You may find some plant sources of both ALA and DHA, but it is nearly impossible to find a plant source for EPA. Since your body cannot easily convert ALA into EPA, it is necessary to find another dietary source of it.  Cold-water fish is the best source of EPA and DHA. This is one reason why people whose diets are high in (non-mercury polluted) fish have a much lower risk of developing an autoimmune disease.

My favorite supplement source of fish oil is deep-sea shark liver oil. (The reasons will be discussed in a later chapter.) Because of its ability to control cytokines, fish oil has been used successfully to support RA, Chrohn’s, Raynauds’s, MS, lupus, and CFS to name a few.

Cytokines cause many fibromyalgia symptoms. In the brain, cytokines can cause behavioral changes. They can either prompt or worsen depression, anxiety, or anorexia. They may cause a person to become withdrawn. Cytokines create fatigue and interfere with sleep patterns. They are one thing responsible for what has been termed “brain fog.”

According to WebMD, a compound found in fish oil may help those at risk for Type-2 Diabetes stave off the disease. Studies show that fish oil supplements appear to improve the function of insulin in overweight individuals.

Fish oil and RA: http://www.arthritis-symptom.com/alternativel-arthritis-treatments/omega-3-fatty-acids.htm and http://www.thyroid-info.com/autoimmune/1stqtr2003.htm

Fish oil and Crohn’s Disease: http://www.arthritis-symptom.com/alternativel-arthritis-treatments/omega-3-fatty-acids.htm and http://www.thyroid-info.com/autoimmune/1stqtr2003.htm

Fish oil and Raynaud’s Disease: http://www.arthritis-symptom.com/alternativel-arthritis-treatments/omega-3-fatty-acids.htm

Fish oil and MS: http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=show&pageid=721 and http://www.thyroid-info.com/autoimmune/1stqtr2003.htm
Fish oil and lupus: http://www.uklupus.co.uk/news60.html and http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/news-NG.asp?n=37475-fish-oil-could and http://www.lowcarb.ca/articlesb/article304.html and http://www.thyroid-info.com/autoimmune/1stqtr2003.htm

Fish oil and CFS: http://www.fibromyalgiasupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/3876/e/1/T/CFIDS_FM/
Omega-3 fatty acids are important for cytokine control and more. For MS, Fibromyalgia, Lyme, ALS, and Chronic Fatigue sufferers Omega-3 fatty acids create the best environment possible for myelin sheathe repair and regeneration. In the case of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, Omega-3 fatty acids serve yet another purpose, which will be discussed in the next article.

Previous in series Next in series