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Shari  Posts:75
 Aspiring
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| 08/07/2008 6:59 PM |
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Presently, I do not take any and in fact, never have. I'm one of those folks who's genetically predisposed to having high cholesterol, and it seems that no matter what diet I follow, the LDL does not improve. I do have high HDL and low triglycerides, however, so that's a good thing. My question is: How do I know how much to take? Is there something on this site that will advise me regarding optimal dose for me? Thanks. |
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 08/07/2008 8:04 PM |
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Most people will start with the standard dose. If you are planning on taking the Zone product, then that would be 4 capsules or 1 tsp liquid. You can call the Wellness support team for more specific guideance. Also, a good reference for dosing is "The OmegaRx Zone". There is a lot of good information regarding how much to take for specific medical conditions. Good job on your HDL and tryglycerides! BTW, in the OmegaRx Zone, Sears states that the lower your triglycerides are, your LDL particles are converted to a "fluffy" particle which is less likely to clog your arteries. I am not a medical expert on this, by any means, but if you have a high LDL and low triglycerides, you may not have much to worry about. If you are controlling your insulin levels at the same time, then the LDL is expected to decrease, so that you have a lower LDL, and the LDL you have is the fluffy kind! This is found on pp.88-89 in "The OmegaRx Zone". Hope that helps! |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Shari  Posts:75
 Aspiring
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| 08/08/2008 7:03 AM |
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| Thanks, cranberry. That's good info. I'll be checking out that book later today. It's nice to know I'm "fluffy"! :P |
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Sue K  Posts:8674
 Zone Expert

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| 08/08/2008 7:50 AM |
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Hi Shari, Also, for the most up to date info, follow the fish oil recommendations in "The Anti Inflammation Zone", Dr, Sears' most recent book. These can also be found his other site (DrSears.com). Here's a link to the document there which contains the dosing info you're asking about: http://www.drsears.com/portals/6/Documents/Inflammation%20Medical%20Brochure.pdf |
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sue
Lost 100 lbs 14 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!
To view my before/after pics and meal photos scroll over this picture and click when the link appears.
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E.Wally  Posts:271
 Zoner

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| 08/08/2008 1:33 PM |
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Shari, [you wrote ] 08/07/2008 6:59 PM Quote Reply Alert Presently, I do not take any and in fact, never have. I'm one of those folks who's genetically predisposed to having high cholesterol, and it seems that no matter what diet I follow, the LDL does not improve. I do have high HDL and low triglycerides, however, so that's a good thing. __________________________________________ *** Although the "desired" levels of the various components [ of a "blood lipid profile" ] are GENERALLY agreed on there has been and continues to be some disagreement as to the exact levels of some components and the "ideal" ratios between them.' ******** " ... ideal ratios between them'...." If you continue to read the posted information below you will see the most current thinking on "lipid levels" and associated RATIOS. There has been much research in this area in cardiac circles and basically what is being found is that the RELATIONSHIP of various levels of blood lipids is FAR MORE IMPORTANT AND REVEALING than the actual levels in and of themselves. You mention high HDL and low triglycerides, and, yes, if you keep reading you WILL find out that is most favorable. I believe the way the data is interpreted [ below ] is that the level - especially an ELEVATED level of LDL - is of little concern with a ratio of TG/HDL <1. If your HDL is high and TG are low than this ratio should fall below "1" and the further below 1 the better. WHAT ARE YOUR BLOOD LIPID LEVELS ? PLEASE LIST THEM FOR ME AND I'LL RUN THE IMPORTANT RATIOS FOR YOU - it is not difficult to do yourself and once I show you - you can do it yourself. _____________________________ In any event here's a partial explanation of the "TOTAL CHOLESTEROL TO HDL RATIO" which our own Dr.Sears considers very important : _____________ [quoted from The Soy Zone ] ***TG to HDL Ratio <1 ideal <2 Good, --Fail >4 *** This is the ratio that is considered a "marker" for "fasting insulin" level - a ratio of "1" means it should be exactly where you want it - about 5,",,,in a 'zone of wellness' -not too high and not too low" ...] per the author - Dr.Sears. [Mine was measured @ 5.4 and 4.4 with a TG/HDL ratio of 1.5 and 1.07 so you can see that indeed it is an excellent "indirect marker"] ______________ ________________ I wanted to pass on to you an example of "current thinking" regarding Lipid Profile Tests and their interpretation. The "standard" cholesterol test has been around for some time but HOW the data is interpreted has been constantly evolving. **** In a nutshell - lately much thinking regarding this has come into agreement with none other than what our wonderful leader Dr.Sears has been saying for some time ! **************************************** [excerpt of abstract of study] Regarding the lipid ratio, it is apparent from Framingham Study data that coronary heart disease (CHD) risk is strongly linked to the total/HDL cholesterol ratio—whether or not either the total or the LDL cholesterol level is high.1 A total/HDL cholesterol ratio of 2.5 is, taken alone, highly favorable. William B. Kannel, MD, MPH Professor of Medicine and Public Health Boston University School of Medicine Boston [end of excerpt] Further research is revealing that when the RATIO OF TOTAL CHOLESTEROL TO HDL CHOLESTEROL is tracked it has turned out to be a far more accurate predictor of future heart disease. There are those in the field of cardiology who say this ratio is the single most important factor in a lipid profile and predictor of future cardiac health. ****** Something Dr.Sears professed a number of years ago.