Frequently Asked Questions

What is Omega XL®?

Omega XL® is a unique blend of Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids extracted under a patented process from Perna Canaliculus oil extract and Hoki. The oil is the combination of active omega fatty acids and the Perna Canaliculus oil extract (Green Lipped Mussel).

Does Omega XL® have any negative Side Effects?

Omega XL® has no known negative side effects.

What is the recommended Dosage?

Recommended dosage for maximum results is (2) Omega XL® soft gel capsules taken daily with or without your meal. If you are experiencing high levels of pain on a personal level, you may want to increase your dosage to 4 capsules a day. You may want to consult with your physician or health care practitioner before taking more than the recommended dosage. Please make sure to store Omega XL® in a cool dry place.

ALLOW 8-12 WEEKS OF CONTINUAL USAGE FOR BEST RESULTS

Will Omega XL® interfere with any other medications?

Omega XL® is a nutraceutical product. This means that Omega XL® is 100% all natural and can not hurt you, nor will it interfere with any other medications.

Can I take Omega XL® if I'm allergic to Fish?

Yes, there are no properties from fish that would cause an allergic reaction.

Is Omega XL® approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration)?

Omega XL® is not a drug nor is it medication. Omega XL® is a 100% all-natural organic product thus it does not require the Food & Drug Administrations approval. However, Omega XL® does meet and conform to the Food and Drug Administrations requirements for nutraceutical products.

What can Omega XL® be taken for?

Omega XL® can help reduce the inflammation process for the following conditions:

• Joint Problems
• Skin Disorders
• Breathing Difficulties caused by inflammation
• Immune Disorders

Can a healthy person without any inflammatory disorders take Omega XL®?

Since Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for the human diet it should be taken daily even if you don't initially suffer from inflammatory disorders. Children and your family pets can take Omega XL® too. Omega Fatty acids have also shown to be effective for helping blood circulation, a healthy heart, and brain function.

What are Omega-3 & Omega-6 fatty acids?

Two basic categories of PUFA's(poly unsaturated fatty acids) which have received a lot of attention to human nutrition are the Omega 6 and the Omega 3 PUFA's. Omega 6 PUFA's are contained in all vegetable oils. Some of Omega 6's are considered more valuable, such as GLA (gamma linolenic acid, 18:3) found in evening primrose and borange oils. Omega 3's are found to a limited degree in some plants but are contained in all fish and shellfish. For instance, canola and flax oils contain alpha linolenic acid (18:3). The Omega 3 PUFA's contained in fish are considered to be five to ten times more powerful in their biological activities than those found in plants.

Is there a deficiency of Omega-3's in the United States?

Many scientist and government institutions around the world agree that the average western diet is very high in another group of fatty acids, namely Omega 6's. As a result our cell membranes are unusually rich in precursors associated with inflammatory processes, which can lead to arthritis, asthma, and psoriasis to name a few. The scientific research demonstrates proof that the American public needs to reduce omega-6s and increase omega-3s to improve their health. It actually has been proposed in the scientific literature to include in government policy to establish guidelines for these essential fatty acids.

How do Omega-3 fatty acids benefit the body?

Research has shown Omega-3's to be critical to joint, respiratory and cardiovascular health, normal cholesterol, HDL and triglyceride levels. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have now approved the use of the statement, "The scientific evidence about whether omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease is suggestive, but not conclusive." Omega 3's help women during their menstrual cycle as well as support the brain. There actually have been over 5 studies that have shown that individuals who are depressed have lower blood levels of omega-3's than normal individuals. Omega-3's support blood circulation to the body, the immune system, the gastrointestinal tract and the kidneys.

Why take Omega XL® instead of Cod Liver oil or Salmon Oil?

Great HealthWorks® patented extraction process allows for a higher concentration of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in Omega XL® as compared to other fish oils. Concentrations of DHA and EPA will be 60% and 70% respectively compared to about 10% and 5% in the raw oil. Studies have shown that the oils found in Omega XL® are of such a high concentration, that it would take 500 capsules of salmon oil to equal just 1 capsule of Omega XL®.

Does any other company manufacture Omega XL®?

