Fish oil - good for you

Fish oil is widely acclaimed for its health giving properties – the benefits of which extent across the complete health spectrum. However, considering the vast range of fish oil suppliers and products currently available, you’ll justifiably be hard-pressed to find the one that is not only the most effective, but also the purest, freshest and most natural fish oil in the world – well, at least until you’ve finished reading this article. Every consequence has a cause. One thing leads to another – it’s a fact. In terms of aging and failing health conditions, your body’s main culprit is almost always inflammation. What makes inflammation so toxic is that it sneaks up on you and over time, the increasing effect is a chain reaction of various health conditions ranging from arthritis and chronic pain to more serious issues such as strokes, atherosclerosis, aneurisms, brain disorders and ultimately, death.

Why is fish oil so important?

Most scientists and health professionals believe that it is the anti-inflammatory properties of fish oil that enable it to provide so many health benefits particularly in areas of the: heart, brain, joints, skin, immune system, vision and, digestion. However, like any nutritional product on the market today there are good and bad ones.

You owe it to yourself to use only the purest, and thus the safest omega-3 fish oil available, plus it also has to be the most effective in order for you to receive the benefits above. Fish oil is no exception. With a bad one you may be unwittingly introducing substances into your body that you do not want, for example: mercury, PCBs or even increasing your load of free radicals. If you and your family want the best product possible there are certain guidelines that you need to follow. They are:

• Anti-inflammatory properties: Does your current fish oil have the best probable anti-inflammatory properties?

• Bio-availability: It must be in its natural form.

• High content of quality omega-3 and DHA: Be reasonably high in omega-3 with the leading indispensable fatty acid being DHA.

• Purity: The fish oil must be free from any contaminants with supporting evidence to prove it.

• Freshness: This means low oxidation levels; one time again with cold, hard evidence to back-up such claims.

This rule will be individually explained in more detail throughout this article.

Omega-3’s best catch of the day

Which fish species is the most effective when it comes to inhibiting inflammation? Our research points to hoki. We use hoki fish in our Omega 3 / DHA Fish Oil that has been caught and handled according to our specific standards at a food-grade facility. Unlike most fish which are caught by large factory ships and frozen at sea, our hoki fish are caught by smaller vessels fishing within seven hours travelling from the hoki fishing grounds. The hoki fishery in New Zealand is controlled by the New Zealand government and is considered to be the best managed and sustainable fish resource in the world. The catch is able to be kept fresh in ice and processed immediately upon arrival back on shore.

This fish is found off the coast of New Zealand in the Southern Ocean. Our hoki are only caught in the height of the season and there is no by-catch mixed into the oil. We also have full traceability on all the fish used. In addition to its exceptionally high levels of purity and freshness (when correctly handled and processed), hoki fish also seem to contain a fascinating ‘x-factor’ which turbo-charges the efficacy of its oil – especially when combined as a natural triglyceride with a highly concentrated and molecularly distilled fish oil (more about this ‘x-factor’ and the various types of fish oils will be revealed later).

Amazing anti-inflammatory alchemy

Our Xtend-Life Omega 3 / DHA Fish Oil seems to be as effective against inflammation as aspirin, only without any of the negative side effects. As mentioned earlier, inflammation is VERY important, it can have profound detrimental influences to your heart and cardio-vascular system, as well as being a precursor for many other ailments. This was established as part of a study carried out this year by Trinity Bioactives, part of the Wellington School of Medicine in New Zealand. It has been proven to have two and a half times the anti-inflammatory properties of ‘normal’ fish oil and even double the anti-inflammatory properties of highly refined and concentrated fish oil. This is why our Xtend-Life researchers have focused so much on improving the anti-inflammatory properties of the Omega 3 / DHA Fish Oil with amazing success – a product that is now setting new standards for fish oil products. The study tested the inflammation inhibition properties of three fish oils while using aspirin as a dose-related control.

The three fish oils were: A concentrated tuna oil with 85% omega-3; A ‘normal’ consumer fish oil 18/12 consisting of 18% EPA and 12% DHA; and Xtend-Life’s Omega 3 / DHA Fish Oil

Inhibition Properties:

• ‘Normal’ fish oil (consisting of 18% EPA and 12% DHA) – 14%

• Concentrated tuna oil – 20.6%

• Xtend-Life’s Omega 3 / DHA Fish Oil – 38.1%

Interestingly our fish oil actually fared better than aspirin on a dose-related basis.

Xtend-Life Fish Oil has the ‘x-factor’

Xtend-Life’s natural hoki fish oil seems to have a synergistic effect when combined with the highly purified tuna oil that creates this remarkable increase in anti-inflammatory effects. We call it the ‘x-factor’. Even though the total amount of omega-3 in our blend is lower than the concentrate, the anti-inflammatory properties have actually doubled! This is one of those rare situations in which we are able to get the best of both worlds. For now, the ‘x-factor’ has to remain one of the mysteries of nature. I say ‘nature’ because it is something in the natural component of the hoki oil that is giving these benefits.