**** Here are additional and more comprehensive and more current research findings on this : http://www.all-about-lowering-cholesterol.com/cholesterol-level-scale.html • Cholesterol level scale – Cholesterol ratios. Blood Cholesterol Ratios _ ------ ----- Total Cholesterol / HDL Protective: Less than 4.2; Warning:4.3 and higher LDL / HDL :Protective: Less than 2.5; Warning:2.6 and higher In Protein Power, by Michael and Mary Eades, they write that this ratio of HDL to LDL and total cholesterol, is actually more important then total cholesterol in predicting heart attack, heart disease, stroke, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, coronary artery disease and other cardiovascular diseases. These numbers help tell us whether more cholesterol is being stored in our cells or else is being broken down and removed from our body. That's why you can see heart attacks in people that have low total cholesterol levels. Their ratio HDL is low as well, and as a result their ratio is high. To determine these ratios for yourself, simply divide your total cholesterol and LDL numbers by your HDL number. The ratios of TOTAL CHOLESTEROL TO HDL should be below 4 as a general rule for both men and women. HOWEVER: A VERY GOOD RATIO IS 3.5, EXCELLENT IS 3.0 AND FANTASTIC IS 2.6. If you can get your TOTAL CHOLESTEROL TO HDL ratio down between 2.4 and 2.8, you can actually experience a REVERSAL of heart disease. [END OF QUOTE ] "...this ratio of HDL to LDL and total cholesterol, is actually more important then total cholesterol in predicting heart attack, heart disease, stroke, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, coronary artery disease and other cardiovascular diseases. ..." ********************************************************* The list of above diseases ALL have something in common : INFLAMMATION EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY LED TO THEIR OCCURANCE. [ Mine is 2.66 - and I thank the Zone Eating Plan for that and often remember Barry Sears in my prayers.] ... from the "IDEAL" ZONE E.Wally ewally@verizon.net |
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Shari  Posts:75
 Aspiring
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| 08/08/2008 4:17 PM |
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Wow! You're all so responsive and helpful. Many thanks. My last lipid profile was done in 2/08. I am familiar with the ratios from reading Protein Power a few years ago. Here are the numbers: Total: 251 HDL: 77 LDL: 145 Trigs: 144 I plan to have another lipid profile done after I've been on this program for about 30 days and since I'm due for a physical about then anyway. Interestingly, in '04 when I gave up on the low-fat way of eating and followed more of a good-carb, sugar-free whole-foods eating program, my TG/HDL ratio went from 1.56 to 0.74 (my trigs at that time were 46). I'll be interested to hear your thoughts, E. Wally. Have a great weekend! |
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E.Wally  Posts:271
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| 08/09/2008 11:15 AM |
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&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Shari, I had an appointment yesterday that ran into late last night so I wasn't able to respond until now. I'm going to "do the ratios" of your lipid levels for you with brief comments first then "paste in " some background information regarding these "ratios". I have several documents focusing on cholesterol in general and lipid ratios in particular that I would be happy to attach and send to you. If I posted all of them here I think it might offend some as it would take up considerable space. My email address is : ewally@verizon.net [ also posted below ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *** Before we get started it would be helpful if you could post your typical blood pressure - again RECENT studies are finding that the COMBINATION of blood pressure and lipid levels and ratios are all interrelated more importantly than originally understood. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ As you know our basic cholesterol screening test has been around for some time with little change. Lately there has been some confusion generated among the general public about what the results of this test mean. There is a widespread impression that "it's all changed now" - what was once important is now not, etc.,etc. The "confusion" is simply the result of ongoing research which has revealed that those "basic lipid levels" and more importantly - their RELATIONSHIPS TO ONE ANOTHER - are far more revealing than originally understood and that if you can sum it up [ a dangerous th ing to do where medical research is concerned ] recent advanced thinking is that the RATIOS, and in particular, SPECIFIC RATIOS, are far more important than the specific levels. This is a significant "shift" in fundamental cholesterol analysis. Ironically our very own Dr.Sears was one of the first to recognize this and can be considered a member of this "new frontier" in the interpretation of cholesterol levels. Michael and Mary Eades, authors of Protein Power are also pioneers in this area. Of the many books I have read regarding diet it is one of my favorites and clearly superior. *** In comparing your results with "current thinking" there will be a "mixture" of "current thinking" ! The first values that will be compared against are those of Michael and Mary Eades and William B. Kannel, MD, MPH Professor of Medicine and Public Health, Boston University School of Medicine. There will be "additional" comparative values liste that come from several other studies and researchers. The complete sources of these values are contained in the documents I referred to earlier and will be happy to email to you. Without further adeu : YOUR "RATIOS" : Total cholesterol/HDL : 3.26 This falls between "excellent" < 3.0 and "very good" < 3.5 ***typical "average" ratio : 4.5, "Protective ratio" : < 4.2 as you can see "your" ratio couldn't be much better LDL/HDL : 1.88 Falls well below "Protective" < 2.5 "Ideal" < 2.5, "Desired" < 3.5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *** Refer you back to the quotes from Kannel and Eades above for the importance of these TWO RATIOS. