Does anybody doubt whether Omega 5 oil skin care products are NATURAL?

Pomega 5 products do not contain any parabens

What does natural really mean?

As Americans hunger for healthier food, new efforts to define the term turn messy
By Mike Hughlett

Federal meat regulators this month are soliciting public comments on a label they believe will better define "natural" meat. The label, dubbed "naturally raised," would attest that a cut of meat came from an animal free of antibiotics and growth hormones.

Here's a comment from Urvashi Rangan, a senior scientist at Consumers Union: "It's not quite as bad" as regulators' definition of "natural" itself.Ouch.

Welcome to the complicated battleground over a seemingly simple word. "Natural" is an increasingly important claim to American consumers searching for healthier food.Yet the word has long had a fuzzy regulatory definition, a condition that's increasingly under fire and not only from advocacy groups such as Consumers Union, but from some foodmakers, too, including several chicken producers and Downers Grove-based Sara Lee Corp.

Both of the nation's main food regulators, the United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, are in the midst of significant reviews over what constitutes "natural." Even consumer advocates admit they don't have an easy job."Defining natural is very difficult and messy," said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the non-profit Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Indeed, everything from soda pop to potato chips has been marketed as natural.Jacobson's group, which tracks food labeling and nutrition issues, at least thinks it knows when a product is not natural. And it's taken to task companies it believes are misusing the natural label, including Northfield-based Kraft Foods Inc.

A year ago, the Center for Science in the Public Interest sued Kraft for marketing its Capri Sun beverage as all-natural. The suit was dropped after Kraft said it was reformulating Capri Sun and dumping the all-natural phrase.High-fructose corn syrup, a key ingredient in Capri Sun, was the critical element in the dispute, as it has been in several other dust-ups over natural claims. Jacobson's group argues that while corn is natural, high-fructose corn syrup is man-made.

The sugar industry, the corn-sweetener business' main rival, not surprisingly agrees, and a big fight over the issue is pending before the FDA.The term "natural" is not to be confused with "organic," a designation that is defined in much more detail by food regulators. USDA rules implemented in 2002 lay out specific production methods for foods to be called organic; animals can't generally be treated with growth hormones, for instance."We consider it a meaningful label," said Consumer Union's Rangan.Increasing appetiteThe market for both organic and natural products is booming. Between 2004 and 2006, sales of natural food and beverages -- including organics -- increased 33 percent, according to a report last fall by Mintel International, a consumer research outfit.

Meanwhile, the number of new food and beverage products claiming to be all-natural or organic soared from 1,665 in 2002 to 3,823 in 2006, according to Mintel.

That increasing demand is driven partly by consumers' increasing worries about food safety, the Mintel report said. "The desire for safe and pure foods, free from additives and preservatives, is a major driver when consumers consider choosing natural over mainstream food products."But natural doesn't necessarily mean safe, even if consumers think it does, say some food technology experts. "We can't define [natural] in terms of food safety," said Roger Clemens, a spokesman for the Chicago-based Institute of Food Technologists and a professor at the University of Southern California.Kathy Glass, a scientist at University of Wisconsin-Madison's Food Research Institute, agreed.

The "natural" tag, she added, "is more of a marketing gimmick than anything else."Regulatory definitions don't help matters.

The FDA has no formal definition for natural. It hasn't objected, though, to the use of the word for products that contain no artificial colors or flavors, or synthetic substances.The USDA, which regulates meat and poultry, has a definition: Natural products have no artificial flavors or colors, or synthetic ingredients or chemical preservatives -- and they are "minimally processed."But that definition deals only with an animal after it's been slaughtered.

Many consumers believe natural meat also entails how an animal lived, said Rangan of Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports magazine.Last summer, 89 percent of consumers surveyed by Consumer Reports said "natural" meat should come from animals whose diet was natural and free from drugs and chemicals. In the same survey, 83 percent said those animals should also be raised in a "natural environment" -- not hemmed in small pens, for instance.

The USDA's proposal for a new "naturally raised" label is intended to address such consumer sentiments, as well as speak to concerns in the meat industry, said Billy Cox, a USDA spokesman. Some companies that specialize in naturally raised animals want such a label in order to distinguish their product.The voluntary label, as proposed, would also assure consumers that they're buying meat from animals that never consumed feed containing animal byproducts.

