When it comes to your genes, you probably do not like the idea of them being manipulated. If you are like most people, the mere notion gives your shivers and evokes images of creepy guys in lab coats doing who-knows-what with needles to mystery organisms in petri dishes – and it ends with you sprouting a third eye or a second head.

However, in reality, genetic manipulation may not be that bad – particularly when it comes to aging. One of the suspected factors in longevity is the length of part of the chromosome called a telomere, which is a string of “nonsense” DNA that does not code for any particular trait and wears off over time. People with longer telomeres tend to live longer, and certain behaviors can influence the length of these strands.

One of those behaviors is omega 3 fish oil consumption which, in preliminary studies, appears to impact telomere length positively. So if taking omega 3 fish oil may be able to help keep my body feeling and acting young, then frankly, I’m all in. Bring on the salmon oil!

Recently, environmental groups have started sounding the alarm about fish. They are not worried about anything the fish are doing, but rather that according to some studies, there are far fewer of them doing it. Now, while these statistics may or may not be comprehensive or accurate, this alert does have a direct impact on your health. Why? Because these groups are targeting manufacturers of omega 3 fish oil.

The groups claim that the focus on getting healthy omega 3s in a daily diet has dramatically decreased the fish populations of common food-fish like tuna and salmon. There are many measures being taken by fish farmers and fishermen everywhere to ameliorate the issue. However, for a person taking omega 3 fish oil, the impact is far different. There are many types of fish that are not necessarily experiencing duress at this time, like sardines.

These fish are being incorporated into many fish oil formulas, even though they are relatively lower in omega 3s and do not necessarily bring the best omega 3 fatty acids to the mix. If you take fish oil, make sure that you are still taking a pure salmon blend to insure that you are actually getting the fish oil benefits that you are hoping for.

If you are like a lot of people, when you hear the word “fat” you immediately have a negative reaction. You start thinking about how to avoid these fats, or considering whether the fat-free option will be as full of taste. However, in reality, there are many good fats that you need to make sure you are getting in your daily diet – and in the right quantities.

One of these good fats is omega 3 fatty acid. This fat is critical to your mind’s performance when it comes to focus and memory. It also has been recommended by the American Heart Association (www.aha.org) for heart health and lower cholesterol. Omega 3 fatty acids are even believed by many scientists to boost mental well being and may prevent some forms of diabetes.

So now that you know that there are some good fats out there, you are probably wondering where to get these omega 3 fatty acids. Fortunately, the answer is simple: fish oil. Fish like salmon are called “fatty fish” and the oils in their bodies are chock full of omega 3 fatty acids. However, to get enough omega 3 from eating salmon, you would probably need to eat about 2 pounds a day, so most people opt for an omega 3 fish oil supplement to make sure that they are getting the right good fats in their diets.

As we age, many of us simply accept the gradual loss of information. We may refer to this inability to recall words, names or mundane events as “senior moments,” or laugh about how we “know too much” or there is “not enough room” in our heads anymore. However, these moments can not only be frustrating and even frightening, but they are also actually indicative of a real problem – even if you have visited your doctor and been assured that you are not, in fact, losing your mind.

Memory loss and lack of memory function does not always equal an emergency situation, but it can seriously impact job performance, stress levels and our social interactions. Simply taking it for granted not only jeopardizes your ability to arrive at places on time (if you are constantly misplacing your keys) or deliver on a tight deadline (if you find yourself simply unable to focus under pressure) but it can actually indicate a physical deficiency that can lead to heart problems, general fatigue and even migraines.

In many cases, memory loss or lack of memory function indicates a lack of omega 3 fatty acids, which play a vital role in your ability to reference information in your memory when you need it. So before you simply accept your “senior moments” and start accommodating the issue, try treating it with omega 3 fish oil and sharpen your memory once more.

With so many people trying to work omega 3 into their diets on a daily basis, the number of omega 3 supplements on the market has skyrocketed in the past 5 years. However, if you really want a mega-dose of omega 3, then you may be excited to hear that prescription omega 3 fatty acid supplements based around concentrated servings of salmon oil may be on their way.

However, before you start doubling up your omega 3 fatty acid supplement to try and hit prescription levels, remember that it is important to balance your omega 3 intake with other fatty acids, like omega 6. Many people think that you cannot get enough omega 3, but in reality it is simply that most diets are so much higher in omega 6 than omega 3 that you would have trouble eating enough omega 3 naturally to hit the proper ratio.

Using a regular omega 3 supplement should be sufficient for most people to get enough omega 3 in their daily diet. So do not wait for prescription medication when you can get what you need from a supplement available to you right now. Start taking a healthy omega 3 fatty acid supplement today!

The United States army may be fortifying its soldiers’ diets with a new type of “armor” against muscle fatigue, lack of focus and heart problems in the near future. Meat Trade News Daily reported in mid-February that a number of studies and conferences had been held by various army units to determine the viability of adding omega 3 supplements or omega 3-enhanced foods to the US army’s rations.