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDL/LDL : *the "reverse" of the last one - don't confuse ! .53, Falls WELL above "Desired" > .3, and "Ideal" > .4 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *** TG/HDL RATIO *** This is the ratio that Dr.Sears has emphasized as being a test "... that your doctor MUST administer ..." and is "..an indirect marker for insulin..." PER DR. SEARS : "Ideal" < 1.0, "Good" < 2.0 YOUR RATIO : 1.87 I have had cholesterol tests evey 6 months for over 10 years and twice had a "fasting insulin" done as part of them. I have found indeed a close relationship between my Total C/HDL ratio and "fasting insulin" and as predicted by Dr.Sears. [ This is just one example of how Dr.Sears and the science behind The Zone concept of nutrition and hormonal balance is "head and shoulders" above the overwhelming majority of other "diets", or whatever you call them. Most of these other "diets" are the half baked concoctions of some quarter baked "nutritionist". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HOW YOUR "LEVELS" COMPARE : *** this is where their has been a clear divergence from the relative importance of "levels" to, currently, "ratios". TOTAL CHOLESTEROL : You - 251, "Desired" < 200 Here is a shining example of EXACTLY what Kannel in above referenced study - was studying [excerpt of abstract of study] Regarding the lipid ratio, it is apparent from Framingham Study data that coronary heart disease (CHD) risk is strongly linked to the total/HDL cholesterol ratio—whether or not either the total or the LDL cholesterol level is high.1 A total/HDL cholesterol ratio of 2.5 is, taken alone, highly favorable. ... [ end of excerpt] He was studying a "relationship" that had been observed for some time that had puzzled medical professsionals, that is, the inconsistency whereby people with what were considered to be highly elevated levels of TOTAL CHOLESTEROL - had little, if any, incidence of heart disease - and - vice versa. YOUR TOTAL CHOLESTEROL is "above desired" but your "ratios" are excellent. The complete abstract of the study this comes from can be found at : http://www.consultantlive.com/display/article/10162/37244 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDL : You - 77, "Desired" > 40, "Best" > 60 LDL : You - 145, "Desired" < 100 TG : You - 144, "Desired" 30 - 175, "Best" < 150 YOU are a perfect example of someone who by "traditional cholesterol analysis" of just a few years ago - and by some practitioners TODAY who are not "up on the latest research" would by at least a few of your "levels" be a concern. However, when you consider your "levels" [ some of them ] against the background of current thinking regarding key ratios, and in particular that prescribed by Dr.Sears, a considerably different picture emerges - that is, that overall your ratios are quite excellent ! *** A serious note needs to go here : I consider myself well informed in this area, however, I AM NOT a health care professional and you should take this into your consideration. This is why, among other reasons, I almost always reference my sources clearly. You, or anyone else, can evaluate for yourself the validity of the data and opinions of others provided here. ** I consider my last cardiologist and present one to both be among the best and would be happy to refer you to them. Of course I have no idea of where you are so this may not be much help if you are in California - for example ! However - one of the links below will take you to the web site of a Dr.Sinatra who is quite remarkable in a number of ways, among them, he has a number of email bulletins and subscriptions to bulletins regarding health, nutrition, and cardiac care [ he's a board certified cardiologist and certified nutritionalist - rare ] that are excellent. His website alone contains a wealth of information. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- you wrote : I plan to have another lipid profile done after I've been on this program for about 30 days and since I'm due for a physical about then anyway. Interestingly, in '04 when I gave up on the low-fat way of eating and followed more of a good-carb, sugar-free whole-foods eating program, my TG/HDL ratio went from 1.56 to 0.74 (my trigs at that time were 46). I'll be interested to hear your thoughts [ end of excerpt ] Yes - it will be MOST interesting to see where you are by a current test ! I'm most intrigued by : in '04 when I gave up on the low-fat way of eating and followed more of a good-carb, sugar-free whole-foods eating program, my TG/HDL ratio went from 1.56 to 0.74 It seems your TG/HDL ratio has been "all over the place" while your LDL has remained constantly high ? What was the "diet" if it was a "formulated" one that you ended up with that result of that ratio with ? *** Also - from all that has gone before I think you realize it is dangerous to take that ONE RATIO out of context with all your other ratios and levels - and what THEY were doing at the same time. Hope this helps ... ... from the "CARDIAC" ZONE e.Wally ewally@verizon.net "CHOLESTEROL INFORMATION LINKS OF INTEREST : http://www.md-phc.com/education/cholest.html#cholesterol http://www.consultantlive.com/display/article/10162/37244 Dr.Sinatra.com http://www.drsinatra.com/c/landing_cholhc.asp |
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 08/09/2008 11:24 AM |
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Nice analysis, E.Wally! In addition, the cholesterol molecules that she does have are likely those "fluffy beach ball" molecules that Dr. Sears speaks of in the OmegaRx Zone. These molecules are NOT the ones that contribute to heart disease. |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Sue K  Posts:8674
 Zone Expert

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| 08/09/2008 2:42 PM |
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Hi Shari,
In case you're not aware of this, triglyceride and cholesterol levels do not show one's inflammation levels nor are they used to determine one's fish oil dose (your original question in this thread). |
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sue
Lost 100 lbs 14 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!
To view my before/after pics and meal photos scroll over this picture and click when the link appears.
