Dr. Dave's Mega-O

The summer of omega-3s

2011-07-17T05:37:00.000-07:00

Summer! It is, barring the occasional return to fall-like weather if you live in the Pacific Northwest, finallly summer, a time of cookouts, picnics, and outdoor activities. We may have more regular omega-3 consumption from a myriad of fish or meat from free-range, grass-fed animals, at the same time that we are more active and feeling those aches and pains come to life. A very interesting article came out at the end of last year. bringing together results from many different research trials on rheumatoid arthritis. The authors found good data for omega-3s helping to relieve tender points and decrease the use of pain medicines, but most effectively in the range of about 3 grams of DHA+EPA daily, and benefits usually take a few months to kick in. Most of us won't achieve that amount of DHA+EPA with an extra salmon fillet on the grill, making omega-3 supplementation still an important addition to healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle. Here is a link to the article:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=proceedings%20of%20hte%20nutrition%20society.%202010%3B69%3A316-323

This month's flavor

2011-01-30T21:42:00.001-08:00

Hello all. We here at Dr. Dave's Omega-3 Foods want to say thank you for a great holiday season. We hope all of you enjoyed our special flavors, mojito (November) and chai (December). We will be returning to our good ole' standard Dr. Dave's Mega-O Vegetarian mint in addition to our Dr. Dave's Mega-O Orange Shine (always available). May these flavors help you to meet your and your loved one's (remember, Valentine's Day is approaching!) daily omega-3 needs!

Holiday flavor!

2010-12-29T08:52:00.000-08:00

We have been branching out from our standard blockbuster flavors this holiday season. November and part of December featured Dr. Dave's Mega-O Vegetarian Mojito, a delicious blend of mint, lime and rum extract. What a joy to receive omega-3s every day mixed with those tantalizing flavors. Last week, we brought back the ever-popular Dr. Dave's Mega-O Vegetarian Chai, sublty spicy and holiday-esque, perfect for your post-New Year's resolutions that surely involve weaving more omega-3s into your daily life. As always, you can order your omega-3 chocolates directly from our website, o3foods.com, or visit the Seattle-area Whole Foods Market Roosevelt Square.

Fish oil use in pregnancy: research article

2010-10-21T10:51:00.001-07:00

It is now commonplace for pregnant women to take prenatal vitamins and a DHA omega-3 supplement on the premise that the DHA helps the brain development in the fetus and newborn after delivery. Initial research was excitingly positive, but yesterday the journal JAMA released findings from Australia that supplementation with 800 mg DHA (and 100 mg EPA) daily during pregnancy did not lead to significant cognitive improvement in the infant at 18 months of age, nor did it decrease the chance that women would have postpartum depression. The group taking omega-3s did have a decrease in the rate of preterm labor. There are many factors to consider when trying to determine whether or not to "believe" the results of this article. The researchers mention fish intake outside of the study could be a factor, as well as dose, EPA/DHA ratio, and the general applicability of the women being studied to women from other countries. The bottom line is that research into the effect of omega-3s will only help our clinical use of these important nutrients, and this study adds one piece of data to the overall picture. There is little to no risk to taking omega-3 supplements, so most women will probably continue to add them to their prenatal regimen on the chance that there is some benefit, the details of which will hopefully be elucidated by future research.

Here is the link if you would like to read more:

www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/health/research/20fishoil.html?scp=1&sq=fish%20oil&st=cse

Stay tuned for a New Flavor!

2010-09-30T08:28:00.001-07:00

Dr. Dave's Omega-3 Foods is proud to plant the seed of an upcoming new flavor. Since our company's inception in 2007, delicious flavors such as mint, orange, mocha, and ginger have made your daily omega-3s absolutely delicious, a treat to look forward to as you meet your health goals. In addition, special edition flavors such as chai tea, and cayenne-cinnamon were hot-selling (no pun intended), exciting variations on what your palates had come to expect from chocolate. What amazing flavor could possibly be coming next? Stay tuned!

Omega-3s and vision

2010-08-31T11:34:00.000-07:00

Keen that omega-3s can be helpful for maintenance of healthy vision, we were recently contacted by a Seattle-based optometrist who expressed interest in using our chocolates as attention-assuring treats during a lunchtime talk about omega-3s and eyes. The data that surfaces on a search of PubMed seems to indicate slowing of macular degeneration, improvement of dry eyes, and some assistance with visual development in young children and infants. Thanks to our opthalmologic colleagues for weaving our omega-3 enhanced chocolate delights into their profession!

