Before we get into borage oil benefits, we must first understand what borage oil is. Borage oil comes from the borage plant, commonly known as the Starflower. The seeds from this plant contain the oil which is extracted and bottled as borage oil. The borage plant originated in Syria, but has spread over the Mediterranean region and North Africa.

What Are Borage Oil Benefits?

Apart from moisturizing the skin and providing a rich anti-aging treatment, borage oil benefits the joints of the body because of its high levels of GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), which helps to ease the pain of arthritis, as well as prevent its onset with regular use. Borage oil benefits the joints by keeping them lubricated, as well as containing a natural anti-inflammatory agent that prevents swelling and irritation.

Clinical Trials & Borage Oil

In international studies, scientists realized that in areas such as Syria and the Mediterranean region, there were very few cases of arthritis, and even bad skin conditions. Upon looking closer, it was discovered that the people in these regions used borage oil on a regular basis.

In clinical trials, it was revealed in a double-blind test that borage oil benefits joints that suffer from arthritis. On top of that, borage oil benefits the skin in treating eczema, psoriasis, and even acts as an anti-aging formula.

When compared to the rest of the world, places such as the United States and most of Europe had deficiencies in GLA (see above) and other nutrients offered through borage oil benefits, that the rest of the world seemed to have taken for granted as part of their daily lives.

Studies continue to be performed on borage oil benefits, but all clinical trial results point to the rich antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents as being beneficial to people, with having any drawbacks (read additional borage oil uses here).

What To Look For When Buying Borage Oil

If you are shopping around to find the right product to reap the benefits of borage oil, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, look for a high concentration of borage oil. If the product contains a lot of additives or processed chemicals, then you will not receive the full borage oil benefits. In fact, the product may even dry out your skin and not ease your arthritis in any way. Second, you want to make sure that the ingredients are all-natural.

These can be obtained from any number of reputable distributors of natural and organic health and beauty products. Last of all, you want to see that consumer reviews of various products are positive when it comes to borage oil benefits. Some reviews will show that a product takes a long time to show results.

Other reviews from customers show immediate pain relief and great-looking skin within days of trying borage oil. Some consumers even use borage oil benefits by adding a few drops to their pets’ food in order to give them shiny and healthy looking coats of fur.

Bottom Line

Rich in antioxidants and able to give soothing relief to aching joints, the many borage oil benefits have the product in high demand. For those looking to have young skin, a healthy glow, and ease the pain of arthritis, shopping around to find the best product that will allow you to take advantage of the many borage oil benefits is perhaps one of the healthiest and smartest decisions you can make.

Borage oil benefits have been known for centuries, but is has only been in recent years that science has been able to explain exactly how borage oil benefits the body, and now everyone who enjoys healthy living knows the secret.

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According to a study done by the National Institutes of Health, more than 37 percent of adults reported that they take some sort of fish oil supplement. Norwegian fish oil is a type of dietary supplement that has a high level of omega-3 fatty acid.

It is considered as one of the top sources of fish oil products and is made under conditions that me or exceeds strict Norwegian Medicinal Standards and European Pharmacopoeia Standards.

How is Norwegian Fish Oil Made?

Norwegian fish oil consists of two types of essential omega-3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Norwegian fish oil is made from salmon or cod caught off the Norwegian coastline. Both these types of fish are high in sources of omega 3 fatty acid and are good sources for the Norwegian fish oil products.

Benefits of Norwegian Fish Oil

Norwegian fish oil has been credited as being beneficial in the treatment of problems such as hypertension, heart disease, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual pain and the treatment of high cholesterol. It is also said to fight the formation of free radicals in the body and helps to keep the skin healthy and smooth, as well as preventing strokes.

It is recognized by the Food and Drug Administration for being able to lower bad cholesterol, which are the triglycerides found in blood. It is also being tested as a treatment for some types of cancer.

Scientific Testing on Norwegian Fish Oil

Testing results with Norwegian fish oil that was printed in the American Journal of Cardiology reported that when test subjects took .85 to 4 grams of Norwegian fish oil each day that it was seen to make the risk of a sudden heart attack lessen by between 20 and 50 percent.

Additional testing of Norwegian fish oil reported by the medical journal, “Pediatrics,” showed that supplementation in children may be responsible for increasing brain development, as children given fish oil supplementation got better grades in reading and spelling, as well as having better behavior during class.