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Shari  Posts:75
 Aspiring
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| 08/09/2008 3:44 PM |
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Wow! I'm still trying to digest all of this great information, E.Wally. Many thanks. I haven't had time to peruse the articles yet, but I plan to in the very near future. Your comments are consistent with what I've been thinking all along. To answer your questions: My blood pressure is always very good. 3/25/08 reading: 110/70. 5/28/08 reading: 116/68. The diet I was following quite strictly in '04 was the Suzanne Somers plan where you eat fruit alone, then wait 20 minutes before a carb meal and 1 hour before a protein meal. There's no limit to the amount of protein and fat you eat, and I was consuming quite a bit of heavy cream and cream cheese during the first few months of being on that plan. I tapered off with that after a while, however. Another big rule is that you don't combine protein and carbs while on level 1. On level 2 (maintenance), you can combine protein and carbs. At that point, it becomes a lot like SugarBusters or South Beach. Whole foods, whole grains, no sugar. So far it seems like combining the food groups as we do in the Zone works much better for me in terms of weight loss and hunger control and hopefully a lower LDL as time goes on; although, it appears that may not be all that important. I think that answers your questions. Thanks again to all of you for all of the great info! I'm 48 years old (almost!), weigh about 140, have never had cardiac problems or seen a cardiologist. However, my internist encourages going on statins to lower my LDL, and I refuse to do that. I avoid prescriptions meds if at all possible. He knows where I stand on that issue and has never really pushed it. Thanks again! |
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Sue K  Posts:8674
 Zone Expert

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| 08/09/2008 7:43 PM |
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| You're welcome Shari! |
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sue
Lost 100 lbs 14 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!
To view my before/after pics and meal photos scroll over this picture and click when the link appears.
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 08/10/2008 12:28 PM |
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Shari, Sue said: "In case you're not aware of this, triglyceride and cholesterol levels do not show one's inflammation levels nor are they used to determine one's fish oil dose (your original question in this thread)." You can get a really good idea regarding your level of inflammation using the information that you have already posted. Also, you can easily start your fish oil dosing at the "standard dose" and then adjust your dosage according to the Eicosanoid Status Report", which is printed in the OmegaRX Zone. There may also be a copy on www.drsears.com. If you have trouble finding it, let me know. |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 08/10/2008 10:24 PM |
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Sue, Perhaps you don't recall, but we discussed this on a few other threads already. The "zone-related source" that I DEPEND ON for fish oil recommendations is the OmegaRX Zone. This book was written SPECIFICALLY for this topic. Unlike the Anti-Inflammation Zone, which covers the Zone more broadly, the OmegaRx Zone is much more detailed on the subject. Please refer to chapter 9 entitled "Your Blood Will Tell the Future". It is all in there. Starting on page 95 is a really nice summary: Step 1: establish a baseline measurement of TG/HDL and fasting insulin levels Step 2: repeat these tests in a month Step 3: (please note that this is step 3, and not step 1 or 2) AA/EPA test can be done for those who want laserlike pinpointing of eicosanoid levels. Also, on the same page, is a chart to use, to determine your state of wellness based on one's blood levels. Please note that the AA/EPA is not the only test listed in this table. The TG/HDL and the fasting insulin are also used to determine one's state of wellness. On page 97, he states that if you have trouble getting the AA/EPA test, you can use your TG/HDL ratio to determine if you need to take more fish oil (WHAT? seems to me that is suggesting that there are ALTERNATIVES to the AA/EPA). Then, on page 98, you can also use the Eicosanoid Status Report. This set of questions, along with the information that you have gathered from the TG/HDL and fasting insulin, should be adequate to help one adjust fish oil...without breaking the bank! Here is the link to the ESR found on www.drsears.com: http://drsears.com/portals/6/Documents/Eicosanoid%20Status%20Report.doc The AA/EPA test is very expensive. Taking fish oil is expensive enough, without adding to it the expense of doing this test. Of course, it is fine if you desire pinpoint accuracy, as Sears suggests. I certainly would not begrudge anyone who wants to do the test. Just basically suggesting that in most cases, one will not need to add this expensive test to their regime. |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 08/10/2008 10:36 PM |
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Shari, Just in case you are wondering, your blood levels would suggest that you are in pretty good shape. You could start with the standard dose of fish oil, and then use the Eicosanoid Status report to fine-tune your adjustments, if needed. You could also request a repeat lipid panel, a month after starting. However, I don't know if you would get that paid by insurance, so you might be footing the bill on the second test. If you want, you could do the AA/EPA test, but just note that it will cost you about $300 per test, and if you need to fine-tune, then that is another $300. Realistically, from the information posted in this thread, I believe that you can figure out where you are without the expense. |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Sue K  Posts:8674
 Zone Expert

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| 08/11/2008 7:36 AM |
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Thanks. You've given general info about wellness, but my questions are specifically about your statement that one can discern one's inflammation level from the kind of info Shari has posted here. I'm also surprised that you seem to be disregarding the most up to date info that Barry's written on the subject of the AA/EPA (SIP) test in "The Anti Inflammation Zone", which was written several years after the book you refer to. And my question for you still is as follows(pasted in from my post above) Could you be so kind as to expand on this in relation to the Zone and actual AA/EPA levels? I'm interested to know how Shari (or anyone for that matter) can get a "really good idea" of their inflammation levels from the info she's posted. I'd also appreciate if you could direct us to a Zone related source that further detail this information. I'd especially be interested to know of a source where Barry Sears explains how to determine that your AA/EPA level is in the ideal 1.5 to 3 range by looking at your cholesterol, triglyceride and blood pressure readings (this is the info Shari posted). I'm sure that many other forum members would probably also find this info to be of great help. Thanks! |
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sue
Lost 100 lbs 14 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!
To view my before/after pics and meal photos scroll over this picture and click when the link appears.
