WHAT IS OMEGA 3?

Omega 3's are a special type of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). They are known as one of the "good" fats. The most important components of omega 3 are commonly know as EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (Decosahexaenoic Acid) and DPA (docosapentaenoic acid), all of which are found naturally in the human body at birth.

Omega 3 is deemed an essential nutrient for maintaining good health, normal growth and development but unfortunately the human body does not naturally replenish the omega 3 it uses. Therefore, omega 3 must be obtained through your daily dietary intake or through the use of omega 3 supplements such as GateWay.

Omega 3 PUFA's, especially EPA, DHA and DPA, exhibit a number of health benefits which would protect human health and enhance some physiological functions. The benefits include the development and growth of brain and nervous system, softening of blood vessels, prevention of arthritis, anti-inflammatory, regulation of immune system and regulation of insulin secretion.

EPA is able to lower the level of cholesterol, to clean blood vessels, to prevent stroke, and to prevent irregularity of the heart and many of the cardiac diseases.

Recent studies reported that DPA, abundant in mother's milk, is essential for human growth and development. The DPA displays the following functions:

• Improves human memory
• Enhances the ability to respond and to learn
• Lowers the level of cholesterol in blood to protect the heart.

DHA is a key component of the brain and visual system. It maintains and improves human memory and learning behaviour, as well has been shown to stabilize behaviour as in bipolar disorder.

Unlike most fish oil supplements, GateWay has all three components of Omega 3: EPA , DHA, DPA in the same proportions as are found naturally in the human body. GateWay is more readily absorbed into the blood stream than most fish oils due to its natural chemical structure, very similar to the human structure, which leads to more immediate health benefits. Many fish oils are much higher in cholesterol than seal oil.

• Omega 3 is an essential and vital fatty acid that is found in the human body at birth.
• Omega 3 does not naturally restore itself, therefore it most be obtained from external sources, either through diet or supplements.
• GateWay contains all three components of omega 3; EPA, DHA, DPA and in the same proportions that are found naturally in the human body, and provides DPA in the same percentage as found naturally at birth.
• About a third of the long-chain omega 3 fatty acids circulating in human blood is attributable to DPA.
• Most fish oils lack DPA.
• GateWay can provide up to ten times the amount of DPA found in fish oils.

It has long been established that diet is the prime link to good health. When Japan moved from its traditional diet of simple marine food to the western-based diet of processed foods, their rate of heart disease rose dramatically. Conversely, when Norway was forced to return to its traditional diet of marine life during shortages of World War II, the death rate (of heart disease, cancer etc.) dropped by 40%. This rate, however, returned to normal levels as soon as the war ended and Norwegians returned to the western diet. It is of great interest that during the war, the Norwegian decrease of heart disease coincided with a 50% increase in omega 3 intake. Another example of the health benefits of a traditional marine diet, high in omega 3, is to be found with the Canadian Inuit. Despite their large daily intake of fat, the Inuit blood lipids remained within normal levels, their incidence of heart trouble was low and they were relatively free from hardening of the arteries. Like the Norwegians and the Japanese before them, as the Inuit have adopted western diets, their incidence of diet-based disease has risen to the western levels.

As our bodies neither produce nor store omega 3 internally, omega 3 must be obtained from external sources. As most of our food intake remains highly processed, omega 3 is often best obtained through supplements such as GateWay.

• Children: Development of brain and enhancement of immune systems.
• Youngsters: Improvement of memory and learning ability.
• Adults: Softening of blood vessels, reduction of cholesterol and regulation of insulin secretion.
• Pregnant Women: Essential for embryonic development and replenishment of omega 3 used by the fetus,
• and in infants during breast feeding.
• Elderly: Prevention of arthritis, reduction of the sensitivity of bronchial and anti-inflammatory systems.
• General: Improvement of skin disorder.