The USDA unveiled the label proposal in late November and is gathering public comments through Jan. 28 before eventually drafting a final rule. Rangan acknowledged that "naturally raised" is an improvement over USDA's "natural" definition.But it still doesn't address the issue of raising animals in confined -- and therefore unnatural -- quarters, she said.

The "naturally raised" label wouldn't replace USDA's current definition of natural; it's aimed more at serving as a marketing tool for companies and consumers. But the agency is reviewing its overall definition of natural, too, Cox said.

Battle lines emerge Contentiousness over that definition is also pitting companies against each other.For example, three chicken producers -- Foster Farms, Sanderson Farms and Gold'n Plump Poultry -- last year formed the "Truthful Labeling Coalition" to battle poultry giants Tyson Foods and Pilgrim's Pride over natural claims. (A fifth chicken firm, Perdue Farms, joined the group last month.)

The group is petitioning the USDA to abandon its position that chicken can be called "natural," even if it's been injected with a broth of saltwater or seaweed. Such broths are allowed because they are composed of natural ingredients such as salt.Both Tyson and Pilgrim's Pride use the practice on one line of natural products, though they also market a natural chicken without the broth.

Rivals such as Sanderson Farms, as well as some consumer advocates, say adding the broth is on its face not natural because it imparts more salt than a chicken naturally has. Lampkin Butts, president of Sanderson Farms, said the main reason for the salt-based baths is "economic." Chicken producers pump in salt broth of up to 15 percent of a chicken's weight, thus giving consumers less bird per pound for their money, he said.But Tyson and Pilgrim's Pride say they're motivated not by economics: Tyson says that in some cases a salt marinade can lower costs to consumers.

Instead, both companies say some consumers prefer marinated chickens, finding them more tender and juicy. Tyson says it conducted a national study and found that the majority of consumers find it acceptable that salt and other natural items are added to products labeled natural.Another natural scrap in the meat market involves sodium lactate, a natural preservative that is widely used on meats.In 2005, the USDA changed its policy and said corn-derived sodium lactate is acceptable for meat labeled natural, in essence putting it in a similar category as salt, spices and other natural preservatives.

But in October 2006, Hormel Foods petitioned the USDA to return to its original position on sodium lactate.Hormel uses sodium lactate, but not on foods it markets as natural. It argued that sodium lactate is a preservative, regardless if it's derived from corn. And only certain natural items spelled out in USDA's regulations -- such as salt or spices -- can serve as natural preservatives. Sodium lactate isn't among those specifically spelled out.

Thus, Hormel claimed that the USDA's 2005 policy shift was inconsistent with the agency's own rules and that sodium lactate could not be classified as a natural preservative.The USDA reversed itself in late 2006, a move that in turn helped prompt Sara Lee last year to petition the agency. Sara Lee, which markets some of its bread, meat and cheese products as a natural, argued that corn-derived sodium lactate is natural, in the same league as salt.

Sara Lee also petitioned the FDA and asked it and the USDA to harmonize their definitions of natural. "The goal is uniform consistency in the marketplace," said Mike Cummins, a Sara Lee spokesman.

A fresh start calls for green Omega 5 skin care products by POMEGA

Morgan Stanley is seeing plenty of green in the new wave of investments in green technologies

Beauty from Inside - Out

The old fashioned way

Morgan Stanley is joining the recent green extravaganza

Pomega 5 to benefit from such a move

In light of the rush to fund only solar or alternative energy technologies, industry watchers have questioned whether enough good investments are available to justify all the capital being raised by private-equity firms for Clean-tech. A study earlier this year by New Energy Finance found that VCs were able to invest just 73 percent of the funds they had raised and had not been able to spend $2 billion of the money they had available. Obviously, some of the money could go to fund companies such as POMEGA which focuses on green-tech in nutraceuticals and has introduced a whole natural and organic skin care line based on pomegranate seed oil [omega5- oil].

Morgan Stanley has announced that it will buy a minority share of cleantech venture firm NGEN Partners, a venture capital firm with a focus on green technologies. Founded in 2001, NGEN invests in areas like alternative energy, energy efficiency and green materials. NGEN-backed companies include SolFocus, which said Tuesday it had installed the first 200 kilowatts of concentrated solar in what will eventually be a 3-megawatt project in Spain. SolFocus will contribute another 300 kilowatts to the project, which will make electricity using the sun's heat. Other NGEN portfolio companies include thin-film solar developer Konarka Technologies, which bagged $45 million in private equity in November, and startup Venture Vehicles, which is working to roll out two versions of its three-wheeled alternative vehicle in the second quarter of 2009.