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 08/11/2008 9:47 AM |
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Sue, Tell me more about what YOU think wellness is? If you want more specific information regarding what I posted, perhaps you should read the book! Cheers! |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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E.Wally  Posts:271
 Zoner

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| 08/11/2008 5:03 PM |
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Shari, You are welcome - I am glad to have helped someone with very similar inconsistencies in blood lipid levels. And I have even more good news for you : In an attempt to focus on the "issue at hand" and not bring unnecessary data into view I DID NOT quote the abstract of the research by Kannel in full [ but I did leave the link which I will leave again to the COMPLETE article : http://www.consultantlive.com/display/article/10162/37244 Here is part "of the part" I left out : ... blood lipids, ... fundamental to atherogenesis,... impact is profoundly influenced by the associated blood pressure. Atherosclerosis does not develop in the low-pressure venous circulation, despite exposure to lipid-laden blood. Only when used as a conduit for cardiac revascularization do veins become vulnerable. ******* [not author's emphasis ] Each 20/10 mm Hg increment in blood pressure ******* doubles the cardiovascular mortality rate. ******** Diabetes also doubles the risk associated with any given lipid value. [END OF EXCERPT] GUESS WHAT THE TITLE OF THE ARTICLE IS ? Treatment Dilemma: Favorable Lipid Ratio With an Elevated LDL Can you believe that ? [ time to follow the link - I think ! ] There, for free of charge, you can get the opinion of one of the most respected researchers in this field - in the world. [Google his name, c WILLIAM B. KANNEL, M.D., M.P.H., and follow a FEW of the many links that will appear and you will see what I mean ] ---------------------------------------- MY BP is about identical with yours : "low normal" and sometimes runs even lower. This had been a concern of mine for some time as EVERYTHING ELSE was responding quite nicely to my "rehabilitation program" following the heart incident and also to the Zone Eating Plan. Although my cardiologist [ who has been featured on 20/20 and Nightline ] didn't quote Dr.Kannel one day when I expressed my dismay about the "low" BP he made it very clear that BP and heart disease rose almost identically - for a number of reasons and that I should be thrilled rather than disappointed my BP was where it was. At the time he said that just "small increases in BP" are very troubling and a concern. *** Did you note the LOGARITHMEC INCREASE IN CARDIAC DISEASE AND ONLY SMALL INCREASES IN BP as mentioned above ? !!!! Especially the "multiplying" factor of DIABETES !!!! No wonder cardiologists freak when you are diabetic with high BP !! -------------------------------- you wrote : So far it seems like combining the food groups as we do in the Zone works much better for me in terms of weight loss and hunger control and hopefully a lower LDL as time goes on; although, it appears that may not be all that important. -------- That wouldn't surprise me - no offense but The Zone Eating Plan came/comes from a whole different place than the "diets" mentioned. That is - it came from a scientific study to attempt to control diabetic’s insulin levels through diet alone. Remarkably it succeeded where numerous others had failed. It did this by the use of diet alone, and a diet that combined the things someone eats every day - not specially obtained or prepared even - in a relatively simple combination anyone could follow that resulted in their insulin lever being maintained in a - are you ready? - "ZONE" - not too high, not too low. Now the important part for you and me who are NOT diabetic : It was found that by regulating ANYONE'S insulin level in such a manner - produced NUMEROUS, WIDESPREAD, AND PROFOUND HEALTH BENEFITS. A mere "side effect" of these numerous positive results was [ drum roll please ] weight loss ! In almost all cases gradual effective permanent [ if you stay on the Zone Eating Plan ] weight loss. As you can see - The Zone "Diet" [ and I hate to use that word] is coming from exactly opposite where all but a very, very, very, very, very, few other "diets" that work long term do. MANY diets when you understand what is going on are "cheap half assed rip offs" of the Zone concepts. Susan Sommers - from what I understand - had someone "design" a diet and attached her name to it for compensation. She may have been sincere in attempting to help others but she is hardly a scientific researcher. Dr. Sears is a very respected member of the Boston academic, and, research and development community. That is not to say her "diet" couldn't be relatively "sensible" and work at least for some - let's leave that out of it - it's water over the dam. Many consider the Atkins Diet a "modified Zone Diet" - myself included. Compared to "the diet of the month" diets it's actually not bad. Atkins, others consider, was clever in taking the Zone and instead of CONSTANTLY regulating carbohydrates the same way from day 1 - TOTALLY ELIMINATING THEM - then GRADUALLY [ for good reason ] re-introducing them. This SIMPLIFIED the diet for the "newbie" and MORE IMPORTANTLY - led to even greater INITIAL WEIGHT LOSS. Atkins also from day 1 aggressively and effectively marketed "the diet" as opposed to Dr.Sears who first approached the medical community - and found out they weren’t' interested. Also remember that Atkins died of his own diet. ---------------------------------------------- I can't suggest strongly enough the value of obtaining at least a few of the Zone books if you haven't already - if you were to ask you would find that all the forum "responders" that graciously answer your questions most likely have all of them and re read many - many times. Much of it is very interesting as to your and my's biochemistry. After reading into the scientific underpinnings of The Zone to any degree, like me, the meaning of "diet" as most of the diet industry" uses it will clearly be recognized as the FOUR LETTER WORD - that it is. ---------------------------------------------------------- you wrote : However, my internist encourages going on stations to lower my LDL, and I refuse to do that. I avoid prescriptions meds if at all possible. ---------------- Just what I mentioned about the "shift" in importance of "lipid levels" to "lipid ratios" in the view of health care professionals. Just as I said originally - "at least some of your lipid levels would be a concern to at least some health care professionals in relation to the historic perception of their importance" - to my cardiologist and Dr Kannel it wouldn't be a care at all. You have to understand that research in this area is a HUGE and ONGOING ENDEAVOR - and is constantly marching forward. The way it "filters down" to you and I IS NOT an "even" or even regulated thing. People like Kannel study something for YEARS and throughout that time publish