Your Summer of Omega-3s

2010-07-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

A fun, and seasonal, combination of factors finds many people getting their omega-3s from salmon on the grill, while at the same time the extreme heat in most parts of the country makes for difficult Dr. Dave's Mega-O shipping. A customer contacted us recently and her 4 boxes of Dr. Dave's Mega-O Vegetarian mocha were a congealed mass of melted, then cooled, dark chocolate, algae oil, and other ingredients. Even with cooler packs, it is very difficult to ship our products to your door in the summer and have it arrive fresh. So, Dr. Dave's Omega-3 Foods LLC is planning to stop on-line orders August 1, resuming shipping this fall (approximately mid-September), following suit with many other chocolate companies that have done the same over the years. We encourage all of you lovers of Dr. Dave's Mega-O chocolates to branch out this summer, grill some salmon on the grill, experiment with salads full of plant-based omega-3s, and await the return of our omega-3 delights this fall.
One note: for those of you in Seattle, it is still possible to purchase our products in the Whole Body section of Whole Foods Market Roosevelt Square.

National Center for Creative Aging

2010-06-21T09:11:00.000-07:00

The producer of the algae oil for Dr. Dave's Mega-O Vegetarian chocolates, Martek Biosciences, was involved with a recent event co-sponsored by the National Center for Creative Aging (www.creativeaging.org). The Beautiful Minds dinner served numerous foods enhanced with DHA, including our chocolates. See our facebook site for the attached menu of an incredible array of foods that can help provide brain-friendly DHA. The Center is an interesting clearinghouse of information about how creativity (music, arts, etc) can help to keep one's mind fresh and young; see their website for links and tips!

Dr Dave's Mega-O on Facebook

2010-05-31T22:07:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true. Dr. Dave's Mega-O arrives into the 21st century confidently and anything-but-covertly by engaging the Facebook medium for some of the same content you will find here, but with more photos and links. And, of course, you can see who else is a Dr Dave's Mega-O fan, perhaps learning their omega-3 truffle secrets and successes. Visit us! (www.facebook.com/pages/Dr-Daves-Mega-O/94609779602?ref=ts)

Two Dr. Dave's Mega-O tricks

2010-04-30T09:13:00.000-07:00

As a physician with integrative medicine training, I am keen to the importance of nutrition in all aspects of health and healing. However, I also like to have a bit of fun with what I eat, and switch it up sometimes. Perhaps that is why my normal yogurt/cereal breakfast morphed into a two-truffle, yerba maté combination one day last week. It was wonderful, kept me satiated for a couple of hours and I could just feel those omega-3s coursing through my veins. Do this every day? Probably not. But, on occasion, this might be part of my regimen.

Trick two. I just spoke with one of my chocolatiers who reminded me that the ganache (inside) in our chocolates is creamier and tastier if left to warm up to room temperature. I recommend that Dr. Dave's Mega-O chocolates be refrigerated until eaten in order to preserve the omega-3s on the inside, but letting them warm up slightly before eating them would be just fine and might make them even more delicious! Try it!

A Good Omega-3 Summary

2010-03-02T08:22:00.000-08:00

Europe is ahead of the omega-3 curve, both in research and in staying up-to-date about the latest news. This summary article about the state of affairs in omega-3 research and marketing is well done, pointing out what we know and where some of the holes are in our understanding. Give it a read and let me know what you think:

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8543172.stm

Dr. Dave's Mega-O makes top of Valentine's Day list!

2010-02-11T10:10:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is a coming together of many interesting themes. At the same time that we honor our "sweeties" with sweets and flowers, the symbol of the heart conjures up images of everlasting love. In more literal terms, gifts of chocolate (arguably dark chocolate and, this somewhat biased blog would add, chocolates enhanced with omega-3s) may be directly heart-healthy, helping lovers to years and years of health and happiness together.