Morgan Stanley claimed the investment with NGEN is the first of its kind by a major Wall Street firm. Morgan Stanley did not disclose the stake or the amount paid for it.

But the move does underscore the increasing maneuvers by investors to get in early with greentech companies. Last year a slew of funds and other private-equity money pots focused on green technology took root. And so far, the new year is displaying the same trend.

In January 2008 information-technology and greentech investor Velocity Venture Capital said it had closed its second fund with $15 million. The Folsom, Calif.-based firm also said it's preparing to raise $60 million for a third fund, which will have an emphasis on cleantech.

Velocity's cleantech portfolio includes portable fuel-cell developer Jadoo Power Systems and Marquiss Wind Power, a startup developing wind-powered turbines for use on commercial and industrial buildings. Also this month, Yellowstone Capital Partners said it was launching a $50 million alternative- and renewable-energy fund.

We predict that some of the VC funding will be directed to other types of green technologies, such as clean cosmetics. POMEGA is a market leader in this niche.

Cellulite is a skin disorder -- Woman's World suggests that you use Omega 5 oil

How is my cellulite doing?

Cellulite may seem like a skin problem that can't be beat, but that is not the case! Research into this all-too-common skin problem reveals that there are many things that can be done to fight the appearance of cellulite, starting with a few changes to your diet.

The less you weigh, the less cellulite you have, right? Not necessarily. Contrary to popular belief, the real culprit of cellulite is damaged skin.

Closely linked to overall health, cellulite is a skin disorder that affects, or will affect, most women at some point in their lives, regardless of how much they weigh. At one time considered strictly a result of being overweight, new research has shown that the appearance of cellulite is more closely related to skin damage, or, in the words of Dr. Howard Murad, "the loss of cellular water'. What causes this water loss? Many factors contribute, such as: environment, stress, diet and lifestyle. When the skin doesn't get enough water or vital, cell-building nutrients, dehydration sets in, causing fat cells, normally contained deep within the dermal layer of the skin, to bulge out between the collagen and elastin fibers. The result of this breakdown?? Cellulite. But why does all of this happen?

It starts with the blood vessels. Responsible for transporting oxygen, water and nutrients to the cells, blood vessels are an important component of healthy skin. A break down in the blood vessels causes a chain-reaction within the dermal layer of the skin that may, eventually, lead to the tell-tale, orange peel appearance of cellulite. Most importantly, a breakdown of the blood vessels is considered the start of cellular water loss and may even be the reason cellulite develops at all.

Is there any prevention against cellulite? According to Dr. Murad, hydrating the skin from the inside-out is one key component to preventing or even reversing the signs of cellulite and a great start is to strengthen blood vessels, as well as support the collagen and elastin fibers in the skin. In addition to staying hydrated and drinking enough water, consider supplementing your diet with certain nutrients that are particularly effective in the fight against cellulite, including: grape seed extract, glucosamine sulfate and gotu kola.

Grape seed extract is an oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC); a powerful phytochemical with potent anti-oxidant properties that strengthens blood vessels and helps maintain their elasticity. Sourced from wine grapes, grape seed extract also supports the immune system and helps alleviate allergic reactions by reducing the production of histamines. A better soluiton is skin care that is made of pomegranate seed oil.

Glucosamine, naturally present in the body, is key to the production of healthy nails, skin, eyes, tendons, bones and ligaments. A supplement to natural glucosamine is glucosamine sulfate, and it is often used by arthritis sufferers to help build and strengthen joint cartilage. To further refine the appearance of the cellulite, also consider gotu kola, an herb that supports cardiovascular and circulatory health, helps repair connective tissues and stimulates the central nervous system. Also called centella asiatica or Tiger's Herb, gota kola is an excellent vasodilator and blood vessel strengthener as well, enabling the body to convey water and nutrients to the tissues more effectively and preventing water loss from weakening collagen and elastin fibers.