Bio-availability

Bio-availability is influenced by the molecular shape of fatty acids, sugars, proteins, and other nutrients that are easily absorbed by the body. The more natural the molecular structure the better. Your digestive system is probably the most efficient production line known to man, however it is as natural as nature itself. When it comes to fish oil, the benefits associated with it can only start taking effect once the body has absorbed the nutrients contained within it. It converts food particles into natural molecules that the body recognises and therefore can easily absorb. The food particles are now said to be bio-available to the body.

So, when assessing how ‘natural’ fish oil is, it is important to know about the different forms currently available on the market:

Natural fish oil comes in a triglyceride form. This is the oil that you get when you ‘squeeze’ the fish and extract the natural oil from it. The drawback from this particular form of fish oil is that it usually has low overall omega-3 content because it’s not concentrated and generally has high levels of contaminants such as heavy metals, PCBs, dioxins etc.

Ethyl ester oil occurs when you take natural triglyceride oil and concentrate it whilst molecularly distilling the oil to eliminate purities. The ester form is still in a semi-natural state because it is the result of a process that naturally occurs in the body to allow for bio-availability. The concentration process cannot take place until the natural triglycerides are converted to an ester form. It’s not uncommon to double or even triple the omega-3 content of fish oil using this concentration process.

Synthetic triglyceride oil is another form of fish oil that is very common and marketed as ‘natural’ when in fact it isn’t. As mentioned above, the natural triglycerides are converted to ethyl esters for concentration. It is a triglyceride, but not a natural one. It is produced after concentration. This is perfectly fine however; but some manufacturers then re-convert the esters back into triglycerides – a synthetic form which occurs as a result of this re-conversion process. Part of it becomes foreign to what the body is used to - negatively impacting the bio-availability of the fish oil. The original position of the triglyceride’s carbon bonds change and the molecule’s overall structure is altered. Why do they do it? Because they can state that it is a triglyceride form and infers to the customer that it is natural – which in actual fact, it’s not.

It’s about quality and synergy

There are some fish oil products out there that are saturated with high levels of omega-3; even higher than those found in our Omega 3 /DHA Fish Oil. Still, both science and history have proven time and time again that it is quality and naturalness not quantity that’s important.

As an example, there is highly concentrated omega-3 fish oil produced by a pharmaceutical company that has exceptionally high omega-3 content (about 98%). However, recent studies have shown that in addition to reducing triglycerides (which is good), it really also increases cholesterol levels (which is bad). It is registered as a drug and approved by the US FDA for treating high triglycerides. However, ‘normal’ fish oil lowers both triglycerides AND cholesterol. Obviously, there is some beneficial component of the fish oils that is removed in the highly concentrated oil.

Why is DHA in the spotlight?

The inclusion of plentiful DHA (Docosapentaenoic acid) in the diet improves learning ability, whereas deficiencies of DHA are associated with deficits in learning. DHA is without a doubt the most complex and beneficial fatty acid as far as the human body is concerned (more so than EPA) as it is a 22 carbon chain bond with six (cis) double bonds. DHA is taken up by the brain more readily than any other fatty acid. You see, DHA is necessary for the growth and functional development of the brain in infants. Other omega-3 fatty acids follow DHA in order of difficulty, number of carbon chain bonds and overall efficacy for your body. It is also required for maintenance of normal brain function in adults. They are:

• EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) has 20 carbon bonds. It is difficult for the body to convert EPA to DHA because it has to add two carbon bonds. On the other hand the body only has to ‘drop off’ two carbon bonds from DHA to create EPA.

• ALA (alpha linolenic acid) - commonly found in flaxseed oil, this omega-3 fatty acid only has 18 carbon bonds, that makes it almost not possible for the body to manufacture DHA from.

• A special mention must be made with regards to another omega-3 fatty acid – DPA (Docosapentaenoic acid). It acts as the ‘sidekick’ for both DHA and EPA. There has not been a lot of research carried out on DPA; however, it does appear that there are some real benefits linked with DPA because – like DHA - it has 22 carbon bonds.

Pristine and pure

One simply has to look at the locations where most of the fish oils come from to get a clear idea of why so many omega-3 fish oil products are tainted with toxins. Purity is measured by the amount of heavy metals, PCBs and dioxins present. They are often in the middle of major shipping routes and surrounded by large, heavily populated land masses, where pollution and waste is the inevitable outcome. The Southern Ocean is known for its rugged beauty, geographic isolation and unspoiled waters. Other fish oil areas are shared by deep sea oil rigs, hardly the sort of purity perceptions you would want as a customer. Interestingly enough, we at Xtend-Life have set our own specification standards because we don’t think that the normal standards are good enough as they have been set with the fish oil industry in mind rather than the wellbeing of the consumer.