It was an honor, then, for Dr. Dave's Mega-O chocolates to be the top of Karen Leland's Valentine's Day chocolate list as mentioned in the on-line news source, The Huffington Post. Some excellent chocolatiers are mentioned there (including Theo Chocolates and Gail Ambrosius, two with whom Dr. Dave's Mega-O works to create these omega-3 delights). Enjoy!

www.huffingtonpost.com/karen-leland/10-top-dark-chocolates-fo_b_455811.html

Omega-3s and Aging

2010-01-26T16:15:00.000-08:00

Lifestyle and nutritional interventions to prevent or reverse aging are hot topics nowadays. Research abounds, and a wide variety of products and services are available to help people feel younger. In some cases, the proposed mechanism(s) seem plausible, while in other cases the marketing efforts outweigh the underlying science. Add in the emerging field of epigenetics, where influences of nutrition, lifestyle, and possible dietary supplements can conceivably cause changes in our chromosomes (DNA), and we finally have a way to explain, if not evaluate, some of these claims. As with many other nutrients, omega-3 research can involve both aging and epigenetics.

Two weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal (online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703837004575013393566949312.html) featured the results from a study linking omega-3 levels in the blood to changes in the aging process. The study was published in JAMA, a well-known medical journal, and followed 608 people with stable coronary artery disease over five years, checking their blood DHA and EPA levels (the "marine" omega-3 fatty acids), and measuring the length of their DNA at the beginning and the end. As we age, the ends of DNA (called telomeres) gets deleted, so telomere length can be a crude measure of biological age; essentially, shorter telomeres mean that DNA is biologically older.

In this trial, the group of people with a higher level of omega-3s in the blood (presumably corresponding to a higher omega-3 intake), had longer telomeres and therefore were biologically younger. The researchers figured that this was due to antioxidant effects as well as effects on certain enzymes that helped to protect the DNA.

Another interesting thrust of the blossoming omega-3 research and one that beckons the question: further reason to eat Dr. Dave's Mega-O omega-3 enhanced chocolate?

New York Times article

2009-12-23T06:55:00.000-08:00

As you have probably noticed, there are more and more articles about omega-3 fatty acids. From magazines, to well-known newspapers like the New York Times, many of the important health and ecological issues surrounding omega-3 fatty acids are being discussed. For example, last week this article appeared (www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/opinion/16greenberg.html?_r=2&em), mentioning the unsustainable harvest of menhaden fish for many fish oils.

I take several lessons from this well-written article:

1) It is extremely important to critically evaluate any supplement you might be taking, with respect to quality, dose, ingredients, etc.

2) More specific to fish oil, I only recommend fish oil products from certain species of fish and with a strong environmental track record; for this reason, I chose to work with Pharmax LLC.

3) Algae oil continues to be a very interesting alternative to fish oil, avoiding all of these issues. Consider indulging in one of Dr. Dave's Mega-O Vegetarian flavors!

Happy Holidays!

The Wall Street Journal features omega-3's

2009-09-15T10:11:00.000-07:00

An excellent review of omega-3s appears in today's Wall Street Journal. In the article entitled "Probing Health Benefits from Eating Omega 3s", writer Jeanne Whalen discusses the beneficial effects of fish oil and other omega-3 sources on inflammation, triglycerides and conditions like epilepsy. This article is essentially an affirmation of the omega-3 information we have know about for a few years, though the author leaves out one very important piece; the absolutely delicious and convenient Dr. Dave's Mega-O truffle option!

Sustainability

2009-07-07T09:48:00.000-07:00

I recently ran across an article that touches on a very important subject, namely, the connection of our medical recommendations and ecological sustainability. The authors of the article "Are dietary recommendations for the use of fish oils sustainable?" (Jenkins DJA, et al. CMAJ. 2009;180(6):633-637) discuss the paradox of the well-proven benefits of fish and fish oil consumption on human health and the fact that many fisheries are in trouble as well as well the fact that there are contaminants such as mercury and PCBs in some species caught from some areas. There is also a mention at the article's end of some of the alternatives to fish oil (like algae and, less ideally, plants). From my exploration into these issues, I still feel like there are good and bad ways to catch fish, and that the companies with whom I work have ecologically-admirable practices; I don't feel like we need to abandon our fish oil recommendations, yet. I am also glad to offer all of you our algae line, Dr. Dave's Mega-O Vegetarian truffles. I think the issue of sustainability always needs to be in our thoughts, and I welcome more articles like this one as omega-3s continue to be studied and recommended in clinical practice.