Another whole-body wellness step, which will also assist with the appearance of cellulite, is to ensure your diet includes adequate amounts of essential fatty acids, or EFA's such as omega 5 oil. Not produced naturally by the body, EFA's must be obtained through the diet. Luckily, they are easy to consume-and tasty! Try cold-water fish, such as salmon, trout, and tuna, as well as ground flaxseeds, raw nuts, walnut oil, sesame oil, legumes and grape seed oil. EFAs not only build muscle, regulate immune and inflammatory responses, normalize blood pressure and improve brain function, they also manufacture and repair cell membranes, attracting water back to cells and preventing it from weakening connective tissue.

Now that you know a few key facts about cellulite and its effect on the skin, don't wait for a genie to pop out of a bottle and grant a get-rid-of-my-cellulite wish! Instead, supplement your skincare routine with these vital nutrients and say hello to smoother, dimple-free and glowing skin!

WE LOVE POMEGA5 PRODUCTS

Scientists find a breast cancer risk link to fatty acid profile -- more research is required to prove that Omega 5 oil can help reduce the risk

Fats and breast cancer

MILAN, ITALY. The association between the intake of various fats and oils and the risk of breast cancer has been the subject of several studies. There is still no real consensus as to which fats are beneficial and which are not. The evidence for a protective role of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the main components of fish oils, is probably the strongest.Researchers at the Italian National Cancer Institute have just completed an investigation aimed at clarifying the association between fat intake and breast cancer risk. A total of 4052 postmenopausal women were followed for an average of 5.5 years. During this time 71 cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed. The cancer patients were matched with 141 controls. All study participants had blood samples drawn and red blood cell (erythrocyte) membranes were analyzed for their fatty acid content. The researchers point out that erythrocyte membranes are good biomarkers for not only dietary fat intake, but also for other dietary and hormonal factors.Women with DHA concentrations in the highest tertile had less than half the risk of breast cancer than did women in the lowest tertile. Polyunsaturated fatty acids overall were also protective with omega-3 acids being somewhat more protective than omega-6 acids. Saturated fatty acid concentrations were not significantly related to breast cancer risk. A higher concentration of monounsaturated fats, especially oleic acid, was associated with a significantly increased risk. The researchers point out that most oleic acid in mammalian tissue is derived from saturated stearic acid through a process involving the enzyme delta 9-desaturase. Saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, carbohydrates, insulin, testosterone, and estrogen all activate this enzyme whereas dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and fasting deactivate it. The researchers conclude that the delta 9-desaturase enzyme may be an important link between breast cancer risk and dietary fat consumption and urge further research in the field.Pala, Valeria, et al. Erythrocyte membrane fatty acids and subsequent breast cancer: a prospective Italian study. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 93, July 18, 2001, pp. 1088-95

Breast cancer risk linked to fatty acid profile

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA. Breast cancer rates differ greatly between countries. They are 5 times higher in the United States than in Japan and twice as high in France as in neighbouring Spain. Differences in overall fat consumption in these countries have been extensively studied, but no link to breast cancer incidence has been detected so far. A large team of researchers from the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, Finland, Switzerland, Germany and the United States now report that, while overall fat consumption may not be significant, the make-up of the fats could be. As part of the large EURAMIC Study the researchers investigated the link between the content of polyunsaturated fats in adipose (fat) tissue of postmenopausal women and breast cancer incidence. A total of 291 women with breast cancer and 351 controls were included in the study which involved 5 European medical centers. The women all had samples of adipose tissue taken (from the buttocks) and analyzed to determine the concentration of the main polyunsaturated fatty acids: the omega-3 acids - alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and the omega-6 acids - linoleic acid (LA) and its metabolite arachidonic acid (AA).

The study found no significant correlation between omega-3 fatty acid levels and breast cancer incidence, but did find a trend to increasing incidence with increasing levels of omega-6 fatty acids in the adipose tissue samples. The researchers also found a significant association between the ratio of EPA and DHA to LA levels and breast cancer incidence in 4 out of 5 of the medical centers involved in the study. Pooling all results showed that women with the highest ratio had a 35% lower breast cancer incidence than women with the lowest ratio. In other words, women with a relatively high adipose tissue level of EPA and DHA (the main components of fish oils) and a relatively low level of LA and its metabolites had a lower breast cancer risk. The researchers note that LA (linoleic acid) is the precursor of certain eicosanoids which may promote tumour growth. EPA and DHA inhibit the production of these harmful compounds and may also, on their own, inhibit tumour growth. The researchers also point out that several epidemiological studies have found an inverse correlation between fish consumption and breast cancer incidence and urge further studies to determine the relationship between the dietary intake of specific fatty acids and breast cancer risk.Simonsen, Neal, et al. Adipose tissue omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid content and breast cancer in the EURAMIC Study. American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 147, No. 4, 1998, pp. 342-52