various "papers", "abstracts", "studies", etc., etc., etc., for "peer review". Slowly but surely others at lower levels pick up this "new" knowledge but at VERY IRREGULAR INTERVALS AND IMPLEMENT IT VERY UNEVENLY at a pace totally up to the individual. You could very well have two different cardiologists in the same building with considerably different views on how to specifically treat something. EVENTUALLY - as something comes to be "ACCEPTED" - consistency occurs in treatment. This is a primary reason why I have educated myself as to how nutrition works on a scientific level and stay abreast of all the recent developments as much as possible through numerous medical journals and web sites that are available to anyone. I don't take anyone's word for anything. I might have a strong opinion on something but unlike the overwhelming majority of others - I can support it. My take on the elevated LDL in view of "current research" is to follow Kannel's thinking for now [ not attempt to treat it with drugs] and see what, if any effect, the Zone will have on it. Now - hopefully not to confuse you but recently the cardiology world has pretty much agreed on a new found benefit of - statins - BESIDES lowering cholesterol. It has been found that the use of statins ALSO has an "overall" protective effect on arterial health ! This is NOT the same thing as what they were designed to do. They are beneficial to the health of the interior lining of arteries IN ADDITION to lowering cholesterol. My cardiologist has me on two statins - used to be just one - the second one was added specifically for the "secondary benefits" of "artery protection". Some are better at it than others. Not all statins give the same amount of protection. I am on a very low dose of it because we are not looking for cholesterol reduction so a very low dose will accomplish this. He introduced this to me several years ago - it is only now "catching up" with the general population of cardiologists. Sleep well tonight knowing someone with a little scientific knowledge behind them - as in a "boatload" - thinks the LDL is no big deal, and as your cardiac health goes you may be "strong as an ox". ... from the "END"ZONE E.Wally ewally@verizon.net |
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Elias  Posts:93
 Aspiring
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| 08/12/2008 7:36 PM |
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Sue, I was reading through this thread (here we go again). I am also interested in learning about what your definition of wellness is. I have read the Anti-Inflammation Zone, and it starts out with a chapter on wellness. Anyway, I would like to know why you don't associate wellness with the absence of silent inflammation? |
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Sue K  Posts:8674
 Zone Expert

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| 08/12/2008 8:20 PM |
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Elias, I made no comments in this thread on whether or not I associate wellness with the absence of silent inflammation. I am making the point that a person cannot determine whether their AA/EPA is in the ideal range of 1.5 to 3 from their cholesterol, triglyceride and blood pressure readings. |
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sue
Lost 100 lbs 14 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!
To view my before/after pics and meal photos scroll over this picture and click when the link appears.
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 08/13/2008 10:04 PM |
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Sue, I noticed that you had not replied to my question... I thought that it would be appropriate to continue this discussion on the thread that you started, when you started out asking everyone to post whether or not they have had the SIP done. However, I can't seem to find the thread now. Can you post a link of it for me? Or, just post a new post there so that I see it on my "unread" list? Thanks. |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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ActiveForums 3.6
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Dr. Barry Sears is a leading authority on the dietary control of hormonal response. A former research scientist at the Boston University School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Sears has dedicated his research efforts over the past 30 years to the study of lipids. He holds 13 U.S. Patents in the areas of intravenous drug delivery systems and hormonal regulation for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
A turning point in his research occurred in 1982. That year, the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded for discoveries of the role that specialized hormones, known as eicosanoids, play in the development of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, auto-immune diseases, and cancer. Since eicosanoids are only generated from dietary fat, Dr. Sears reasoned that one could apply intravenous drug delivery principles to nutrition in order to control these exceptionally powerful hormonal responses with laser-like precision. In essence, his approach treats food as if it were a drug.
This area of his research led to various patents in the area of hormonal control by essentially using food as an oral drug delivery system to modulate eicosanoids especially for cardiovascular, diabetic, and neurological patients.
The impact of Dr. Sears’ revolutionary work in the dietary control of hormonal response began with the publication of his landmark book, The Zone. Since its publication in June 1995, The Zone has sold more than 2,000,000 hardcover copies, and became a #1 best seller on the New York Times book list. In addition, The Zone has been translated into 22 languages indicating a worldwide response to Dr. Sears’ research. His second book, Mastering the Zone, published in 1997, also became a New York Times bestseller with hardcover sales in excess of 500,000 copies to date. His third book, Zone Perfect Meals in Minutes, published in 1997, quickly became one of the best-selling cookbooks of 1997 and an another New York Times bestseller. The Anti-Aging Zone was published in 1999 and provides the molecular insights into how the Zone Diet can reverse the aging process. The Omega Rx Zone, published in 2002, explores the molecular foundation of chronic disease and how high-dose fish oil can dramatically reverse it. His latest book The Anti-Inflammation Zone discusses how to combat silent inflammation in order to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and many other inflammatory conditions—and how to reverse these conditions if they are already present. To date more than 5 million hardcover copies of his Zone books have been sold in the United States.
His research has elevated food from more than simply a source of calories to being recognized as an exceptionally powerful drug. Because of his revolutionary research, Dr. Sears has been a frequent guest on many national programs such as 20/20, Today, Good Morning America, CBS Morning News, CNN, and MSNBC.
