In a former life I worked for General Nutrition Center (GNC). Up until a couple of years ago, I’d been in the gym for 20 years, I lived, worked and breathed the lifestyle. As a result of this I became very aware of the importance of intelligent supplementation of a few key supplements. Of those supplements, one I ALWAYS recommended to my GNC customers, was an essential fatty acid product, usually something containing a combination of Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids.
Why did I recommend this product? Essential Fatty Acids are well, essential for optimal nutrition. They cannot be produced by the body and therefore have to be obtained from the diet. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish (particularly fatty fish such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon) at least 2 times a week. In the case of pregnant women, nursing mother’s and children, ocean sources of fish should be limited and supplement with certified mercury-free fish oils. Having said that, Finnish authorities believe the benefits greatly outweigh the possible risks. The results of a risk – benefit analysis made by the National Public Health Institute indicate that the health benefits from farmed salmon for humans outweigh the risks by 100:1.
What are the benefits of supplementing with Essential Fatty Acids in particular Omega-3 fatty acids? Extensive research indicates that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and help prevent risk factors associated with chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and arthritis. These essential fatty acids are highly concentrated in the brain and appear to be particularly important for cognitive (brain memory and performance) and behavioral function. In fact, infants who do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids from their mothers during pregnancy are at risk for developing vision and nerve problems. Symptoms of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency include extreme tiredness (fatigue), poor memory, dry skin, heart problems, mood swings or depression, and poor circulation.
What has all of this fat discussion have to do with dogs? As with humans, dogs also require Omega-3 fatty acids to be healthy and has been shown in study after study to improve cardiovascular health (heart) and to help keep your dog’s skin, coat, joints (arthritis) and paws healthy. A Ghent University Study set out to determine the effect of salmon oil supplementation on dogs’ skin, hair and paws. “Out of the test group, 81% reported a positive change in their dog and 18% didn’t perceive any change. Out of the positive changes, 70% had to do with skin/hair problems and 35% with paw problems. Other feedback involved, for instance, food becoming tastier and the brightening of the eyes (?). The positive changes occurred generally 3-4 weeks after the test began”.
Now you might go and look at the ingredients on the dog food bag and say, “hey Jim, my dog gets his Omega 3’s in his dog food”. Well, there might be some Omega 3’s in there, BUT, the manufacturers of dry packaged food does not guarantee that the package is airtight, but does guarantee that the product will keep good in a paper package (so-called multi-layer package) from 12 to 18 months without any synthetically produced preservatives. Of course it is better for the dog’s health that the fats in the food don’t become rancid and therefore it is necessary – especially for long preserved food products – to add strong natural, naturally based or synthetic preservatives and anti-oxidizing agents (the effects on health of these still undecided). But what if the fats have become oxidized even before added to the product? The Chief Medical Officer of the Cancer Society of Finland, Mr. Matti Rauhalahti7, stated in one of his interviews that: “Free radicals are highly reactive molecules produced in digestion that can also damage DNA, and it is precisely this damage to DNA that is a central element contributing to the cancer process”. To the question on whether cancer risk can be reduced through diet, Dr. Rauhalahti answered: “Yes, the risk of cancer can surely be reduced through diet, and it is imperative to underline the diet”.
Should you supplement your dog’s diet with a quality Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil product? Definitely! If you choose to supplement your own diet with an Essential Fatty Acid product, you might want to take yours in capsule form which will be much less stinky!