Fat consumption and cancer

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM. Several major epidemiologic studies have found a clear association between a high dietary fat intake and the risk of developing breast and colon cancer. The correlation is particularly strong in the case of animal fats. One study found that a high fish or fish oil consumption is protective against later stage colon cancer in men, but has no effect on mortality from breast cancer. British medical researchers now report that fish and fish oils not only protect against colon cancer in men, but also against colon and breast cancer in women. This protective effect, however, is only apparent in countries where the intake of animal fats is high. In other words, a high intake of fish or fish oils counteracts the detrimental effects of a high animal fat consumption.

The study compared cancer mortality rates in 24 European countries, Canada and the USA with fish consumption and the intake of animal fats. In countries where the animal fat intake was high the researchers found a clear inverse correlation between the ratio of fish fat to animal fat and the risk of developing breast cancer in women and colon cancer in both men and women. A similar correlation was found between cancer risk and the ratio of fish fat to total fat intake.
The researchers conclude that a 15% decrease in animal fat intake combined with a 3-fold increase in fish oil intake could possibly reduce male colon cancer risk by as much as 30% in countries with a high animal fat intake. A 3-fold increase in fish oil intake could be achieved by eating fish three times a week or by taking two standard fish oil capsules daily.Caygill, C.P.J., et al. Fat, fish, fish oil and cancer. British Journal of Cancer, Vol. 74, No. 1, July 1996, pp. 159-64

From the Middle East to California pomegranate based products such as Omega 5 oil enjoy a strong presence

Like so many other foods from the Middle East, India and Southern Asia, pomegranate benefits also have their place in food myth history. The health benefits of pomegranates have been in practice for centuries by the cultures of Israel and India especially. People of the Mediterranean have been enjoying pomegranate benefits for centuries. This culture is one of the healthiest on earth and for years, the rest of the world has been trying to pinpoint what exactly makes the people so resistant to heart disease. Maybe the answer lies in the unassuming pomegranate or perhaps it’s just good genetics. No one knows for sure, but whatever it is, it’s working. Several greentech companies such as pomega are researching the benefits of the Omega 5 oil.

What Is A Pomegranate?

A pomegranate is a fruit-bearing shrub native to the Middle East, ranging from Iran to the Himalayas in India. Pomegranates are also cultivated throughout the Mediterranean and in California since 1769, when the Spanish first introduced the fruit to North America. The fruit is round and about the size of a very large apple. Breaking open the thick skin reveals a multitude of tiny, ruby red seeds. The riper the fruit, the sweeter the edible seeds are, although some people might like the tangy, sour taste of a fruit less ripened. Pomegranate juice is another product of this fruit quickly gaining popularity for its alleged health benefits.

What Are The Health Benefits of Pomegranates?

Michael Avira mof of the Lipid Research Laboratory in Israel accredits pomegranate juice to be rich in antioxidants, quite possibly more antioxidant properties than red wine or green tea. Other benefits of pomegranates list the fruit as a source of folic acid (beneficial to pregnant women), potassium, niacin, vitamin C, iron, calcium, and are a rich source of fiber. You may also be facinated by Omega 5 oil products that are made of the seeds of the pomegranates.

What Makes the Pomegranate So Special?

It’s true that other fruits contain many different types of antioxidants, but the pomegranate is the only one to contain the three major antioxidants: tannins, anthocyanins and ellagic acid. Antioxidants are what help to boost the body’s immune system. These high concentrations of antioxidants help to protect the body from the damaging effects of pollution, cancer diabetes and many other debilitating diseases. In some cases, increasing the body’s level of antioxidants is rumored to slow the aging process.With such a high concentration of antioxidants, it’s no wonder that researchers believe that the major pomegranate benefits would help reduce heart disease, clogged arteries and hypertension.

The Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study in 2002 conducted by Israeli researchers that proved pomegranates to be effective in fighting the leading cause of heart disease, atherosclerosis.Atherosclerosis is a build-up of plaque in the arteries, causing the arteries to harden as a person ages. Plaque can reduce the flow of blood through the arteries, placing more stress on the heart and raising blood pressure. When pieces of plaque break off, they can often clog major vessels leading to the heart or brain, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.Cancer Treatment

No single food on its own can cure cancer. However, if the benefits of pomegranate juice are used in conjunction with other types of treatments, it could prove useful. Since antioxidants are reputed for preventing damage to cells, pomegranate benefits might be a part of the cure for lung, breast or skin cancer.One study conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison showed pomegranate juice as capable of genetically altering the cancer cells and causing them to die.

Other studies done around the world with pomegranate seed oil indicated the pomegranate was a way to treat skin cancer and tumors in the body, particularly the colon. Pomegranates contain “ellagic acid”, which has previously been said to contain antioxidants that specifically target cancer cells.

The Feminine Fruit

Throughout history, pomegranates have had strong ties to women. Persephone was given pomegranate seeds to eat while in the Underworld, and some people believe that the true forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden was a pomegranate and not an apple. Pomegranates are among the types of plants, like black cohosh, that contain estrone. Estrone is a naturally occurring form of estrogen, which is widely used today as an alternative to artificial hormone replacement treatment during menopause. Many women seeking to avoid the side effects of the artificial hormones are turning to natural remedies to get them through the change of life. Menopause is difficult enough without having to deal with nasty side effects and pomegranate benefits look like a pleasant alternative.…

And Don’t Forget the Men

Pomegranate benefits might also include relief from impotency and protection against prostate cancer. When men suffer from atherosclerosis, thickening of the blood vessels occurs throughout the body. The decreased blood flow can result in impotency. Antioxidants, especially the ones found in pomegranate juice, help to increase the blood flow and decrease the chances of hardening arteries.Pomegranates also contain a compound that lowers the levels of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). Some researchers report that when taken daily and used in conjunction with conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery and other forms of prostate cancer treatment, pomegranate juice helped to dramatically decrease the levels of PSA. The prostate cancer cells also decreased in growth.

Pomegranate juice is beneficial to men without prostate cancer as well, simply for the chances of keeping the PSA levels low to begin with.

Stocking Up

Pomegranates have a very short season in which they are available. While they are in season, usually in the late fall and winter, it is best to buy them and freeze them. Before freezing, cut the pomegranate in half, soak it in a bowl of water, and pull the seeds apart from the fruit. The seeds will sink and the pulp and other parts of the pomegranate will float to the top. After the seeds have been separated, they can be dried and put in a plastic bag for freezing. To use later on, defrost the seeds and put them into a juicer or you can extract the juice first and store the juice frozen.

Health food stores also offer alternatives. And Omega 5 oil products are sold by POMEGA. Pomegranate juice is available already packaged in bottles year round. As with any food source, the fresher the better, as many of the beneficial properties are often lost during processing.As with any “miracle food”, it is important to remember that nothing certain as far as claims go. What might work for one person may not work for another. More research will have to be done to determine if these claims of pomegranate benefits are true. Maybe, if combined with conventional medicine and treatment, the health benefits of pomegranates might help to cure cancer or heart disease but shouldn’t be relied on alone. After all, every little bit helps.

So far, there have been no reports of adverse effects of drinking too much pomegranate juice, and if it tastes good and makes you feel like you’re doing something healthy for yourself, then why not enjoy it? Maybe one day, science will prove that these claims are true, and who knows how many other pomegranate benefits will emerge? In the meantime, get plenty of exercise, eat right and follow your doctor’s advice. Nothing will ever replace these basics of healthy living.

Always Consult Your Physician First

Although it is helpful to get health information by reading and talking with friends, make sure you consult your doctor first before trying any new treatment or changing your diet. Remember that the U.S. FDA does not strictly regulate the strength, purity or safety of herbs and supplements. Be sure to always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, speak with your doctor before taking medical action or changing your health routine. This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.

by d. berchak

What will the future of Omega 5 oil hold for our children?

US Omega-3 sales reached $600 in 2007 -- how far can the Omega 5 oil sales go?

Fish-Oil Doses Can Be Hard To Swallow

By DAVID STIPP

It's no wonder that more Americans are gulping fish oil. Hardly a month goes by without a study suggesting that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil can fend off disease -- including heart attacks, strokes, Alzheimer's disease, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, psoriasis and even attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The problem is, to get the health benefits seen in clinical trials, you probably need to take fistfuls of capsules.

