rancidity. They are not the same structure as
found in the fish they were extracted from.
They are denatured, and the EPA and DHA
are complexed to triglycerides, a fat that is
poorly absorbed – providing a poor delivery
system for EPA and DHA.
The French government, recognizing
these disadvantages, employed three top
lipid researchers to find a better alternative.
Based on the research at the University
of Nancy, the lipid researchers discovered
a more important fat, not a fish oil, but a
complex of phospholipids, EPA and DHA,
and hydrolyzed peptides. So, I always refer
people to a supplemental form of omega-3s
from salmon that retains the natural EPA
and DHA structure and features omega-3
fatty acids bound to phospholipids, just the
way you find them in fresh fish.
2. GARLIC
Garlic (Allium sativum) is a favorite culi-
nary herb that adds a wonderfully pungent
and rich taste to almost every dish that it
accompanies. But far beyond that, garlic is
extremely beneficial. Garlic reduces high
blood pressure, fights oxidative stress that
damages cells, helps prevent cancer, and has
strong anti-viral and anti-fungal properties
to keep the immune system strong. In fact,
during the First and Second World Wars,
garlic was used medicinally and later came
to be known as “Russian penicillin.”
One of the major compounds in garlic
that is responsible for its amazing abilities
is called alliin. This compound reacts with
an enzyme in garlic called allinase when the
14 HimPower September 2018
garlic bulb is crushed, and creates allicin.
The result is lower triglyceride levels and
a relaxation of blood vessels, which helps
reduce blood pressure.
Another plus to garlic is that it increases
hydrogen sulfide production in the body. At
high levels, hydrogen sulfide would be toxic.
But the low levels produced in the body
have an opposite effect. Instead, it fights free
radical activity and reduces inflammation
so that the blood vessels relax and the heart
and arteries are protected from damage.
While there are many excellent reasons
to enjoy garlic for health benefits – a 30%
decrease in colon cancer risk among them –
it is really heart support that comes to mind
for most people when they think of garlic.
For those with heart disease, recent research
shows that garlic extract was associated
with an almost 3% decrease in the size of
artery-clogging plaques. The control group
in the study – with no garlic extract – saw a
15% increase in plaque size.
There are times when eating garlic just
isn’t practical or desirable. In those cases,