We Canadians take pride in being a hearty bunch. No matter what mother nature throws at us we deal with, adapt and overcome.
Sometimes though these all too familiar rituals of the season can start to get to us.
The “Winter Blues” Battle
It’s only human to start feeling frustrated when it’s up early (often in the dark), layering on the clothes to clean the snow off and start the car in subzero temperatures before fighting ice and snow and traffic on the roads before we even begin our day of work. Then, as our reward, we get to repeat things in reverse order once again to just get home (again in the dark). And that’s on top of everything else in our lives: kids, laundry, cooking, cleaning etc, etc.
So perhaps it’s no surprise that thousands of Canadians get the “Winter Blues” at some point during our half-year frozen march towards spring.
Therefore: if you are tired, lacking motivation or even fighting sadness as the cold months meander on, know you are not even close to being alone in this. We also know, thanks to science, there is help out there.
One small change that could yield big benefits in fighting these feelings is adding an Omega-3 supplement to your diet.
Seal Oil Fights Depression Symptoms
One of the best looks at this occurred right here in Canada. Researchers from Quebec and Ontario studied over 400 Canadians for four years and determined Omega-3 supplements are effective at fighting symptoms of depression.
Numerous studies on Omega-3 levels in human beings have also found a direct correlation between low Omega-3 levels and a greater risk of mental issues such as depression. They are an important dietary addition for so many reasons but this reason is as important as any.
The feelings that Omega-3’s can help are pretty much exactly those the “Winter Blues” bring.
SeaDNA: Powered by DPA
Fight Arthritis and Winter Aches
A familiar unwelcome feeling for many in winter arrives in the joints and various places throughout the body. Arthritis and inflammation are the big reason for this and SeaDNA Omega-3 Seal Oil is a huge help thanks in large part to DPA.
Damaged blood vessels lead to arthritis symptoms and DPA has been found to be ten times more efficient than EPA at the process that helps vessels clear out problems and begin to be healthier. Scientists in Japan discovered it took just ten percent of the amount of DPA compared to EPA required to achieve maximal endothelial migration. This is a clear indication that DPA has real, tangible benefits for those in the fight against Arthritis and inflammation.
Seal Oil Stops Inflammation at the Source
Another way Seal Oil and DPA helps is the way it interacts with proteins called C-reactive (CRP) that show up in the blood when there is inflammation in the body. A study conducted at Pennsylvania University found that those who had high-levels of CRP had decreased levels of DPA. This indicates that Omega-3 supplementation with DPA may help lower CRP in the blood and aid in fighting Arthritis inflammation.
DPA Restores the Omega-3/6 Ratio
Quebec-based researcher Caroline Morin and her team have also looked at DPA and found it to be very potent in helping our body restore a healthy Omega-3/6 ratio. As we age, our body naturally shifts to a more Omega-6 heavy diet which can throw things out of whack internally. Adding Omega-3 to our diet is the only way to revert this change.
Morin et al found that “DPA monoacylglyceride given in prevention is able to modify the [Omega]-3/-6 ratio, thus providing anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties to DPA metabolites.”
Click here to learn more about Omega-3 and DPA.
So now that we have determined an Omega-3 could be a little secret weapon to a few more sunny days despite the grey skies, we think we have your best option.
Many Canadians currently choose fish oil for their Omega-3 needs. It delivers EPA and DHA: two key fatty acids that do wonders in the body. However, SeaDNA Seal Oil doesn’t just have EPA and DHA, it has the added power of DPA.
DPA is a super-hero of an Omega-3 that fish oil supplements do not have in high quantities. It is the natural presence of DPA in balanced quantities with EPA and DHA that makes SeaDNA Seal Oil the most complete, and perhaps, most effective Omega-3 on the market.
Easy to Digest & 100% Canadian
Along with the presence of DPA, SeaDNA Seal Oil is also more efficient and more easily digested than alternatives. The fact the seal is a mammal also means our bodies naturally integrate the Omega-3 content faster. We handle the familiar mammal cellular make-up of seal oil very well, meaning no reflux or annoying disgusting burps. SeaDNA Seal Oil is 100% Canadian from front to back and is of the highest quality. Click here to learn more about the differences between seal oil and fish oil.
SeaDNA offers, along with our traditional softgels, a Lemon-Flavour Seal Oil that has been called the “best-tasting Omega-3” supplement on the market. Its versatility means you can add it to smoothies, juices, or your favourite salad dressing. One teaspoon a day is all you need to help make those “Winter Blues” a little more manageable.
SeaDNA’s line of Omega-3 products have all been certified as Natural Products by Health Canada and are 100% Canadian sourced and produced.
To order: boutique.seadna.ca/catalog
For more information: seadna.ca or sales@seadna.ca
SOURCES: 1 / Kaur G, et al. Docosapentaenoic acid (22: 5n-3): a review of its biological effects, 2011. 2 / Kelly, et al. The polyunsaturated fatty acids, EPA and DPA exert a protective effect in the hippocampus of the aged rat. PubMed, 2011. 3 / Toshie Kanayasu-Toyoda, et al. Docosapentaenoic acid (22: 5, n-3), an elongation metabolite of eicosapentaenoic acid (20: 5, n-3), is a potent stimulator of endothelial cell migration in vitro pretreatment, 1996. 4 / Neil J. Mann, et al. Effects of seal oil and plasma on platelet parameters and plasma lipid levels in healthy subjects, epub, 2010. 5 / Evan J. H. Lewis, Bruce A. Perkins, Leif E. Lovblom, Richard P. Bazinet, Thomas M. S. Wolever, Vera Bril. Effect of omega-3 supplementation on neuropathy in type 1 diabetes. Neurology, 2017; 88 (24): 2294 DOI: 6/Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal. “Treating depression with Omega-3: Encouraging results from largest clinical study.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 June 2010./Ann C. Skulas-Ray, * Michael R. Flock, Chesney K. Richter, William S. Harris, Sheila G. West 1.3 and Penny M. Kris-Etherton., Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park Red Blood Cell Docosapentaenoic Acid (DPA n-3) is Inversely Associated with Triglycerides and C-reactive Protein (CRP) in Healthy Adults and Dose-Dependently Increases Following n-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation, Nutrients (2015)/Calder PC. 2006. n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, inflammation, and inflammatory diseases. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 83 (Suppl 6): 1505S-1519S./Caroline Morin, Pierre U Blier, and Samuel Fortin. Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid monoglycerides are more potent than docosahexaenoic acid monoglyceride to resolve inflammation in a rheumatoid arthritis model. Arthritis Res Ther. 2015; 17: 142./Jean-Charles Hogue, Contribution of cholesterol ester transfer protein to the heterogeneity of LDL particles in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. 2004. Master of Science (M.Sc.) Laval University./Kremer JM, Lawrence DA, Petrillo GF, LL Litts, Mullaly PM, Rynes IR, Stocker RP, Parhami N, Greenstein NS, Fuchs BR, Mathur A, Robinson DR, R Sperling, Bigaouette J. 1995. Effects of high-dose fish rheumatoid arthritis after stopping nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Arthritis & Rheumatism 38 (8): 1107-1114./Kremer, J.M. 2000. n23 Fatty acid supplements in rheumatoid arthritis. Am J Clin Nutr 2000; 71 (suppl): 349S-51S/Lau CS, Morley KD, Belch JJ. 1993. Effects of fish oil supplementation on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug requirement in patients with mild rheumatoid arthritis – a double-blind placebo controlled study. British Journal of Rheumatology 32 (11): 982-989.