"The kind of benefits seen in most of the clinical trials with omega-3 generally have involved much higher doses than you see recommended on supplement labels," says Charles Serhan, a Harvard Medical School expert on omega-3's activity. "But although a large number of studies have used industrial-level doses," he adds, "we don't have rigorous scientific evidence about what the doses should be."

Regardless of the recommended dose, the need to stockpile bottles of supplements may diminish as more foods are fortified with omega-3 and as research shows ways of enhancing the benefits with other therapies.

While most of the scientific data on the health effects of fish oil aren't definitive, the federal National Institutes of Health concluded after a massive review three years ago that consuming omega-3 fatty acids cuts the risk of death from heart attacks and other cardiovascular causes, can reduce the joint pain of rheumatoid arthritis and "appears" important for proper brain development and function.

Because of news like that, the market for fish-oil supplements is booming. U.S. omega-3 supplement sales reached an estimated $600 million last year, up 20% from a year earlier, says the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s, a Salt Lake City trade group. (The two key omega-3 fatty acids are called EPA and DHA.) Omega-3 fatty acids now rank as the fifth-best-selling dietary supplement, behind multivitamins, calcium and vitamins C and E.

In trials aimed at lowering high blood levels of triglycerides, a contributor to heart disease, patients took four particularly potent capsules that contained a total of more than three grams of EPA and DHA a day. You would have to pop a daily dozen of the typical omega-3 capsules on the market to get that much -- four to six times the suggested daily "serving" usually specified on their labels. That many capsules could cost you more than $2 a day, and it is a lot more than you are likely to get from consuming fish: You would need more than six servings a day of tuna, or about three of salmon, to get that much EPA and DHA.


Clinical trials suggest that fish oil can fend off a variety of ailments, but the omega-3 doses used in the studies have varied widely.

• Heart disease: one gram or more
• Rheumatoid arthritis: two grams or more
• Brain health: one-half gram or more

Fish may good for you, but you can get risky doses of mercury and other toxins by consuming lots of it. That is one reason the American Heart Association recommends that people who need to lower triglycerides to ward off heart attacks take omega-3 capsules. The suggested dose is two to four grams of EPA and DHA a day, which supplements can provide toxin-free. For healthy adults seeking merely to cut cardiac risks, the heart association says eating fatty fish, such as salmon, at least twice a week is probably enough.

But how much omega-3 should you take if you are trying to ease the joint inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis? Or ward off Alzheimer's disease? Or alleviate depression?

Unfortunately, there aren't enough clinical data to give firm answers. But the omega-3 literature affords hints. Results in various rheumatoid-arthritis trials indicate that you need to take more than two grams, perhaps 10 typical capsules, of omega-3 fatty acids a day to significantly curtail joint inflammation and pain.

For maintaining brain health, the overall data on omega-3's potential are inconclusive, according to the NIH. But a recent Dutch study showed that about 400 milligrams of EPA and DHA a day -- which you can get from two typical omega-3 capsules -- helped elderly men maintain mental acuity. The study found that the more omega-3 ingested, the greater the benefit.

In the depression data, two things stand out: EPA appears more effective than DHA. And about one gram of EPA seems optimal -- more isn't better.

All this suggests that you may have to take a half dozen or more typical omega-3 pills a day to get the kind of benefits observed in clinical trials with fish oil. But soon it may get easier to get such hefty doses without taking so many pills. A growing number of foods are fortified with omega-3, everything from yogurt to orange juice, including more than 1,200 such products launched in 2006 alone, according to the London-based market researcher Datamonitor. Such foods typically don't contain much omega-3 -- a fortified egg might contain half as much as a typical capsule. But as more fortified foods come to market, it will be easier to get omega-3 in your diet.

There is another reason popping fish-oil capsules by the fistful may be overkill. Many scientists believe omega-3's benefits flow primarily from its ability to damp low-level inflammation, which is thought to be a key culprit in just about every major scourge of aging, from clogged arteries to Alzheimer's. Studies over the past few years suggest that taking small doses of aspirin daily, which many people do to prevent heart attacks, magnifies the anti-inflammatory effect of taking fish oil.

