Micronutrients

Fats and Oils

Fatty Acids
Sources
Function

alpha-Linolenic Acid
(ALA) Flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, canola (rapeseed) oil, soybeans and soybean oil, pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil, purslane, perilla seed oil, walnuts and walnut oil. The unique biochemical structure of alpha-linolenic acid is important and helps to make it a key player in immunity, vision, cell membranes, and the production of hormonelike compounds.

Caprylic Acid Coconut oil, palm nut oil, butter fat and other vegetable and animal sources, synthesized from caprylic alcohol (octanol) found in coconut oil. Antifungal, antiseptic, candidicide, flavoring agent.
[Top]

Docosahexaenoic Acid
(DHA) Herring, mackerel, salmon, sardines, human breast milk, liver, brain. Plays a crucial role in the growth and development of the central nervous system as well as visual functioning in infants, reduces inflammation and promotes wound healing in burn victims, also prevents colon cancer or treats it in its early stages.
[Top]

Eicosapentaenoic Acid
(EPA) Cod liver oil, herring, mackerel, salmon (not farm raised), sardines, human breast milk. Improves cardiovascular health and may prevent the accumulation of plaque (cholesterol and fat) on the walls of the arteries.
[Top]

Gamma-linolenic acid
(GLA) Borage oil (18-26%), black currant oil (15-20%), evening primrose oil (7-10%), fish, human mother's milk, fungal oils, spirulina (often called blue-green algae). Reduces inflammation and prevents diseases; is much stronger than the information regarding use of GLA for these purposes.
[Top]

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Flaxseed, fish oil, cod liver oil, krill and fortified everyday foods like bread and fruit juices, whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, olive oil, garlic, moderate wine consumption. Plays an important role as structural membrane lipids, particularly in nerve tissue and the retina and are precursors to eicosanoids - highly reactive substances such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes that act locally to influence a wide range of functions in cells and tissues.
[Top]

Omega-6 Fatty Acids Cereals, eggs, poultry, most vegetable oils, whole-grain breads, baked goods, organ meats, margarine. Reduces the aches and pains of rheumatoid arthritis, relieves the discomforts of PMS, endometriosis, and fibrocystic breasts, reduces the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis, clears up acne and rosacea, prevents and improves diabetic neuropathy.
[Top]

Omega-9 Fatty Acids
(Oleic Acid) Avocado fruit, Macadamia nuts, apricot seeds, almonds, olive oil. Lowers blood levels of cholesterol.
[Top]

Vitamin F
(Fatty Acids) Evening primrose oil, grape seed oil, flaxseed oil, and oils of grains, nuts and seeds, such as soybean, walnuts, sesame, sunflower, avocados, meat and fish like salmon, trout, mackerel and tuna. Essential fatty acids maintain the function and integrity of cell membranes, transport, breakdown and excrete cholesterol and act as precursors to prostaglandins required in many physiological functions. Regulates oxygen use, electron transport and energy production. Helps form hemoglobin, maintain exocrine and endocrine glands, makejoint lubricants. Regulates blood pressure, platelet coagulation, kidney function; helps transport cholesterol, needed by active tissues; brain, retina, adrenal, testes; helps eliminate toxic peroxides, helps prevent allergies.
[Top]

Oils
Sources
Function

Borage Oil Black currant seed oil. Improves circulation and hormonal balance—a great choice for women with PMS symptoms.
[Top]

Cod Liver Oil Fish. Helps delay or even reverse the destruction of joint cartilage and inflammatory pain associated with arthritic disease, improves circulation and hormonal balance—a great choice for women with PMS symptoms.
[Top]

Evening Primrose Oil A small yellow wildflower (Oenothera biennis) has been used medicinally for centuries. The oil, pressed from the seed, is rich in linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid (EFA). Cures, treats, or prevents practically everything—from rheumatoid arthritis, breast pain, hot flashes, premenstrual syndrome, eczema, and other skin problems to diabetic neuropathy, cancer, high blood cholesterol levels, and heart disease.
[Top]

Fish Oil Menhaden, pilchard, sardine, herring, salmon and fresh tuna. Prevents heart disease, depression, cancer; alleviates auto-immune disorders, plus many other claims.
[Top]

Fish Liver Oil High potency livers from cod, shark, halibut. Helps regulate the rhythm of the heart, prevent cardiac arrhythmias.
[Top]

Flaxseed Oil Flaxseed oil is obtained from the seed of the flax plant. It contains 50% to 60% omega-3 fatty acids. This amount is roughly double that contained in fish oil. Prevents heart disease and cancer. Helpful in treating high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), arthritis, breast cancer, depression, burns, acne, asthma, menstrual pain; also proven helpful in protecting against certain infections and treating a variety of conditions including ulcers, migraine headaches, preterm labor, emphysema, psoriasis, glaucoma, Lyme disease, lupus, and panic attacks.
[Top]

Linseed Oil. Dried ripe linseeds Commission E Indications—External: Local inflammation (cataplasm). Internal: Chronic constipation, colon damaged by laxative abuse, irritable colon, diverticulitis, gastritis (mucilage), irritable bowel syndrome, enteritis (mucilage).
[Top]

Safflower Oil Oil expressed from the seeds of the safflower Beneficial for painful inflamed joints, and applied to bruises, sprains, and painful arthritis.
[Top]

Wheat Germ Oil Triticum aestivum, Triticum sativum, Triticum vulgare. Promotes healthy skin. A natural antioxidant which helps to prevent rancidity.
[Top]