Seattle Food Geek

2009-07-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

There are many very interesting food bloggers in the Seattle area, one of which, Seattle Food Geek, recently wrote a nice description of Dr. Dave's Mega-O chocolates. Visit www. seattlefoodgeek.com and type "Mega-O" into the search box to see the posting. And, I agree that our truffles are much better than flax seed sprinkled onto Snickers bars!

Press Release: Whole Foods Market (Seattle and Bellevue)

2009-06-03T07:46:00.000-07:00

SEATTLE (June 2, 2009) – Dr. Dave’s Omega-3 Foods announces that Dr. Dave’s Mega-O™ , dark chocolate truffles enhanced with omega-3 fatty acid, is now available for purchase in two Seattle-area Whole Foods Market locations – Roosevelt Square and Bellevue. The move into the national grocery space, a first for the company, gives Dr. Dave’s Omega-3 Foods the opportunity to help more people meet their daily omega-3 needs by eating one delicious, dark chocolate truffle.

“We are very excited to partner with Whole Foods Market and have access to a much larger audience of health conscious consumers.” says Dr. David Kiefer, MD, founder of Dr. Dave’s Omega-3 Foods. “The Whole Foods Market team leaders and buyers are keen to support local products, which led to them bringing Dr. Dave's Mega-O chocolates into the Roosevelt Square (Seattle) and Bellevue stores. Of course, they also love how the truffles taste! ”

Both Whole Foods Market locations will showcase Dr. Dave’s Mega-O™ as a local Pacific Northwest product. The company’s headquarters is not the only tie to the Seattle area; local chocolatiers, Chocolati and Theo Chocolates, produce the gourmet dark chocolate truffles for the two Seattle stores, using Dr. Dave’s Omega-3 Foods’ unique patent-pending recipes.

Dr. Dave’s Omega-3 Foods was started by Dr. David Kiefer, a board-certified family physician in Seattle. While focusing on integrative medicine during a two-year fellowship with Dr. Andrew Weil at the University of Arizona, he became determined to find a more appetizing way to deliver the medical benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.

“The evidence is irrefutable for the benefits of omega-3s for the heart, joints, brain, and eyes, and it can help to lower triglycerides,” says Dr. Kiefer. “However, it can be difficult to get enough omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, and unless you want to eat a salmon filet every day, the current supplement options are not too tasty.”

Omega-3 fatty acids are necessary every day for optimal health; DHA and EPA are the two most active omega-3 fatty acids. Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of heart disease, help with joint pain and eye function, and lower triglycerides. DHA may also benefit childhood and fetal brain development, which is why it is recommended for children and pregnant women.

Dr. Dave’s Mega-O™ truffles are the result of Dr. Kiefer’s efforts to provide people an irresistible source of omega-3s. Each ½-ounce truffle has only 80 calories and provides a daily serving of omega-3 fatty acids in the form of either fish oil or algal oil. The truffles are packaged seven to a box (the “Week Pack”), a convenient amount and reminder that omega-3s should be part of everyone’s day. Both Dr. Dave’s Mega-O™ Original and Vegetarian product lines will be available for purchase in the Whole Body refrigerators at Whole Foods Market.

Dr. Dave’s Mega-O™ Original Truffles: Made with Pharmax Finest Pure Fish Oil and have 500 milligrams of DHA + EPA. Available in one flavor: Orange Shine.

Dr. Dave’s Mega-O™ Vegetarian Truffles: Made with organic Life’s DHA® algal oil and have 200 milligrams of DHA. These truffles come in orange, mint, mocha, and ginger.

About Dr. Dave’s Omega-3 Foods

Seattle-based Dr. Dave’s Omega-3 Foods provides a delicious way for people to get their daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids in just one serving. Dr. Dave’s Mega-O™ Truffles combine delicious, artisan dark chocolate with DHA and EPA, the omega-3 fatty acids necessary for healthy joints and skin, and heart and brain function. Company founder, David Kiefer, MD, came up with this recipe working with chocolatiers in Seattle, WA, (Chocolati and Theo Chocolates) and Madison, WI (Gail Ambrosius). Each truffle has a day’s worth of omega-3s, is great-tasting and healthy; these truffles are the perfect guilt-free indulgence.

Dr. Dave’s Mega-O™ truffles are available for purchase in several Seattle, WA, and Madison, WI, stores, as well as online. For more information about the company or to place an order, please visit: www.o3foods.com

Dr. Dave's Mega-O mailing list

2009-05-29T09:13:00.001-07:00

Yes, it's here! By popular request and technological evolution, I am bringing you an easy way to stay up on Dr. Dave's Mega-O info, receive updates on omega-3 fatty acid research, and have your inbox contain other interesting tidbits.

