Oceans 3 - Capturing the Sea in
an Omega-3
by the Healthy Living Magazine Health
Experts
 We
know that omega-3s are particularly important in supporting blood flow
(including from the heart and to the brain), flexible joints, healthy
pregnancies, healthy weight, and more—but what if we could build a
better omega-3 supplement? One that was all natural and did an even
better job than any omega-3 supplement has ever done in the past? And
what if this formula could be pinpointed to supply support for
particularly special areas of health such as IQ, aging brains, and
women’s hormonal health?
Building a better omega-3 supplement is exactly what
Jordan Rubin, the founder of Garden of Life, set out to do recently.
In the field of nutritional health, Jordan has been a leader for a
decade and has radically changed our way of thinking about nutrition.
But why would Jordan and his team decide to launch a
new omega-3 supplement into an already crowded marketplace? That story
starts a century ago and is just as compelling as the groundbreaking
omega-3 formulation,
Oceans 3 Beyond Omega 3 formulas, created by
Garden of Life.
THE PRICE OF CONVENIENCE
Some 100 years ago people lived close to their food.
If you lived near the ocean, the fish you ate was replete with
omega-3s. If you were landlocked, you likely consumed meat and poultry
that fed off the grassy plains, supplemented perhaps by trout or other
omega-3–rich fresh waster fish, and these were rich in omega-3 fatty
acids as well. Back then, of course, “grass-fed” wasn’t health-chic
and “Eat Local” wasn’t a catchphrase as it is today; it was the only
way to eat.
As the population grew however, technology and new
techniques for raising both crops and livestock (as well as modern-day
refining and processing) led to the industrialization of agriculture,
which began to rob our diets of omega-3s, oftentimes replacing them
with inflammation-provoking omega-6 fatty acids. “Today, inflammation
is at the core of a host of our most pressing health challenges,”
Jordan told Healthy Living. “These include heart and circulatory
health, cell health, immune health, joint health and healthy weight,
to name a few.
“Cattle and chicken that once roamed and ate freely
of grass were instead fed carbohydrate-rich grains. Those grains were
higher in omega-6 fatty acids, and the meat—and eggs from the
chickens— that the livestock produced were subsequently higher in
omega-6 fatty acids,” he said. “Additionally, the development of the
screw-nut expeller press gave us oils from vegetables and seeds such
as corn, soy, safflower, and sunflower— less expensive,
commercial-friendly oils high in omega-6s and nearly devoid of
omega-3s.”
Throw into the mix the rampant popularity of
pre-packaged “on-the-go” comfort foods that so many Americans survive
on, and it’s easy to understand the steady decline of omega-3
consumption and the increase in omega-6 consumption. Studies have
shown that the typical American diet today contains anywhere from a
10:1 to a 20:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3. While we do need omega-6
fatty acids in our diet (they are essential), those ratios are
entirely out of whack. The ratio that most experts agree represents a
healthy diet is between 4:1 and 1:1, with recent studies pointing to a
positive impact on key health factors when the ratio is below 4:1. The
majority of Americans are far from that ratio, and the results are
evident in the rise of health problems from nutrient deficiency.
REDUCTION IN OMEGA-3s RESULTS IN A REDUCTION OF
HEALTH
While omega-3s have many benefits, their lack in our
diets takes perhaps its greatest toll on cardiovascular health. Dr.
Bruce Holub is one of the leading experts on omega-3 consumption. He
notes that intake of docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids (DHA
and EPA), two of the most important omega-3s, is around 130 to 135 mg
a day in the average North American diet. He goes on to say that fish
and fish oil are the two most likely sources of DHA and EPA. But
hardly anyone eats enough seafood or other sources of naturally
occurring omega-3s such as flaxseed.
What effect can the consumption of these two fatty
acids have on cardiovascular health? In a review of epidemiological
studies, Dr. Holub found they “indicated that Americans who consumed
at least 34 grams or more of fish per day on average had a 40- 50
percent lower risk of specific hearth health issues. This intake (34
gm fish/day) is the equivalent of approximately two fatty fish
servings per week, which can be expected to deliver approximately
250-300 mg of DHA/EPA (combined) per day on average.”
Dr. Holub also goes on to compare heart health in
North Americans and the Japanese, noting that the Japanese have better
heart health while consuming significantly more fish and fish oil. The
Food and Drug Administration has even gotten on board, by allowing
products to use the following claim: Supportive but not conclusive
research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may
reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
In the end, deciding to launch a new omega-3
formulation was an easy one for Jordan and his team at Garden of Life.
