Can Fish Oils help situational depression?

Q. I was on anti-depressants for 6+ years, and the finest pure fish oils by Pharmax cured my depression! I think I was lacking the Omega 3’s. My question is, can omega-3 fish oils help situational depression? My sister is feeling like she is a little depressed but I think it's because she Russia and is having a very rough spot in her marriage, and her 7 year old is having some problems in school. Would taking fish oil help her fight her depression?

A. I'm so glad to hear that you've cured your depression though the Pharmax Finest Pure Fish Oil and haven't needed any medications!

Certainly fish oils could be helpful for your sister, but she could also be deficient in vitamin D due to the lack of sunlight a good portion of the year in Russia. I would also recommend this:

• D-Mulsion liquid vitamin D drops to help her get her vitamin D levels up. She could start off with 2-3 drops a day with meals to start improving her levels, then when she is feeling better go down to 1 drop a day for maintenance.

If trying these products do not improve her depression in 1-2 months, then she may need more help. Here are a couple of suggestions, I would recommend either she try one or the other first:

• 5HTP - 5 Hydroxytryptophan, made from the amino acid L-tryptophan with the help of Vitamin B6, is a precursor to serotonin production. The amino acid tryptophan can be found naturally in protein foods such as turkey and milk. Serotonin is a very important neurotransmitter known as "the feel good hormone". Using 5HTP has a similar effect as using an SSRI antidepressant, only without the drug side effects. It helps the body's own production of serotonin, which can be quite effective at improving depression. This is a 50mg dose, a good one to start with, as she can build up to 100 - 200mg a day to find the dose that works best for her.

• SAMe is a great product for improving mild to moderate depression. Please see the link I've included to read more about SAMe, it can be very helpful to elevate the brain's melatonin and phosphatidylcholine. Inadequate levels of SAMe in tissues and plasma and cerebral spinal fluid have been found to be highly correlated with conditions such as: depression, alzheimer's and dementia. Suboptimal levels of SAMe in some individuals may be due to insufficient amounts of the precursor amino acid methionine (diets low in protein, or diets containing mostly vegetarian protein which are typically low in methionine) and/or the necessary cofactors B12 (vegetarians, inadequate absorption) and folate and/or lack of a basic vitamin supplement.

For some individuals, even if they are supplementing methionine and/or getting sufficient amounts of methionine from animal proteins, SAMe synthesis is still not adequate due to a low activity of the enzyme SAMe synthetase.

Even if the body is producing normal or average levels of SAMe, certain physiological states create an increased demand for it, such as: aging, dietary deficiency, inflammatory states, emotional/physical stress or genetic polymorphysms, which can drastically improve depression.

How are Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) broken down in the body?

Q. How are Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) broken down in the body?

A. EFAs are broken down in the gut (hydrolyzed) and the individual fatty acids are absorbed by the enterocytes lining the GI tract. The enterocytes assemble the fatty acids and glycerol into triglycerides. The triglycerides and other fat soluble nutrients are collected and assembled into chylomicrons, which are absorbed by the lacteals (lymphatic vessels of the small intestines). The chylomicrons flow with the lymph into the blood and reaches every tissue in the body.

In the tissues the triglycerides are absorbed in a similar way as triglycerides are absorbed by the enterocytes. In the tissues the fatty acids can be metabolized into for example local hormones.

The hydrolization process in the gut requires lipase secreted by the pancreas and bile synthesized in the liver and secreted from the gallbladder.

Is the Super EFA liquid fish oil by Genestra safe to keep in freezer instead of refrigerator?

Q. Is the Super EFA liquid fish oil by Genestra safe to keep in freezer instead of refrigerator?

A. Yes, it is safe to freeze the Super EFA liquid. It will extend the shelf life 1-2 years.

What is the best liquid Fish Oil w/both DHA & EPA for adults?

Q. What is the best liquid Fish Oil w/both DHA & EPA for adults?

A. I would recommend the Super EFA Liquid by Genestra. It is a concentrated and pharmaceutical grade fish oil preparation containing high amounts of eicospaentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) formulated specifically for maximum support and maintenance of cardiovascular and neurological health.

Do you have a fish oil program for Crohn's Disease?

Q. Which probiotics do you recommend for my 12 yr old son, who has Crohn's disease?I am also reading "The Maker's Diet,"is the probiotic they recommend good? Do you have a program for Crohn's disease?

A. We are familiar with “The Makers Diet” and their recommended probiotics Primal Defense (PD). The Primal Defense is very different from the HMF Super Powder. It does not contain the researched strains of beneficial bacteria and there is some controversy in the nutrition industry as to the benefit of PD organisms. Some practitioners have warned us against using PD for people who have very compromised GI function since it could actually do some harm. Others have found PD to be quite helpful.

The strains in HMF products are not Soil Organisms (HSOs) such as the ones in PD. Instead, HMF is Human Micro Flora which have been isolated from a healthy woman and replicated in the lab. Thus, all the organisms in HMF naturally exist in the GI tract and they implant quite well because the body recognizes them as "self". The human strains in HMF have been extensively researched over the last 10 years and shown to adhere quite well.

Yes, we do have a nutritional program for Crohn's diasease. Please, visit our Crohn's disease program.

Another great supplement that your son would benefit from is the Super EFA Liquid by Genestra