How else would you learn that just for two weeks in May we had incredibly tasty and healthy Cayenne-Cinnamon flavored truffles? And, just before that, Chai? Or, the exciting Whole Foods Market launch? My mailing list members will be the first to learn of these developments.

To sign up, merely send an email to me: dave@o3foods.com

You can purchase Dr. Dave's Mega-O at Whole Foods starting this Saturday, May 16

2009-05-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

The team leaders and buyers at Whole Foods have an interest in supporting local products, which led to them bringing Dr. Dave's Mega-O chocolates into the Roosevelt Square (Seattle) and Bellevue stores beginning this Saturday, May 16.

Stop by Saturday afternoon from 2-4:30 when Dr. Dave himself will be handing out samples as part of the Roosevelt Square "Loco for Local" festival. It should be an exciting event, with numerous new local products, free samples, and opportunities to learn about health, organic food, and omega-3 fatty acids. I'll see you there!

"Are your truffles round or rectangular?"

2009-05-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

Ahh, yes. This is a common question. I have several chocolatiers use my recipe to make the Dr. Dave's Mega-O truffles, and some prefer a classic round shape (as most of the pictures on the website) and others use rectangular molds. You may receive EITHER or BOTH, depending on your order. Just think of it as a surprise, keeping you on the edge of your seat in omega-3 expectation!

And, the root of this "issue" is my desire to create healthy, delicious chocolates with the lowest carbon footprint possible; I use local chocolatiers for my primary markets, letting them source local ingredients as long as they adhere to my recipe parameters and ensure a daily dose of omega-3s per truffle. This keeps down shipping costs, therefore using less fuel, and supports local businesses around the U.S.

Foodzie, an on-line farmers market

2009-03-26T09:08:00.000-07:00

I wanted to announce to all of you about a fantastic website, www. foodzie.com, dedicated to high-quality foods from "small, passionate" growers and producers. I read about them when they were mentioned in the New York Times, and thought it was a great idea, a virtual farmers market to tide us all over until we get to a real farmers market. Since, they decided to list Dr. Dave's Mega-O truffles (thanks, Foodzie!), as well as the amazing Tootski's Toffee that my cousin Susan makes in Madison, Wisconsin. Check them out!

The Economy, again

2009-03-25T07:28:00.000-07:00

I guess the economy is on my mind (anybody else?). The Seattle Times yesterday reported about how sweets are still a part of people's lives in the U.S. We've shed expensive dinners, lavish trips, clothing shopping sprees, and a new car, but bring on the chocolate. This news made me glad on several levels, one of which is because my dark chocolates deliver omega-3's, that all-important nutrient that other entries in this blog have been exploring. My hope that I can help all of us get our daily omega-3's in a delicious way appears to be surviving the economic downturn. If you are interested, I've posted the article's link below:

seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008912270_candy24.html

Daily Candy

2009-03-09T20:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Daily Candy Seattle (www.dailycandy.com) folks for a witty summary of Dr. Dave's Omega-3 Foods' vision, deliciousness, and omega-3s. Spreading the word of omega-3 health and the options (i.e. dark-chocolate!) that are out there. Thank you!

On that note, with double-digit percentage increases in omega-3 sales each year (with more and more predicted in the years to come), many products are available. For example, this week at the large trade show called Expo West (www.expowest.com), I would estimate that at least 10% of the 2700 vendors had omega-3 products of some type. I saw omega-3 drinks, omega-3 bars, omega-3 powders, omega-3 liquids, you name. Sometimes, it can difficult to determine which is the best, which works, which doesn't work. As I have always said, I recommend sticking to the recommendations for daily doses that come out of research groups and reputable organizations and always count milligrams of DHA and EPA in each serving. And, always ask about the source of omega-3s.

Functional Foods in Japan

2009-01-26T15:37:00.000-08:00

The idea of enriching foods with other nutrients, just as I am doing with the omega-3's in chocolate, is not a new idea. It has been tried over the years with such ingredients as vitamin D (milk) and calcium (orange juice), and in many different cultures. The cross-cultural aspect of functional foods in general and chocolate in particular is nicely summarized in a recent segment on Public Radio International's "The World".