Of course, there are literally hundreds of fish oil supplements
available on health food store shelves. Jordan doesn’t like to
introduce “me-too” products, so there was a drive to innovate. The
answer, which was fittingly found in the ocean, would startle Jordan
out of a deep sleep one night.
 FROM
INSPIRATION TO INNOVATION
About a year ago Jordan and his team began to review
the omega-3 fatty acid supplements found in health food stores, of
which the majority of the category revolves around fish oils. Jordan
was both pleased and disappointed by what he found.
“It seems that everything that was called innovation
in the fish oil category had to do with either purity or taste. That
was both good and bad. Purity is a noble pursuit where fish oil is
concerned because you want the highest safety standards. But I believe
purity is a starting point in a great product, not the final
destination. Improving taste leads to more people willing to take a
good supplement, and that is a positive. The downside was that the
innovation stopped there. I believed that the ocean had much more to
offer than purified fish oil that didn’t taste gross.
“My team and I knew then that we wanted to bring our
customers an innovative omega-3 formula unlike any that existed in
health food stores today. We weren’t going to be satisfied with
creating ‘just omega-3 fish oil.’ That was where the hard work came
in.”
THE MAKING OF OCEANS 3
The idea struck Jordan Rubin as so many of them
do—in his sleep. When most of them strike, he wakes up, types them
into his Blackberry, and then goes back to sleep. When this one
struck, it was big enough to make him get out of bed.
The idea for
Oceans 3 shares the traits of so many great ideas. It is
simple, one of those concepts that makes people say, “Why didn’t I
think of that?” It is logical. The idea has both symmetry and synergy.
Most importantly, it is an idea that addresses the most pervasive
health challenges in America today.
Jordan is convinced that the ocean represents one of
the last frontiers for health. He also believes that it has more to
offer than just fish oil. His idea was to combine three superpower
ingredients from the ocean into one formula that goes far beyond
omega-3s—three of the most studied, effective and health-promoting
ingredients the ocean has to offer. They each share many of the same
health benefits in addition to unique attributes of their own. When
combined, they work in concert to amplify their already enormous
health potential. What are these three ingredients?
The benefits of EPA and DHA have become widely known
and embraced by the medical and scientific community and include
support for cardiovascular health, brain function, and nervous system
health. But then there is fucoxanthin—the carotenoid derived from
brown seaweed, a dynamic ocean-based antioxidant and the key
ingredient in America’s hottest selling weight-loss dietary
supplements. Antioxidants are noted for their ability to fight free
radicals, which can cause damage at the cellular level.
Fucoxanthin has been shown to exert its protective effects
directly in fat cells. Since metabolism requires oxygen, fat cells are
a prime culprit for oxidative stress and, unfortunately, Americans are
in no short supply of fat cells. But this important carotenoid also
has been shown in several biological studies and clinical trials to
really facilitate weight loss (probably accounting for the amazing
weight loss benefits of brown seaweed consumption).
Astaxanthin comes from tiny micro algae with huge
health-giving properties. The list of health benefits from astaxanthin
is almost too good to be true. It promotes cardiovascular health,
immune system health and joint health. It even supports the skin
structure during sun exposure. Astaxanthin is a well-studied compound
that has been shown to be 14 times stronger than vitamin E, 53 times
stronger than beta-carotene, and 64 times stronger than vitamin C. As
an antioxidant, astaxanthin benefits cardiovascular health, supports
the body’s natural response to inflammation, immune system health, eye
health and it even supports healthy skin, bones and joints.
Each of the three ingredients is strong enough to
stand on its own. Combined for the very first time in the Oceans 3
formulations, they represent one of the most compelling innovations
ever seen in the omega-3 category.
 OMEGAXANTHIN
- BEYOND OMEGA-3
The unique combination of ultra pure fish oil,
fucoxanthin and astaxanthin contained exclusively in the Oceans 3
formulas is appropriately named
OmegaXanthin. OmegaXanthin allows fish oil, astaxanthin and
fucoxanthin to achieve far more together than these already powerful
compounds can do on their own, and this powerful combination is only
available in Oceans 3 formulas.
But there’s a whole other aspect of Oceans 3 that
consumers ought to really treasure: purity.
