, excessive alcohol, and sedentary bodies.
*Remember, table salt, or sodium chloride, is a very, very different beast than unrefined mineral salt like a Celtic Grey, Himalayan, or Redmond Real Salt. Read more about 5 misconceptions about salt that could be ruining your health.
Likewise, it’s the opposite of the alkaline lifestyle – eating veggies, fruits, good fats, good salts, physical activity, and of course, not smoking.
Now I want you to take a look at the bolded risk factors on the list. They account for a total of 689,000 deaths. That’s more than smoking deaths, more than all cancer deaths combined, and nearly 10 times the number of people who die from diabetes each year, which is the seventh leading cause of death in America.
What binds these 689,000 deaths? They are all risk factors stemming from one root problem, which is heart disease. It’s a massive killer and a lot of the risk factors above contribute to it:
High blood pressure
- High LDL cholesterol
- Deficiency in Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- High trans fatty acids
- Low polyunsaturated fatty acids
One of those in particular jumped out at me. These Harvard researchers said that for 84,000 people each year, the leading risk factor that led to their deaths was DEFICIENCY of Omega-3 fatty acids. That’s HUGE.
Now it’s worth noting that many of these deaths had multiple risk factors, but they identified the top one as a way to categorize the risk factors we need to be especially concerned about.
So while it’s scary that 84,000 were so deficient in Omega-3’s that it was the number one factor that led to their deaths, it also stands to reason that among those 689,000 deaths from risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, many more than 84,000 were likely deficient in Omega-3 fatty acids.
The reason I can make a claim like that without seeing the data behind their study is that we know from volumes and volumes of research that Omega-3 fatty acids:
- Lower triglycerides
- Lower LDL or “bad” cholesterol
- Raise HDL or “good” cholesterol
- Lower blood pressure
- Create less plaque build up in the arteries
And of course, that’s not all Omega-3 fatty acids do for us. They also:
- Reduce inflammation
- Aid weight loss by burning fat
- Balance hormones and improve fertility
- Boost the immune system
- Improve the look and feel of skin and hair
- Prevent age-related eye problems like macular degeneration
- Reduce risks related to diabetes
- Aid brain function as we age, a tool in the prevention of Alzheimer’s
- Help prevent cancers, including colon, prostate, endometrial, and breast
So it seems like an open and shut case, right? Omega-3’s are so good for us in so many ways and they can actually extend our lives.
But here’s the scary part about this…
Although it could prevent around 84,000 deaths each year, and help prevent a total of 689,000 deaths, 90% of Americans consume an insufficient amount of Omega-3 fatty acids (especially if you are Vegan or Vegetarian).
Doctors are failing to warn patients about this problem, so far too many patients don’t even realize they are insufficient in Omega-3.
And unlike some of the other risk factors on that list, this one could not be easier to fix! Compared to the complex and difficult changes in behavior that are required to overcome obesity, for instance, this one can literally be solved by taking 3 softgels every day.
So why isn’t everyone in America taking Omega-3 supplements? Well for one thing, many people are, but they aren’t getting enough of it.
There is no set recommendation for EPA and DHA in fish oil from government or public health organizations, but the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that people with risk factors for heart disease consume between 1,000 and 3,000 mg per day. The most conservative estimates for healthy adults from around age 14 onward is 250-500 mg, but I’m here to tell you that’s NOT enough. Here’s why…
Consumption of Omega-3’s needs to be balanced with dietary intake of Omega-6’s, which are more prevalent in our food and lead to increased inflammation. The National Institutes of Health had this to say:
"Most American diets provide more than 10 times as much omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids. There is general agreement that individuals should consume more omega-3 and less omega-6 fatty acids to promote good health."
And I’m going to tell you that number is WAY low. The average American Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio of 19:1, and we are seeing more and more with a 25:1, and even 50:1 ratio.
So the amount of Omega-3’s you take as a supplement needs to balance the Omega-6’s you’re eating, and that’s going to be more in the 3,000 – 4,000 mg range.
That’s the science behind Alkamind Daily Omega-3, which delivers 1,000 mg per softgel, and in the IDEAL 2:1 ratio of EPA to DHA. With all the fish oiuls out there, not one single brand can say that.
So you would have to take 9 softgels of the leading brand to get the proper dose of Omega-3’s, but just 3 Alkamind Daily Omega-3 softgels!
That’s why we consistently get 5-star reviews, like this one that said:
“Worth every penny! I researched for quite some time to find the best of the best and am thrilled with this brand. After only a few weeks I have already started to notice a difference in my skin (no more hormonal breakouts) amazing for overall mood and total health. The best part is there is no fishy flavor and they are very easy to swallow. Thrilled with my discovery of this product!” –Sarah
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