Check out the link: www.theworld.org/?q=node/23644

The are many interesting issues brought up in this interview surrounding the pros/cons of using single ingredients as 'magic bullets' versus relying on the whole foods to provide us optimal health and wellness. Let me know what you think!

Martek Biosciences website helps to locate omega-3 products

2009-01-06T17:12:00.000-08:00

As with Dr. Dave's Omega-3 Foods, other companies are trying to help people meet their daily omega-3 requirements. One way to find such companies is on the Martek Biosciences website (consumer.martek.com/findinglifesdha/partnerproducts/). Martek is the only U.S. manufacturer of algae-based DHA, a good way for vegetarians to receive their daily omega-3 fatty acids. Stay tuned for algae oils that provide both DHA and EPA, more similar to what is found in fish and fish oil, and closer to what we need physiologically to fight inflammation, improve cholesterol levels, and support brain development. On a side note, as much as I absolutely support Michael Pollan's approach to food and eating (Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.), omega-3 enhanced foods like Dr. Dave's Mega-O, often referred to as "functional foods", are a convenient way to meet the recommended omega-3 levels and often easier than trying to reach those levels by simply eating the foods that contain omega-3's. Let me know your favorite omega-3 products; I'm always interested in trying delicious creations!

Clearinghouse for omega-3 information

2008-11-17T10:26:00.000-08:00

With the popularity of omega-3's and increasing research showing their positive effects on and prevention of many health conditions, I have noticed the explosion of omega-3 information on the internet and in written form. I occasionally check in with GOED (), an omega-3 industry trade organization for new trends/research about omega-3's. Under thier "Latest News" category, I noticed a link to "Omega-3 Learning For Health and Medicine" out of Purdue University (http://www.omega3learning.purdue.edu/). This is an excellent source of information for both omega-3 consumers and health care providers. Check it out!

The Economy and Health

2008-10-14T17:21:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I may well be moved to write about a health-related topic beyond my omega-3 passion. The past couple of weeks have seen serious economic concerns surface, with a wildly fluctuating stock market, the evaporation of banks and retirement savings, and general worry all around. I thought that an intriguing article in the New York Times ("Are Bad Times Healthy" by Tara Parker-Pope, on October 7, 2008) started to address the idea that economic uncertainty and downswings (I refuse to say "recession") affect people's health, some more than others. On a personal note, these past couple of weeks have reinforced my need to maintain a strong body, mind, and spirit, remembering even more the importance of good nutrition that, yes, includes omega-3's!

First Annual Northwest Chocolate Festival

2008-09-14T20:57:00.000-07:00

Kudos to all of the organizers, planners, volunteers, chefs, chocolatiers and presenters for an incredible First Annual Northwest Chocolate Festival (www.nwchocolatefestival.com) in Portland, Oregon, this past weekend! I had the privilege of giving one talk (The Ecology and Ethnobotany of Theobroma cacao), sharing my chocolates during the evening Gala, and tasting numerous incredible chocolate creations from the area. I learned about vegan truffles, Aztec chocolate drinks, and many amazing local chocolatiers. Keep posted for similar festivals that may be held in Seattle and Vancouver this upcoming year!

Ayurvedic omega-3 truffles?

2008-08-17T19:40:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true. Everybody needs omega-3's! For example, if you are Vata dominant, consider a box of Dr. Dave's Mega-O Vegetarian Orange. For the Pitta out there, lean instead towards the Dr. Dave's Mega-O Vegetarian Mint. And, last but not least, Kaphas do great with Dr. Dave's Mega-O Ginger, activating their constitution and helping on many levels. The folks at the Seattle Vida Wellness Spa (www.vidawellness.com), a health and wellness center focused on the Ayurvedic doshas, now offer these versions of Dr. Dave's Mega-O truffles. So, if you are in the area, swing by, buy a box of the relevant flavor, and take advantage of all the great services they offer!

Zingbars.com

2008-07-09T07:12:00.001-07:00

Hello all. In the process of tasting foods out there on the market, and, when I'm out and about and hungry, I occasionally run across amazing products. Check out the Zing Nutrition Bars. These struck a chord with me because, as you can read about on their website, they too found a dearth of healthy, nutritionally-sound products out there; I was frustrated with the quality of omega-3 sources available, one of the reasons I wanted to bring you the tasty, high-dose, high-healthy Dr. Dave's Mega-O line. The founders of Zing are nutritionists and use only wholesome ingredients, AND they are delicious. Just a FYI.