PURE OCEAN
Purity first. That was Jordan’s mantra to his team
when sourcing the fish oil that would be used as the base of all
Oceans 3 formulas. Over the last decade purity has emerged as
the number-one standard that must be met. “If you can’t ensure the
utmost purity in your fish oil, you might as well not even launch the
product,” says Jordan.
Fish oils are packed with health-giving properties,
but unless they are carefully processed they can also retain
environmental contaminants and toxins that may be harmful to your
body. Because of potentially dangerous compounds such as mercury,
lead, cadmium, arsenic, and dioxins, the oil must be meticulously
purified.
Enter PureMax—an exciting new technology featured
for the first time in various
Oceans 3 formulas. “The goal,” Jordan says, “is to set a new
worldwide standard for purity.”
It all starts with the fish. “First, our fresh
wild-caught fish are sustainably harvested, and their oil is extracted
literally within only a few hours. This pristine, fresh, high-grade
fish oil is then sent through a multiple-stage molecular distillation
process that both concentrates the EPA and DHA and removes
environmental toxins such as lead, mercury, dioxins and PCBs. The end
result is a pharmaceutical-grade fish oil that sets a new industry
standard for purity and concentration.”
OCEANS OF VALUE
 If
you were to take a stroll down the supplement aisle of your local
health food store you would find fish oils, astaxanthin and
fucoxanthin sold separately, and for good reason. All three
ingredients have unique selling points that justify a “standalone”
product. With
Oceans 3 Beyond Omega-3, you get an omega-3 fish oil of the
highest quality with the added benefits of the two extraordinary
antioxidants.
The truly incredible part? This is done without
sacrificing the level of omega-3 fats in the product. A comparison to
the number-one selling fish oil in health food stores shows that
Oceans 3 Beyond Omega-3 has 675 mg of EPA and 450 mg of DHA versus 650
mg of EPA and 450 mg of DHA for the leading brand. The price is
comparable as well. For about ten cents a day more, you can also get
the amplified benefits of a synergistic combination of highly purified
omega-3 fish oil, astaxanthin and fucoxanthin.
Additionally, stand-alone astaxanthin products
containing 4 mg of astaxanthin per serving, the same amount you
receive in the
Oceans 3 Beyond Omega-3 formula, retail for anywhere between
$19.99 to $24.99.
When you add in the fucoxanthin, you are getting an
omega-3 fish oil product with more value than any other product,
period. This represents a sea of change in omega-3 supplements where
consumers get more value and quality and definitely a deeper approach
to what it means to supplement for health.
For more product information on the Oceans 3
products,
please visit the following web pages:
Oceans 3 Beyond Omega-3 caps contain a synergistic complex of
three health-promoting compounds from the ocean. OmegaXanthin provides
all the benefits of a high potency Omega-3 supplement plus two
ocean-based antioxidants for an amplified range of benefits unmatched
by ordinary Omega-3 formulations.
Oceans 3 Beyond Omega-3 Cod Liver Oil is a synergistic complex
of three health-promoting compounds from the ocean. OmegaXanthin
provides all the benefits of a high potency Omega-3 supplement plus
two ocean-based antioxidants for an amplified range of benefits
unmatched by ordinary Omega-3 formulations.
Oceans 3 Better Brain is a synergistic complex of three
health-promoting compounds from the ocean plus a dynamic suite of
three clinically studied ingredients designed to support neurological
and brain function. Brain health and memory loss are issues of concern
for more and more people every day.
Oceans 3 Healthy Hormones supports hormonal and emotional
health for women of all ages by providing all the benefits of a high
potency Omega-3 supplement plus an amplified range of targeted
benefits unmatched by ordinary Omega-3 formulations.
Oceans Kids - DHA Chewables - are a fun and convenient way to
give your child all of the brain-boosting powers of Omega-3s in a
YUMMY BERRY BLAST chewable softgel. Oceans Kids DHA Chewables are an
excellent source of vital Omega-3 fatty acids with a high ratio of DHA
to EPA, making it a great choice to help support your child’s health.
The statements contained in this article have not
been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information
contained here is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent
any disease. Suggestions and ideas presented in this document are for
information only and should not be interpreted as medical advice,
meant for diagnosing illness, or for prescriptive purposes. The
information in this article is not to be used to replace the services
or instructions of a physician or qualified health care practitioner. |
