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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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