Essential fatty acids (EFA)
Fatty acids are vital for the human body because they form the membrane of each cell in the body. Some fatty acid categories are produced naturally in our body, while other fatty acid groups can only be obtained through the diet. This last group is called EFA (Essential Fatty Acids), and it is very important to consume them on a daily basis for a healthy body. The most important omega-3 fatty acids for humans are alpha-linoleic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA is of plant origin. Whereas, EPA and DHA are still called marine fatty acids because they are almost exclusively found in fish and other seafood. ALA as a basic form of omega-3 found in some plants such as flaxseed, is also good because it can partially, yet in small quantities be converted to DHA and EPA in the body. Unfortunately this conversion is quite limited and small (eg only 8-20% of ALA is converted to EPA and only 0.5-9% to DHA), and it has been proven that DHA and EPA have greater health benefits than ALA, such as busting of cardiovascular health and brain power.
There are 2 EFA categories:
- Omega-6 -> Today’s diet has many sources of Omega-6 (seeds, nuts, vegetable oils, etc.), so they are rarely taken as a food supplement.
- Omega-3 -> Contrary to Omega-6, today’s diet has a large omega-3 deficit derived from fish (consumption of fish has been significantly reduced). Therefore, it is essential to make sure that we have enough Omega-3 in our body.
Omega-3 from fish
Omega-3 can be obtained in two ways: synthetic Omega-3 and natural Omega-3, from the seas and oceans. Synthetic Omega-3 does not have the same documented effects as natural, simply because they do not contain DHA and EPA (they must be converted to DHA and EPA in the body, which takes time and is ineffective). The natural Omega-3 is an important source of DHA and EPA.
Most important natural Omega-3 sources:
- Fish caught in cold water (salmon, sardines, herring, anchovy, mackerel)
- Fish liver (especially cod)
DHA and EPA
Natural Omega-3 from fish is a rich source of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) – the most important fatty acids in the Omega-3 family, because it creates links between cells throughout the body and key components in the brain, heart, and so on.
In recent decades many scientific work have been published showing the role of DHA and EPA in vital functions such as cerebral function, circulation, central nervous system, vision, etc.
Natural triglycerides
Omega-3 can have three forms: triglycerides, phospholipids and ethyl ester. Triglycerides (fish) and phospholipids (plankton) are natural, while ethyl ester is a synthetic form, in nature it does not exist.
All Möller’s products contain Omega-3 in its natural state – triglycerides.
VITAMIN D
Vitamin D (calciferol) belongs to a family of compounds that contribute to the prevention and treatment of rickets in children or to osteomalacia (softening of the bones) in adults. These two pathologies are responsible for the demineralization of bone tissue as a result of insufficient fixation of calcium and phosphorus in the bone marrow matrix.
The sun is the most important source of vitamin D for the human body, sun exposure provides daily needs. Another natural source of vitamin D is food – fish caught in cold water (salmon, sardines, herring, anchovy, mackerel) or fish oil – the richest natural source of vitamin D.
The role of vitamin D in the body:
- is essential for maintaining healthy bones and teeth by regulating the absorption and use of calcium and phosphorus in the body.
- it helps the immune system to contribute to the production of monocytes (a group of white cells that fight infection) and has an immunoregulatory effect.
- contributes to normal growth and development of the body, regulating the use of calcium in cells.
Recent studies have shown that vitamin D plays an important role in reducing the risk of chronic diseases, such as various neoplasms, autoimmune diseases, infections, and cardiovascular diseases.
Vitamin A contributes to the normal functioning of the heart and the immune system, to maintaining normal vision and to maintaining the health of the skin and mucous membranes.
Vitamin E contributes to the protection of cells against oxidative stress.