In addition, a 1999 study on a group of men suffering from heart conditions were given one gram of Norwegian fish oil supplementation every day and after a period of two years it was found to reduce death due to sudden heart attack or other heart problems by between 20 and 45 percent.

Another test in 2007 on men in Japan who had thickened caratid arteries were given EPA supplements from fish oil and it was found that their blood circulation was improved when compared to the men who got a placebo instead.

Possible Side Effects Due to Norwegian Fish Oil

Some of the possible side effects that have been noted when using Norwegian fish oil supplementation are bad or fishy smelling breath, burping or gas retention, farting, nausea, bloating, cramps, diarrhea, or problems with blood not being able to clot normally.

It is also possible that Norwegian fish oil could be contaminated with substances such as mercury, PCBs, pesticides, or other toxins, however, since Norwegian waters are considered cleaner than some other locations.

PCBs or polychlorinated biphenyls were banned in the US and all of the UN members during the late 1970s, but some levels do still show up in some testing in the area of Europe, which does of course include the country of Norway.

Why is Norwegian Fish Oil Better?

Norwegian may be more expensive than other type of fish oil supplements, but this is due to the fact that it is likely to have less of a chance of contamination due to the cleaner water in the oceans near Norway where the fish are caught to make fish oil with.

Norway also instituted a ban on the making, using and exporting of any product containing mercury in 2008. Prior to that the waters around Norway were tested and found to have more than 1 milligram of mercury per gram of water.

Plus, a large percentage of the fish used for making Norwegian fish oil are farmed, so have access to clean water, this is not as likely as it has been in the past. Look for Norwegian fish oil products that list that they are free of such contamination on the labels.

The bottom line is that supplementation using Norwegian fish oil capsules can be beneficial to the health for several reasons, including a healthier heart, brain, skin, joints, and more (also look into Borage Oil)

Be sure to talk to your doctor if you are considering using Norwegian fish oil to see if it could react with any other medication or supplements you are currently using.

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Benefits of GLA Supplement

Omega-6 and omega-3 oils are necessary for good health and people must consume foods or GLA Supplement in order to get it. It is said to be a vital component in a person’s growth and healthy development. It also works to help maintain healthy bones, good metabolism and a healthy reproduction system.

GLA supplement will also help to reduce inflammation. A majority of GLA Supplement that people take will be turned into DGLA, which is what fights inflammation. A person must have a diet healthy in nutrients like zinc, magnesium, Vitamin C, Vitamin B3 and Vitamin B6 to help their body be able to make the conversion from GLA to DGLA.

Conditions that GLA Supplement Benefits

Diabetic neuropathy – Studies have revealed that if you take GLA supplement at least six months, it helps to lessen nerve pain symptoms. GLA works better in people with normal levels of blood sugar levels.

Rheumatoid arthritis — Studies using evening primrose oil showed that it may help lessen the pain of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as get rid of swelling, and stiffness. It should be taken for at least three months to see the expected results.

Allergies — GLA supplement like evening primrose oil has also been used to treat allergies. Studies show that women and children who had allergies were low in GLA in their bodies.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) –Studies have suggested that ADHD suffers have less omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids in their bodies. Since these are needed for good brain function, some research says that if the take GLA supplement like fish oil or other choices that it may help lessen the symptoms of ADHD.

Breast cancer—Another study showed that if breast cancer patients combined GLA supplement with tamoxifen that they had a better response than if they only took the tamoxifen to treat their estrogen sensitive cancer.

Eczema—It is also possible that GLA supplement may lessen the problems of caused by eczema. Studies with people taking evening primrose oil for up to five months, however, had no change in their symptoms.

Hypertension – Some studies say GLA supplement may help to lower blood pressure. A study where men who had high blood pressure took blackcurrant oil up to six grams a day ended up with lower blood pressure readings than men who didn’t take the blackcurrant oil.

Menopause—GLA supplement in the form of evening primrose oil is said to help in getting rid of hot flashes that occur during menopause in some women. There has been no proof of this claim, but some women swear by it and say that it does help.

Mastalgia—Tests using GLA supplement in the form of evening primrose oil show that it might be useful in getting rid of breast pain and tenderness in the case of cyclic mastalgia sufferers.