Indeed, some of the most dramatic evidence of fish oil's heart benefits came from a 1999 Italian study in which patients who had recently had heart attacks showed a 45% reduction in subsequent "sudden cardiac death" when given modest fish-oil doses (the amount in about three typical omega-3 capsules). The supplements' striking effectiveness may well have been magnified by the fact that many of the patients were also taking aspirin daily.

Aspirin's effect on omega-3 isn't clear yet, though. So for now, big doses of the supplement probably are necessary to get the health benefits.

Omega-3 appears to be safe, even at the high doses used in clinical trials. But large doses can have side effects. Perhaps the best source on that issue is the prescribing information for Lovaza. Sold by GlaxoSmithKline PLC unit Reliant Pharmaceuticals Inc., Lovaza is prescribed for "very high" triglycerides.

In Lovaza's clinical trials, patients took four capsules a day with a total of 3.4 grams of EPA and DHA. The most common "adverse event," reported by about 5% of patients, was belching. Some 4% reported infections, compared with 2% on a placebo, but it's not clear whether fish oil caused the difference. While some research suggests that taking fish oil prolongs bleeding time, no bleeding problems were reported in the Lovaza trials.

There's no evidence Lovaza works better or is purer than high-end omega-3 dietary supplements -- such as those made by Nordic Naturals Inc., of Watsonville, Calif. -- which cost less than half as much as Lovaza does per gram of EPA and DHA.

A 2004 analysis of 44 kinds of omega-3 supplements by ConsumerLab.com1, based in Scarsdale, N.Y., found that none had unsafe levels of mercury or PCBs. And Lovaza wasn't used in most of the promising clinical trials with omega-3.

The Omega 5 oil 2008 landscape

Packaged Facts estimates the skincare market including both mass and prestige to reach $7.2 billion by 2010, driven in part by expected double-digit growth of anti-aging products, such as Pomega 5, which is likely to become the second largest category behind hand & body lotions and the industry.

Skincare is a dynamic, rapidly evolving market with a few power players, a handful of aggressive, second-tier marketers, several struggling old schoolers, and new upstarts, all continually introducing new product for an informed and demanding consumer who wants more than just functional benefits. Sensory and emotional benefits must complete the package. Consequently, skincare continues to become more fragmented.

The retail landscape is undergoing changes significant enough to alter every aspect of how consumers evaluate and purchase products as well as how marketers develop and deliver those products to the consumer. What remains to be seen is how marketers large and small will react.

High tech skincare and green tech skin care is booming, with the trend toward cosmeceuticals and heavy like T'zerha and Pomega5, influence from the medical arena. Since innovation is more and more the price of entry, the lines between prestige and mass brands are more and more blurred. Baby Boomers are still a core consumer market but there is great potential in more targeted areas such as Gen-Xers, who are beginning to enter their 40s, and teens, who are influenced by a beauty-obsessed culture.

Antioxidants have been around forever, but the attention they are generating now make them seem as if they just burst onto the health and wellness scene. These substances like omega 5 oil made of the seeds of pomegranates occur naturally in a vast number of foods and botanicals, and they are also used in a soaring number of processed foods, beverages, cosmetics, and personal care products. Unlike studies performed on many substances that make health-related claims, the research into antioxidants’ ability to prevent disease and slow aging is almost overwhelmingly positive. However, while a growing number of consumers make the association between antioxidants and health, most don’t really understand the mechanism by which these compounds work, and consumers are frequently mistaken about which products actually contain them. Consumer education is definitely a must if this market is to continue to expand and live up to its early promise.

Valued at $2 billion in 2007, the U.S. anti-aging skincare treatment market posted inconsistent gains between 2001 and 2006, although all indicators point to a healthy market. This healthy state is due largely to an aging population with an unquenchable thirst for technologically driven products, and marketing to match, that promise to ward off the visible signs of aging and result in younger-looking and younger-feeling skin. Comprised of facial and body treatments, purchases revolve around expected factors such as age and gender, but also come from a dynamic ethnic market with specialized skincare concerns and growing spending power. Furthermore, the increasing ubiquity of formerly “prestige” products at FDM channels allows for an expanding consumer base and wider product exposure, resulting in an infusion of dollars from an array of retailers and consumer types.

Greentech skin care companies such as POMEGA, the pioneer of the Omega 5 industry will capture a prominent part of the personal care market.