When measuring the purity of fish oil products, four international standards are generally used. The entire population of New Zealand is also only a fraction of one major US city – have a look on your atlas to fully appreciate how remote New Zealand really is. Located in the ‘roaring 40s’ and ‘raging 50s’, this body of water off the coast of New Zealand is one of the most remote and purest oceans on earth with nothing but open water separating it from South America (over 9 000kms to the east) and Africa (over 10 000kms to the west) - ensuring that it experiences minimal ‘ship traffic’. You can view the tough standards we set by going to our website at www.xtend-life.com and going to Omega 3 / DHA Fish Oil and clicking on the purity tab. There you will find that:

Our levels for mercury are 10 times lower than the standards set by international organizations. Our PCB level is set at 18 times lower than the US CRN. In Europe they don’t even set a minimum level. The dioxin levels are also set at a level four times lower. But, even at these low levels none of these contaminants are detected in our oil – and we can prove it! Have a look at our current Certificate of Analysis which is on our website. We have the independent government-approved laboratory data on file.

Freshness should be your first prize

Freshness is crucial with anything that you put into your mouth. In the case of fish oils, it is even more important as you could be unwittingly adding to your free radical ‘load’ (the very thing you want to combat). Keep in mind though that freshness is not just time related, it is how the produce has been handled and looked after since harvesting. Oil which is oxidized is loaded with free radicals and may do you more harm than good. For example, a well handled two-day old fish can be even fresher than a one-day fish!

Fishing for freshness

The same senses you use when buying fish from your local fishmonger should also be applied when buying fish oil. This is because your sense of smell and sight are very important when making your purchasing decision.

SIGHT

• When buying a whole fish, the primary thing you should observe are the eyes. Fresh fish that have been handled properly and stored correctly from the boat to the display counter should have big clear eyes. Their gills should mirror the same clarity as the eyes with a bright red lustre and no parasites attached. When buying a fish oil, always look at the supplier’s Certificate of Analysis (COA). The oxidation levels should be as low as possible.

SMELL

• Fresh fish should have no ‘fishy’ odours. They should literally smell like the ocean from which they’ve come. Fish that have been handled and stored incorrectly will start to oxidize (decompose) and the resultant smell should send you clear warning signs.

• Fresh fish oils should also have no rancid odours. Similarly, the fish oil shouldn’t have dissimilar scents such as lime or any other unnatural fragrance. If it does, then there is no doubt that the dealer is quite aware of the product’s lack of freshness and assumes that this simple ‘scent-mask’ will hide all traces of oxidation. Cut open a fish oil soft gel and put it to the ‘smell’ test.

If these signs haven’t been noticed and common sense hasn’t been followed, then unfortunately – as decomposing fish will no doubt make you sick – oxidized fish oils with rancid odours and/or tastes will almost certainly result in some ‘repeating’ or ‘burping’ at best and an increase in free radical levels at worst. If your digestive system is not compromised, the possibility of you experiencing this with the Omega 3 / DHA Fish Oil product is highly unlikely. In fact, we guarantee it!

What makes Xtend-Life’s Omega 3 / DHA Fish Oil so fresh?

At Xtend-Life, we endeavor to give you the freshest products possible. Professional product management and control is the answer. Over the last eight years, we have been bordering on being paranoid about the way our fish oil is handled and processed. The fish oil remains fresh in the capsule because of a natural rosemary extract which is a very powerful anti-oxidant combined with a broad spectrum natural vitamin E oil. This is particularly crucial for our hoki oil and we are probably the only company in this industry that has full traceability for our hoki; which is critical as we use it in its natural form. This goes all the way back to how the fish is handled on board when it is caught. We are very proud of our ‘fresh, pure and natural’ policy and strive to maintain our exceptionally high standards.

How to determine the freshness of your fish oil

It’s important to remind you that freshness is measured by oxidation. Some manufacturers in Europe do not publish their anisidine values and although the peroxide values may be practical, the overall TOTOX value can be very high. Interestingly, some of them do their testing just for the peroxide value (conveniently after encapsulation and after an elapsed period of time).Always look out for the total oxidation (TOTOX) value on the supplier’s COA – it is made up of two components:

• Anisidine value

• Peroxide value

Although the ‘N/A’ indication on the COA may mean ‘Not Available’, it should really mean ‘Not Acceptable’ – don’t be fooled. The peroxide values in a soft gel actually go down over time but the anisidine values go up, therefore pushing the TOTOX value up as well. It is a trick of the trade that some manufacturers use.

Freshness facts

• Our Omega 3 / DHA Fish Oil has oxidation specifications that are significantly lower than any international standard (the lower the better). However, the actual results of the oil are always better than the specification. Please refer to the COA for the actual values.

• When compared to the oxidation specifications set by a US-based monograph, our standards are nearly double the freshness levels – from the peroxide to TOTOX values, including the all important anisidine value.

• Our peroxide specifications are four times better than those set by the European

Pharmacopoeia and Norwegian Medicinal Standard, while our anisidine and TOTOX values cannot even be compared to these organisations as they all list their respective values as N/A – and we all know what that means.

As an extra measure to ensure that freshness is maintained across the spectrum, each and every batch of the Xtend-Life Omega 3 / DHA Fish Oil is tested by independent government certified laboratories. The laboratory used depends on the test being carried out. Xtend-Life uses two labs, namely: Cawthron Laboratories and Agriquality Laboratories.

In good health,

Warren Matthews

Chairman

Xtend-Life Natural Products

Xtend-Life.com