Why the corn syrup?

2008-06-09T15:09:00.000-07:00

I always encourage people (friends, family, patients, etc.) to read nutrition labels and ingredient lists. Much as Michael Pollan mentions in his books/lectures, I too am nervous when ingredients number more than a few or sound more like chemicals than food. There are also many compounds that we now know or suspect are harmful to human health. I brought an awareness of these points to the development of Dr. Dave's Mega-O truffles: my first goal was to maximize the omega-3 dose per serving, and secondly, I wanted to make the rest of the ingredients high-quality and healthy. The Dr. Dave's Mega-O Original line (using fish oil) has a very small amount of corn syrup on the inside to smooth out the texture of the truffle and keep it fresh longer. This is NOT, I stress, NOT high-fructose corn syrup, a potentially harmful compound. Rather, I use regular corn syrup and in small enough amounts to improve the taste and texture without contributing to any physiologically-relevant effects for most people. I hope this helps to answer some of the questions that have come up regarding this ingredient. And, as an aside: the Dr. Dave's Mega-O Vegetarian line does not use any corn syrup.

Check out www.festivore.com

2008-06-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of spreading the word of healthy and locally-made foods, the developers of www.festivore.com have listed Dr. Dave's truffles in their chocolate section. I recommend this site and the related site, www.thefourthelement.org, to anyone interested in healthy eating, sustainability, and finding restaurants that share these ethics. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Omega-3 Dosing and Labeling

2008-03-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

Omega-3 dosing and food labeling can be very confusing. How healthy is flax seed bread? Is 30 milligrams of omega-3 enough? A recent Wall Street Journal captured this issue nicely, I thought.

You can read the article: Fish-Oil Doses Can Be Hard To Swallow

I felt compelled to write a letter to the editor about this well-researched article. Drop me a line (dave@o3foods.com) if you would like me to send you a copy of the letter.

Dr. Dave's Mega-O Video

2008-03-11T15:09:00.000-07:00

This is a brilliant creation by friends of mine. It is also your chance to see me speak about Dr. Dave's Mega-O truffles, including the origin of the idea and the benefits of omega-3's, not to mention witness some incredible acting. Enjoy!

Testimonials

2008-03-10T15:11:00.000-07:00

Since Dr. Dave's Mega-O truffles made their debut a few months ago, people have been emailing me their praises. I wanted to share these with you in case that is also how YOU feel. Read on!

"The chocolates are divine!" (Food professor)

"It's like a vitamin but way better." (Singer-songwriter, athlete, age 16)

"I am finishing my daily O-3 dose (and am enjoying it immensely...). I gave one box of truffles to my assistant. Both she and I are loving them. There's nothing like being able to justify eating a pieice of chocolate with "it's good for me"!" (Attorney)

"Dear Willy Wonka. Or, would that be Dr. Willy Wonka to you?...You are brilliant. My wife is hooked." (Teacher)

"It tastes rad!" (Health food store employee)

"I (really) love these chocolates. I start my day with a truffle and a glass of soy milk, and I feel great." (Physical therapist)

Healthy Talk Radio

2008-02-10T18:27:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Dr. Deborah Watson and all of the listeners/callers last Friday, February 8, 2008, as we discussed the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, and how certain foods (yes, I am partly thinking of truffles) can help people meet their omega-3 needs. For those of you who were not able to listen to the program, you can access past programs on their website: www.healthytalkradio.com/index.cfm/5160.

How do I pronounce Mega-O?

2008-01-30T09:49:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone. Thanks for visiting this web-based clearinghouse for information about Dr. Dave's Omega-3 Foods. I will try to keep you updated about the food products coming out of this endeavor, omega-3 tidbits, chocolate facts, etc., so STAY TUNED.

Until then, there has been some confusion about the pronunciation of the name, Mega-O. Contrary to friend's jokes and competitor's claims, it is NOT pronounced 'mega zero.' Rather, alluding to the amazing taste and health benefits conveyed with each and every bite, I prefer and encourage Mega-O to be pronounced "mega oh!". This is, of course, also a play on the type of fatty acids (omega-3) woven into the truffle ganache. Enough! Now, go out there and enjoy your truffle AND daily dose of omega-3's!!