Life changing 'My Omega' index test launched in South Africa
According to The Heart and Stroke Foundation 33 heart attacks and 37 heart failures occur daily in South Africa.
Unfortunately, many people are often not that proactive about their heart’s health and when they suffer a heart attack or are informed by their physician they have hypertension, a cardiovascular disease or even other conditions such as osteoporosis, arthritis or ADHD for that matter, they or the entire family go on a ‘health kick’ after the fact. However many of these conditions are avoidable and manageable if a healthy lifestyle is engaged in – coupled with an understanding of the Omega-3 level and other fat percentages or levels in the body.
For the first time in South Africa, an affordable 'Fatty Acid Profile' home test kit is available through your health practitioner or online at www.myomega.co.za. Uniquely the profile also includes the very important Omega-3 level indicator (which should be 8% or more) - the test is being dubbed the HS-Omega-3 Index Test or My Omega.
Almost all foods contain some fat. Even quintessential fat-free foods like carrots and lettuce contain small amounts of this nutrient. That's a testament to how important fats are for life. Fat provides a terrific source of energy as well as a great depot for storing it. It is an important part of cell membranes, helping govern what gets into cells and what comes out. Fats are also biologically active molecules that can influence how muscles respond to insulin's ‘open up for sugar’ signal’, and different types of fats can also fire up or cool down inflammation.
Long-chain Omega-3 (especially *EPA and *DHA) and Omega-6 poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are indisputably essential to maintaining a healthy body. Dietary imbalance between Omega-6 and Omega-3 fats may explain the rise of such diseases as asthma, coronary heart disease (CHD), many forms of cancer, autoimmunity and neurodegenerative diseases. All are believed to stem from inflammation in the body.
The imbalance between Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids may also contribute to arthritis, allergies, obesity, depression, dyslexia, diabetes, hyperactivity inflammatory diseases, and even violent tendencies. As Omega-3 is not produced by the body and a deficiency is likely in many of our population, there is a high risk to the status and the general competence of the immune system and to resistance to infections. Keeping balance between the two is crucial for health maintenance!
The My Omega Home Test Kit consists of a simple finger prick blood test and requires no fasting. In addition the test gives you an analysis of 24 fatty acids divided into five groups - Omega-3, Omega-6, Monounsaturated, Saturated and Trans- Fatty Acids and two important ratios.
My Omega measures the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) in your blood cells. The Test Kit includes everything needed to collect a sample of blood which is sent by FETCH Medical to an internationally authorised laboratory for analysis. The Analysis is performed by OmegaQuant LLC, South Dakota, USA, who also issue a comprehensive report.
The OmegaQuant Analytical Laboratory is regarded as the GOLD STANDARD for Omega-3 Fatty Acid analysis. Results are received within two to three weeks, including recommendations and a range of resources to help make important choices about diet and supplementation.
Leon de Bruin, CEO of FETCH Medical says: “Medical nutritionists know that every cell in your body yearns for healthy fat molecules in your diet and one of the most effective ways we can aid cellular health is by ingesting foods rich in the essential fatty acids known as the Omega-3s (EPA and DHA) and keeping out the bad fats, i.e. the Trans Fats.”
“The only way to know that you are getting the right amount of Omega-3 through your daily diet - normally from at least three servings of
oily fish per week and/or the use of and Omega-3 fatty acid supplements - is by testing your HS-Omega-3 Index with My Omega. Bear in mind that the body does not generate its own EPA and DHA. Added to this, consider that according to the Harvard University EPA and DHA deficiencies could be more deadly than excess Trans Fat (Bad fat) intake.”
An abundance of scientific research substantiates the wide-ranging health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids in krill oil,
fish oil and monounsaturated fatty acids-polyphenols in olive fruit. In fact, supportive but not conclusive evidence shows that consumption of EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of CHD (coronary heart disease).
If this isn’t enough to get you thinking about your Omega-3 Index level, consider that the Global Omega-3 Summit on Nutrition, Health and Human Behaviours (Belgium, 7 March 2011), found there is a growing epidemic of health concerns related to Omega-3 deficiency.
“HS-Omega-3 Index®” depicting the [EPA] Eicosapentaenoic Acid and [DHA] Docosahexaenoic Acid, WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENTS of the assay - “Fatty Acid Profile” (24 Fatty Acids, comprising of the omega 3 & 6 polyunsaturated-, monounsaturated-, saturated- and trans- fatty acids) - “Omega 6 to Omega 3” Ratio - “[AA] Arachidonic Acid to EPA” Ratio