Dr. Sears continues his ongoing research as President of Zone Labs, a biotechnology company in Danvers, MA as well as the President of the non-profit Inflammation Research Foundation in Marblehead, MA. In addition to continuing research on the hormonal effects of food, Dr. Sears has expanded his research in developing innovative dietary approaches to treating cancer and neurological conditions, as well as his on-going work in treating cardiovascular diease and type 2 diabetes.
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I have been taking the Fish Oil for over 3 years now. I am 44 playing hockey and working out. The Fish oil helps with the pain that I get from playing hockey. It greatly enhances my performance on the ice and while working out. I have noticed a big difference in my energy, attentiveness and memory. If I miss a day for whatever reason, I notice a huge difference and it feels like something is missing. Anyway that is my short little story and it comes from the heart.
– Carter B.
I am a nutritionist and Ph.D. doctor of health and nutrition. For Dr. Sears to figure out balancing fat, carbs and protein, is really beyond brilliant. It is a milestone in diet history. I go over people's diet/emotional journals. Mostly all the time, we discover that the fatigue, irritability, unstable emotions were due to the imbalance in their diet. Using the Zone to balance them out, helps control weight, roller coaster emotions and gives them energy. Dr. Sears is so right when he says food is medicine. He has figured out the most powerful drug combination going, called The Zone.
Best and healthy wishes,
– Elaine W., Ph.D., N.C., M.A.
I have a very exhausting job as a flight attendant. I read the "Omega Rx Zone" about 4 years ago and started taking the fish oil. I am 47 and have been flying for 22 years. I am very active, I run and lift weights. But combining lack of regular sleep, a physically demanding job, and irregular eating patterns this job takes a toll on the body. Since taking the fish oil, I have noticed that I do not get exhausted. I get tired, but not exhausted. I stopped taking it for a couple of months and then started taking another company's fish oil. I started getting exhausted again. I came back to Zone Labs and will continue with the fish oil for the rest of my life. I believe in the product and it makes a huge difference in my life. It makes a difference with my running as well. I also bring the bars and shakes with me on the road. It is almost impossible to eat the way I should at work. I haven't found the right secret. At least I have my Zone fish oil, bars, and shakes.
– Kathryn S.
I have been in the Zone, for about 1 month now. I wanted to share with you how wonderful I think this program is. I have been a personal trainer for almost 10 years and actively compete in numerous athletic activities. The Zone program has helped me to achieve a better awareness of my nutritional needs and the results I have seen are amazing! I have lost nearly 13 lbs since I have been in the Zone. I feel more mentally alert, more focused at work, have greater intensity during my training, have made significant strength gains, and just feel better over all. With that said, I would like to thank you for helping me in my quest for "super-health"!
Thank you!
– Rob Y.
I read 'The Zone' and as exactly as I could followed the advice for diet. I noted weight loss progress. Over six months, I lost 33 pounds. One year has passed since then. I have maintained the new weight, guided always by Zone concepts. The Zone is powerful - I have found it fantastic and I am very grateful to Dr Sears.
– Lyn S.
Before I stumbled across the Zone I was weighing close to two hundred pounds and I was depressed. I used to be a gymnast as a young man. I would think, "look at me now," when I looked in a mirror. The day I found 'The Zone' book, I was intrigued and as I read it the science made sense and so, I began to follow the "treatment". I began to lose weight and I was feeling way more energetic. I am forty two years old, I am very active and my weight is down to 162 lbs, 38 pounds lost on the Zone. I cycle, walk, jog, swim and I can now perform some of the more simple gymnastic skills I did twenty years ago...I literally feel like I have turned back the clock.
Thank you!
– Jack J.
I have been on the Zone diet for 7 years. I did not go on the diet to lose weight necessarily; but fairly quickly I lost 25 pounds, going from 190 to 165; from a 36-inch waist to a 32-inch waist. I primarily did the Zone to live healthier. My health is excellent now. I just turned 62 years old. My Zone is my eating lifestyle now; I seldom stray; and I do not miss anything. It is The Good Life.
– Curtis Y.
My wife's doctor told her to read "Enter the Zone" and to do the diet, so I told her I would do it with her. After only one week on the plan we went on a strenuous hike (the first of the year), and when we stopped at our favorite coffee shop on the way home I was able to get out of the car and stand upright and walk into the place without pain or stiffness. The Zone had eliminated all the inflammation that had always forced me to stumble all humped over into the coffee shop any time we skied or hiked all day.
Thank you, Doctor Sears.
– Larry C.
I used to have a lot of knee pain when I walked or ran. I have been taking Omega Rx for almost a year now, and rarely have any pain. I believe it is the anti-inflammation action of the oil. I feel smarter as well. Thanks for developing such a superior oil!
– Joe W.
Prior to following the Zone Diet, my body fat was around 15% and my weight around 153 pounds. No matter what I did, my weight and body fat did not change much. I regularly cycled 20-30 hours per week logging well over 400 miles. That had little impact on body fat or weight. Diet also seemed to have little impact on body fat or weight. Within a couple of months of following the zone diet, my weight dropped rather quickly to 142 pounds and body fat to about 8%. I still regularly cycle up to 20 hours per week (during the summer). I have also started strength training. I eat about 16 blocks per day. I take 3.6 grams of fish oil per day, along with Vitamin E, Alpha Lipoic Acid, CoQ10, and B & C vitamins. I also take GLA, which in my opinion, has significantly reduced fatigue and improved recovery times after exercise.
