Monthly Archives: October 2009

Fish oil makes you happy: Psychological distress and omega-3 index

Posted on October 30, 2009 by Dr. Davis

For another perspective on omega-3 blood levels, here’s an interesting study in northern Quebec Inuits. Traditionally, Inuits consumed large quantities of omega-3-rich seal, fish, caribou, and whale, even eating the fat. However, like the rest of the world, modern Inuits … Continue reading →

Posted in Depression, Fish oil, Omega-3 fatty acids, Omega-3 index | 24 Comments

Hospitals are a hell of a place to get sick

Posted on October 29, 2009 by Dr. Davis

I answered a page from a hospital nurse recently one evening while having dinner with the family. RN: “This is Lonnie. I’m a nurse at _____ Hospital. I’ve got one of your patients here, Mrs. Carole Simpson. She’s here for … Continue reading →

Posted in vitamin D | 19 Comments

Does fish oil cause blood thinning?

Posted on October 27, 2009 by Dr. Davis

Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil have the capacity to “thin the blood.” In reality, omega-3s exert a mild platelet-blocking effect (platelet activation and “clumping” are part of clot formation), while also inhibiting arachidonic acid formation and thromboxane. But can … Continue reading →

Posted in Blood thinning, Fish oil, Omega-3 fatty acids | 19 Comments

Heart Scan Blog readers take impressive doses of omega-3s

Posted on October 24, 2009 by Dr. Davis

Here are the results from the latest Heart Scan Blog poll: What is your dose of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA + DHA, from fish oil? (Add up the total content of EPA + DHA per capsules; multiply times number of … Continue reading →

Posted in Fish oil, Omega-3 fatty acids | 28 Comments

How old are you?

Posted on October 17, 2009 by Dr. Davis

George walks into my office. I ask him his age. “I’m 21 years old,” he declares. Yet I look at George. He’s got gray thinning hair, his posture is slumped forward rather than erect, the flesh on his upper arms … Continue reading →

Posted in vitamin D | 21 Comments

No high blood pressure

Posted on October 14, 2009 by Dr. Davis

Primitive cultures that were, until recently, unexposed to the modern world, reveal some important insights into blood pressure. The Yanomamo of South American, the Xingu Indians of Brazil, rural Kenyans, and the natives of Papua, New Guinea have average blood … Continue reading →

Posted in Blood pressure | 20 Comments

Name that food

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Dr. Davis

What common food can: • Cause destructive intestinal damage that, if unrecognized, can lead to disability and death? • Increase blood sugar higher and faster than table sugar?• Trigger an autoimmune inflammatory condition in the thyroid (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis)? • Create … Continue reading →

Posted in Wheat | 30 Comments

Heart Defects Simplified

Posted on October 12, 2009 by Dr. Davis

For as long as I’ve known him, echocardiography technologist, Ken Heiden, has had a deep fascination with congenital heart disease. Ken has just written a wonderful book on congenital heart disease called Heart Defects Simplified. While this is a bit … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

My experience with the omega-3 index

Posted on October 8, 2009 by Dr. Davis

I just got back my own results from the Gene Smart laboratory reporting my omega-3 index and omega-6:omega-3 ratio. My results: Omega-3 index: 8.2% Omega-6:omega-3 index: 3.2 to 1 Not too bad, but not as good as I’d expected. Hmmm. … Continue reading →

Posted in Omega-3 fatty acids, Omega-3 index | 23 Comments

The Omega-3 Index: The higher, the better?

Posted on October 6, 2009 by Dr. Davis

So you take a few fish oil capsules every day and eat fish once or twice a week. What is the blood and tissue level of omega-3 fatty acids generated by your habits? A number of variables enter into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Fish oil, Omega-3 fatty acids, Omega-3 index | 26 Comments