Osteoporosis—GLA supplement testing was also done with women over 65 years old taking them along with EPA supplements for three years. During this timeframe, the women who took the supplements had less bone loss than those who didn’t take any supplement.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)—Some women also say that GLA supplement such as evening primrose oil helps to lessen their PMS symptoms such as tender breasts, depression, irritability, swelling and bloating.

Sjögren’s syndrome –A study done in 2005 revealed that patients who had Sjögren’s syndrome and who took GLA and linoleic acid had a major improvement in the levels of eye discomfort and tear production.

Dosage and Administration

GLA Supplement can be found in capsule form in several concentrations. The dosage varies from 3650 milligrams to 2.8 grams a day and it is taken once a day with food. The amount of the dose depends on what you are taking it for. For instance, about 2 grams a day is good for treating high cholesterol, while lower doses may be enough to treat arthritis pain.

Possible Side Effects of GLA Supplement

Anyone with a seizure disorder should not take GLA supplement. If you are having elective surgery, stop taking GLA supplement two weeks prior to the surgical procedure. Pregnant women shouldn’t take it because it may induce labor.

Do not take GLA supplement in a dose over 3,000 milligrams a day or it may cause inflammation in the body. Other possible side effects include headache, stomach pain, diarrhea, low blood pressure, and could cause prostate tumor cells to grow faster.

When buying a GLA supplement, be sure it is from a well-known manufacturer and it has been tested and properly formulated.

All in all GLA supplement has been shown to be beneficial in helping to treat certain conditions and further testing is planned to see if it can help in other conditions as well. If you wish to buy GLA supplement it is easy to find it in health food, vitamin, or pharmacy stores or online.

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What is Borage Seed Oil?

Borage seed oil is made from the borage plant (or starflower). Native to Syria, this plant has since grown in abundance throughout Europe, Africa, and even North America. Borage oil is typically extracted from borage seeds by using a cold press method so that the borage seed oil preserves all of its many healthful benefits.

What are the benefits of Borage Seed Oil?

Borage seed oil has only recently made its way to the forefront of health digests because of its many benefits. Borage oil contains powerful antioxidants to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease. Borage seed oil has also been used topically to strengthen skin, as well as treating eczema and psoriasis. For those suffering from thrombosis, borage oil is recommended to reduce the pain, swelling, and inflammation. Regular doses of borage seed oil also greatly improves circulation, while also removing harmful free radicals from the body.

Clinical Trials & Borage Seed Oil

For many years, scientists studies natural medicine in the Middle East and came to a realization that very few people there suffered from high blood pressure and heart disease. After examining the diets of people in places such as Syria, scientists narrowed down the reasons for such low percentages of people at risk to a consumption of borage oil.

Borage seed oil contains natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that lower cholesterol and reverse the symptoms of arthritis and thrombosis. It has also been proven to regulate blood pressure. When used as an ointment or topical skin treatment, borage seed oil has been proven to reduce swelling in inflamed areas. It is also used to treat a number of skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema.

In fact, laboratory studies have even shown that the powerful benefits of borage seed oil can be used to treat severe illnesses, such as angina and asthma. Women in Syria and Mediterranean countries have been using borage oil for countless generations to ease and reduce the symptoms associated with menopause.

What to look for when buying Borage Seed Oil

First and foremost, when shopping for borage seed oil you want to be certain to check its purity. A few companies will often blend borage oil with other vegetable oils, and then try to pass it off as borage seed oil. Make sure that the contents list 100% pure borage seed oil to ensure that you get all of the healthy benefits that this oil has to offer.

Second, you want to make sure that the borage seed oil was obtained through a cold press method. Any other type of processing will reduce (or even nullify) the powerful antioxidants and other agents that can only be preserved if the borage oil is obtained through a cold press method.

Lastly, you might want to check for the “organic” label. While it is not necessary that you buy certified organic borage seed oil to get all of the benefits, there are those who adhere to strict organic diets, and for them borage seed oil that is certified organic means they can reap the benefits without harming their diets.

Bottom Line

Whether you are using it in cooking, as a daily supplement, or as part of a natural treatment regimen, borage seed oil is very powerful in helping to reduce cholesterol and to reverse signs of aging in the skin. As a topical anti-inflammatory to reduce swelling, or to combat the onset of menopause, borage seed oil will help to give you a clean bill of health, both inside and out.

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