– Jeremy S.
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All polyphenols have antioxidant properties than can be measured by their Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC), but not all polyphenols have anti-inflammatory properties. The polyphenols in Dr. Sears’ Zone Polyphenol Plus have been carefully chosen to have both.
Polyphenols are the phytochemicals that not only give fruits and vegetables their color, but also help regulate inflammation. In addition, polyphenols also activate the key enzyme (AMP kinase) that helps restore cellular ATP levels. Polyphenols also help regulate the activation of inducible inflammatory proteins (such as COX-2 and inflammatory cytokines).
There are more than 4,000 known polyphenols, and the richest sources are fruits and vegetables. In general, the more color a fruit or vegetable has, the richer the polyphenol content.
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Zone Labs’ Ultra Refined Omega-3 Concentrates are three times fresher and contain less than 1/10th the mercury than what is allowed by the Norwegian Medicinal Standard and European Pharmacopoeia Standard
Zone Labs adheres to the International Fish Oil Standard (IFOS), an independent third party validated laboratory quality standard that is more rigid than any other global standard for purity.
- No company in the worlds runs more tests with IFOS than Zone Labs
- Zone Labs receives a 5 out of 5 star IFOS rating for every batch it tests
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| Standard |
IFOS Standard for a 5-Star Ranking |
Council for Responsible Nutrition |
European Pharmacopeia |
Norwegian Medicinal Standards |
| Peroxide |
< 3.75 meg/kg |
5 meg/kg |
10 meg/kg |
10 meg/kg |
| Totox Levels |
< 20 meg/kg |
26 meg/kg |
NA |
NA |
| Lead |
< 10 ppb |
10 ppb |
100 ppb |
100 ppb |
| Mercury |
< 10 ppb |
10 ppb |
100 ppb |
100 ppb |
| Dioxans and Furans |
< 1 ppt |
2 ppt |
2 ppt |
2 ppt |
| PCBs |
< 45 ppb |
90 ppb |
NA |
NA |
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"IFOS – THE TOP GLOBAL PURITY STANDARD FOR OMEGA-3 FROM FISH"
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Zone Labs products show no detectable lead or mercury when tested down to 10ppb, which is 10 times below the Norwegian Medicinal Standard and European Pharmacopoeia Standard limits.
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Zone Labs products are three times fresher than the minimum allowed by the Norwegian Medicinal Standard and European Pharmacopoeia Standards (based on average peroxide values).
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Zone Labs starts with only wild, small fish from pristine Chilean waters and ends with proprietary validation and testing processes to achieve an IFOS certified 5 star rating.
8-Step Manufacturing Process - Quality Assured
Testing to specification all raw materials, bulk products, packaging material and finished products – always using stringent internal standards and in-process testing.
- Extraction of fish oil
- Winterization – remove limited amounts of saturated fats
- Absorption – remove heavy metals
- Preliminary Molecular Distillation – refining “touch up” to reduce contaminants
- Oil conversion to ethyl esters
- Ethyl ester thermal fractionation – remove additional saturated fats
- True Molecular Distillation – final refining to remove pcb’s and long-chain monoenes
- Rigid Processes – proprietary validation, inspection and encapsulation methods. Independent lab verification of IFOS requirements and certified 5 star rating
No farmed fish. No large fish. Pristine waters.
Zone Labs starts with wild sardines & anchovies fished from cold, pristine waters off of South America where there are less environmental impurities.
A recommended serving of Zone Labs Ultra-Refined Concentrates delivers 8 times more omega-3’s than a typical retail fish oil supplement.
Most fish oil supplements have 30% or less of the healthy omega-3s EPA and DHA, with the remaining 70% of the capsule containing unbeneficial, lesser refined fatty acids that contribute to their bad taste and gastric side effects.
Getting a clinically valid dose of omega-3’s is easy with Zone Labs’ Ultra-Refined Omega-3 Concentrates.
Typical Retail Dose = 300mg omega-3
Standard Zone Dose = 2400mg omega-3
A serving of canned tuna has 12 times less omega-3’s than
Zone Labs Ultra-Refined Omega-3 Concentrates
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Commonly consumed fish and shellfish in the United States
Mercury Source: Food and Drug Administration, FDA 1900-2004, “National Marine Fisheries Service Survey of Trace Elements in the Fishery Resource". Omega-3 Level Source: American Heart Association Website.
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Mercury level
in parts per million (ppm) |
Omega-3 fatty acids
(milligrams per 3-oz. serving) |
| Zone Omega-3 Products |
< 0.01 |
2400 (standard 4 capsule serving |
| Salmon (fresh, frozen) |
0.014 |
1200 |
| Flounder or sole |
0.050 |
480 |
| Pollock |
0.041 |
450 |
| Crab |
0.060 |
400 |
| Scallops |
0.050 |
290 |
| Shrimp |
ND* |
290 |
| Catfish |
0.050 |
270 |
| Clams |
ND* |
250 |
| Cod |
0.095 |
210 |
| Canned Tuna (light) |
0.120 |
200 |
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Zone Labs’ leading product. OmegaRx delivers all of the benefits of Zone Labs’ ultra-refined omega-3 concentrates.
Advantages
- Delivers clinically proven health benefits from the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA*
- Promotes a healthy heart, healthy brain, healthy immune system, healthy circulatory system, healthy joints, healthy moods, healthy triglyceride levels and a healthy pregnancy*
- Combats silent inflammation
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