204 of 206 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Omega-3 fish oil-Irish experience, 29 Nov 2001
By Dr. Edmond OFlaherty - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Omega-3 Connection: The Groundbreaking Omega-3 Antidepression Diet and Brain Program (Hardcover)
I first became interested in omega-3 when I read Andrew Stoll`s article in Archives of General Psychiatry in May 99.I tried it on a patient with bipolar disorder who had intractable OCD-she worried about Aids all day long.In just a few days her OCD improved dramatically,she stopped smoking,slept well and became quite relaxed.I then read everything I could find on the subject and found Donald Rudin an interesting writer.I was delighted to see Dr Stoll had written this book and have read it a few times.I have enjoyed it more than most novels and it has been very helpful to many of my patients.I have found omega-3 useful too for several other indications,including agoraphobia,alcoholism,drug abuse,sexual abuse,schizophrenia,anxiety,depression,insomnia and withdrawal from benzodiazepines.It has opened a whole new world for me in the treatment of mental illness.Because I have been interviewed on Irish radio many people here take omega-3 and find it takes the edge off the stress of everyday living.
282 of 292 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What to expect from this book, 7 April 2002
By Lorenzo1 "Common Sense Engineer" - Published on Amazon.com
Here just enough to whet your appetite.
The introduction tells several success stories and He says that many studies
show it is advantages to help with heart disease, arthritis and depression
type problems.
Chapter One; Seeking a new treatment for Bi-polar disorder
(manic-depressive) that would be similar to the known substances but without
their problems hundreds of papers came up with a molecule of Omega 3 or fish
Oil! Furthermore that Omega 3 is important to brain function and that
several Hospitals are investigating its effects.
Chapter Two; Discusses fat and oil. Significantly that Japanese with the
low rates of heart disease live in fishing villages, but the Japanese living
in farming villages suffer higher rates. And of course the Eskimos have
little heart disease. Stoll writes that the ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 is
1:1 in primitive cultures; But maybe 20:1 or 40 :1 in America. In other
words We eat too much 6 and not enough 3.
Chapter Three: Anthropology claims that of the varieties of two million
year old homonid ancestors those that ate meat and fish developed greater
brain power and tools. A diet rich in fish helped the brain develop and
during the last hundred years the brain has become smaller! I wonder where
the idea that fish is brain food came from?
Chapter Four: Omega 6 feeds Cancer, Omega 3 slows it down. Omega 3
consumption helps people lose weight.
Chapter Five: Both Baby and Mother suffer from a lack of Omega 3.
Chapter Six. Those suffering from depression have low levels of Omega 3.
Chapter Seven: A clinical trial shows significant improvement in patients
taking fish oil.
Chapter Eight. Under stress Students taking fish oil were less aggressive
than those on Soy oil.
Chapter Nine; Children and rats both suffering from Attention deficiency
disorder are found to have low levels of Omega 3.
Chapter Ten: Tests in England and India show Omega 3 helps some
schizophrenic individuals and if used with vitamins results may be better.
Chapter Eleven: Mice and Rats have better memory on Omega 3.
Chapter Twelve: There have been twenty studies of St. John's Wort done in
Germany. It should be used under Medical supervision.
Chapter Thirteen: What to eat. More fruits, vegetables and fish. Farm
raised fish from Europe have more Omega 3 than those raised in America.
Chapter Fourteen: Fish oil comes in various strengths of Omega 3, some may
be deficient. Flaxseed, purslane, walnut and perilla among others contain a
type of Omega 3, maybe not as good as fish. It is essential to take
anti-oxidants (Vitamins).
Grapes contain reservatol, Coenzyme Q10 is found in spinach, peanuts and
sardines.
Chapter Fifteen: Recipes followed by tables of useful herbs and sources and
references.
Well written book. With far more data than outlined here.
Recommended by this writer.
Lorenzo
80 of 81 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Initially skeptical of omega 3 claims, 17 Feb 2001
By D. Shannon - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Omega-3 Connection: The Groundbreaking Omega-3 Antidepression Diet and Brain Program (Hardcover)
I was initially skeptical of Omega-3 claims as just more hype for the food supplement industry. However I read in a reputable textbook ""Biochemical and Physiological Aspects of Human Nutrition" by Martha H Stephanie that Omega3 fatty acids are now considered "essential fatty acids" and she explained why. Also the 17th edition of the Merck Manual briefly indicates that the EPA and DHA found in fish oils are essential fatty acids and recommends a ratio of 10:1 for omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids in the diet.
Omega 3 fatty acids are essential building blocks for the retina in the eye, nerve tissue, the brain and control details of the proper nutritional balance of cells in the body Since omega 6 is the primary fat in corn, soy, and safflower oils, the typical American diet contains a ratio of 10, 20 or 40 to 1 for omega 6 to omega 3. If you don't have enough omega 3 or if the ratio is too high in omega 6 there can be profound health consequences.
I bought "The Omega-3 Connection" as an authoritative source (Dr Stoll is at the Harvard Medical School" to settle my doubts. After reading this book it I think it may be the most important health book of this year( maybe this century) and is MUST reading for anyone concerned for the health of their children. I sent a copy to each of my daughters so my grandchildren can benefit from this new information.