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Fats and Oils
Fatty Acids	Sources	Function
alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA)	Flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, canola (rapeseed) oil, soybeans and soybean oil, pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil, purslane, perilla seed oil, walnuts and walnut oil.	The unique biochemical structure of alpha-linolenic acid is important and helps to make it a key player in immunity, vision, cell membranes, and the production of hormonelike compounds.
Caprylic Acid	Coconut oil, palm nut oil, butter fat and other vegetable and animal sources, synthesized from caprylic alcohol (octanol) found in coconut oil.	Antifungal, antiseptic, candidicide, flavoring agent. [Top]
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)	Herring, mackerel, salmon, sardines, human breast milk, liver, brain.	Plays a crucial role in the growth and development of the central nervous system as well as visual functioning in infants, reduces inflammation and promotes wound healing in burn victims, also prevents colon cancer or treats it in its early stages. [Top]
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)	Cod liver oil, herring, mackerel, salmon (not farm raised), sardines, human breast milk.	Improves cardiovascular health and may prevent the accumulation of plaque (cholesterol and fat) on the walls of the arteries. [Top]
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)	Borage oil (18-26%), black currant oil (15-20%), evening primrose oil (7-10%), fish, human mother's milk, fungal oils, spirulina (often called blue-green algae).	Reduces inflammation and prevents diseases; is much stronger than the information regarding use of GLA for these purposes. [Top]
Omega-3 Fatty Acids	Flaxseed, fish oil, cod liver oil, krill and fortified everyday foods like bread and fruit juices, whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, olive oil, garlic, moderate wine consumption.	Plays an important role as structural membrane lipids, particularly in nerve tissue and the retina and are precursors to eicosanoids - highly reactive substances such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes that act locally to influence a wide range of functions in cells and tissues. [Top]
Omega-6 Fatty Acids	Cereals, eggs, poultry, most vegetable oils, whole-grain breads, baked goods, organ meats, margarine.	Reduces the aches and pains of rheumatoid arthritis, relieves the discomforts of PMS, endometriosis, and fibrocystic breasts, reduces the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis, clears up acne and rosacea, prevents and improves diabetic neuropathy. [Top]
Omega-9 Fatty Acids (Oleic Acid)	Avocado fruit, Macadamia nuts, apricot seeds, almonds, olive oil.	Lowers blood levels of cholesterol. [Top]
Vitamin F (Fatty Acids)	Evening primrose oil, grape seed oil, flaxseed oil, and oils of grains, nuts and seeds, such as soybean, walnuts, sesame, sunflower, avocados, meat and fish like salmon, trout, mackerel and tuna.	Essential fatty acids maintain the function and integrity of cell membranes, transport, breakdown and excrete cholesterol and act as precursors to prostaglandins required in many physiological functions. Regulates oxygen use, electron transport and energy production. Helps form hemoglobin, maintain exocrine and endocrine glands, makejoint lubricants. Regulates blood pressure, platelet coagulation, kidney function; helps transport cholesterol, needed by active tissues; brain, retina, adrenal, testes; helps eliminate toxic peroxides, helps prevent allergies. [Top]
Oils	Sources	Function
Borage Oil	Black currant seed oil.	Improves circulation and hormonal balance—a great choice for women with PMS symptoms. [Top]
Cod Liver Oil	Fish.	Helps delay or even reverse the destruction of joint cartilage and inflammatory pain associated with arthritic disease, improves circulation and hormonal balance—a great choice for women with PMS symptoms. [Top]
Evening Primrose Oil	A small yellow wildflower (Oenothera biennis) has been used medicinally for centuries. The oil, pressed from the seed, is rich in linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid (EFA).	Cures, treats, or prevents practically everything—from rheumatoid arthritis, breast pain, hot flashes, premenstrual syndrome, eczema, and other skin problems to diabetic neuropathy, cancer, high blood cholesterol levels, and heart disease. [Top]
Fish Oil	Menhaden, pilchard, sardine, herring, salmon and fresh tuna.	Prevents heart disease, depression, cancer; alleviates auto-immune disorders, plus many other claims. [Top]
Fish Liver Oil	High potency livers from cod, shark, halibut.	Helps regulate the rhythm of the heart, prevent cardiac arrhythmias. [Top]
Flaxseed Oil	Flaxseed oil is obtained from the seed of the flax plant. It contains 50% to 60% omega-3 fatty acids. This amount is roughly double that contained in fish oil.	Prevents heart disease and cancer. Helpful in treating high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), arthritis, breast cancer, depression, burns, acne, asthma, menstrual pain; also proven helpful in protecting against certain infections and treating a variety of conditions including ulcers, migraine headaches, preterm labor, emphysema, psoriasis, glaucoma, Lyme disease, lupus, and panic attacks. [Top]
Linseed Oil.	Dried ripe linseeds	Commission E Indications—External: Local inflammation (cataplasm). Internal: Chronic constipation, colon damaged by laxative abuse, irritable colon, diverticulitis, gastritis (mucilage), irritable bowel syndrome, enteritis (mucilage). [Top]
Safflower Oil	Oil expressed from the seeds of the safflower	Beneficial for painful inflamed joints, and applied to bruises, sprains, and painful arthritis. [Top]
Wheat Germ Oil	Triticum aestivum, Triticum sativum, Triticum vulgare.	Promotes healthy skin. A natural antioxidant which helps to prevent rancidity. [Top]