Although most civilians do not undergo the generally rigorous and intensive training and stress that military personnel do, enhancing your own intake of omega 3 fatty acids can improve your own ability to concentrate, perform difficult tasks under stress and resist a variety of physical ailments, including heart problems, cholesterol issues, muscle pain and general fatigue.

The United States gives its army the best diet and health regimen possible in order to make sure that its soldiers are in top fighting condition. Keep yourself “combat-ready” as well with a daily dose of omega 3.

While the span of your life is largely determined by your behavior during your lifetime, it is also impacted by your genetics. Many aging studies indicate that the length of the “caps” on your chromosomes, also called telomeres, can be an indicator of how long you will live. These “caps” are designed to protect your genetic sequences from weathering, and over time the telomeres wear away. Shorter telomeres will disappear sooner than longer ones, and many researchers believe that this wearing away has a direct impact on your body’s durability and the length of your life.

However, a new study conducted by scientists at the University of California San Francisco indicates that in fact you may have options for elongating your telomeres. Patients who received elevated doses of omega 3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil supplements had longer telomeres than those who did not supplement their diets with omega 3s.

The study was only 5 years long, so it is in no way conclusive at this point, but it certainly does indicate that omega 3 fatty acids could play an integral role not just in keeping your healthy, but in keeping your body young as well.

We all want white, sparkling teeth and a beautiful smile, but when it comes down to brass tacks, I would honestly settle for a lack of morning breath. That’s right: while I wish I had a model-perfect smile, what I really wish is that my breath did not stink quite so badly in the morning, which is why I’m going to start sleeping with a sardine tucked in my cheek…

Okay, I just said that to get your attention. In reality, sardines are not the answer to bright, fresh morning breath – salmon are. A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Kentucky and published in January in the 25th volume of Molecular Oral Microbiology indicates that the same omega 3 fatty acids that keep your heart strong and your mind clear also keep your breath minty-fresh. Sound crazy? It does to me too, but if you’ve ever woken up next to your loved one and smiled sweetly with your lips tightly clenched shut, then ruined the mood by leaping up and sprinting for your tooth brush, then you are probably thinking the same thing I am: “Definitely worth a try!”

Now, you do not actually need to sleep with a salmon clenched between your teeth. Keeping your levels of omega 3 at a healthy level through a daily dose of optimized omega 3 fish oil should help kill off the bacteria that contribute to bad breath. In fact, the study indicated that even miniscule doses of the omega 3 fatty acids led to the death of nearly 50 percent of the halitosis-causing bacteria. So simply getting your daily dose and keeping your omega 3 levels high should do the trick, since omega 3s naturally reduce inflammation in the body and the presence of bad bacteria.

The only trick is that you need the supplement each day since your body cannot create omega 3 fatty acids on its own from the foods you eat, but instead has to get them in their original form. This means that you either need to eat about 2 pounds of salmon a day, or take a daily omega 3 fatty acid supplement to keep your omega 3 levels up. I am definitely opting for the latter, since that much salmon would probably turn me into a mermaid in no time flat!

Learn more about omega 3 fatty acid health benefits and the best forms of fish oil for your health at http://www.omega-3.us.

If you are a woman and have been taking an omega 3 fish oil supplement, then you can give yourself a hearty pat on the back because you are way ahead in the health game. And no, it is not just because you have been taking care of your mind, your heart, your complexion and your mood by maintaining a healthy omega 3 balance in your body. It is also because you have beaten one of the biggest news organizations in the world – CBS Broadcasting – to the punch.

In early January of 2010, Health Magazine and CBS news announced that they had compiled a list of “superfoods” that are the “supermodels and superathletes of the food world.” Omega-3 rich foods dominated the list thanks to their ability to help women’s bodies feel, look and act young.

So if you are already taking an omega 3 supplement (after all, if you’re not then you better start packing in the salmon, because you’ll need nearly 2 pounds a day), then give yourself a wink in the mirror because you’re looking, and feeling, better than ever. And if you’re not taking it yet – what are you waiting for?

Nearly every one of us can recall struggling with some subject in school. Maybe it was math, maybe history, maybe…spelling? If your children – or you – have trouble with spelling, then you should check in with your local aquarium for some help. Okay, so maybe the aquarium is not the best place to find salmon oil, but you get the idea.

In a study conducted by South African researchers in 2006, primary school children who received daily doses of omega-3 rich fish oil “showed improved learning and memory,” particularly when it came to spelling ability (Medical Research News).

Of course, omega 3 fish oil will not be a substitute for studying, but it sure could make the process easier if the main spelling issue is one related to memory or focus. Omega 3 fatty acids play a critical role in our ability to recall facts and individual items of information, and spelling is directly related to this ability. So if your child is struggling with spelling or school work in general, then ask your pediatrician if omega 3 fish oil is an option for you.