Great HealthWorks® concentrate of polyunsaturated fatty acids is manufactured by a sophisticated process, part of which will be undertaken in a new high-tech supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) facility. The process is the only means known (worldwide) to commercially manufacture the PUFA concentrate in its highly bio-available form, and Great HealthWorks® is the exclusive worldwide licensee of the process.

How does Great HealthWorks® concentrate compare to other fish oils?

In an attempt to sell a concentrated form of omega-3, five companies worldwide sell a concentrated fish oil in which the omega-3's are converted to "ethyl esters". Independent research has shown that these ethyl ester forms of DHA and EPA are poorly absorbed. In fact the entire benefit of concentration is more than offset by the reduced bioavailability of these ethyl ester forms of the product. Vendors of these concentrates frequently do not always disclose that they are in an ethyl ester form. Great HealthWorks® is the only company selling pure DHA and EPA forms of fish oil concentrate.

What is Inflammation?

The process of inflammation is highly complex and is defined as the body's reaction to physical, chemical or biological injury, which, in a normal healthy individual, results in the localization of the problem and regeneration or repair of the damaged tissue. The inflammatory process occurs as a natural immune response to infection or injury. Inflammation indicates the actions of the healing process, and is caused by the rapid increase of white blood cells (T-cells, B-cells etc), which are drawn to the injured or infected area in order to destroy the foreign cells. The symptoms of inflammation, warmth, redness, swelling and pain, are the direct results of this increased concentration of blood cells.

Within a healthy individual this inflammatory process is managed and contained (i.e. the white blood cells automatically recognize when their task is complete). However, in cases of rheumatoid arthritis, the immune response becomes erratic, unrestrained, and as the white blood cells begin to target self-tissues, the inflammation becomes acute, and out of control.

In certain circumstances, the process itself can cause damage and injury. A prime example is that of Osteo-arthritis, an inflammatory disease which can effect all the bone joints of the human body but primarily affects the "wear and tear" joints of the feet, knees, hands, hips, shoulders, elbows and back which have usually had the effects of many years of work and sometimes injury.

The autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, where the body attacks itself, and the hypersensitive states leading to asthma and anaphylactic shock, are examples of uncontrolled inflammatory responses. Initiation and control of the inflammatory process is complex and governed by an array of biomolecular mechanisms. One important pro-inflammatory mechanism is closely associated with cell membrane bound arachidonic acid, which becomes converted into other compounds in the body, which are potent inflammation-supporting substances.

What are the symptoms of inflammation?

Inflammation is characterized by:

• Redness
• Swollen joint that's warm to the touch
• Joint pain
• Joint stiffness
• Loss of joint function

Often, only a few of these symptoms are present. Inflammation may also be associated with general "flu-like" symptoms including:

• Fever
• Chills
• Fatigue/loss of energy
• Headaches
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle stiffness

What causes inflammation and what are its effects?

When inflammation occurs, chemicals from the body's white blood cells are released into the blood or affected tissues to protect your body from foreign substances. This release of chemicals increases the blood flow to the area of injury or infection, and may result in redness and warmth. Some of the chemicals cause a leak of fluid into the tissues, resulting in swelling. This protective process may stimulate nerves and cause pain. The increased number of cells and inflammatory substances within the joint cause: irritation, wearing down of cartilage (cushions at the end of bones), and swelling of the joint lining.

How are inflammatory diseases diagnosed?

Inflammatory diseases are diagnosed after careful evaluation of the following:

• Complete medical history and physical exam
• The location of painful joints
• Presence of joint stiffness in the morning
• Evaluation of other symptoms
• Results of X-rays and other tests

Can inflammation affect internal organs?

Yes. Inflammation can affect organs as part of an autoimmune disorder. The types of symptoms depend on which organs are affected. For example:

• Inflammation of the heart (myocarditis) may cause shortness of breath or fluid retention.
• Inflammation of the small tubes that transport air to the lungs may cause an asthma attack.
• Inflammation of the kidneys (nephritis) may cause high blood pressure or kidney failure.
• Inflammation of the large intestine (colitis) may cause cramps and diarrhea.

Pain may not be a primary symptom of an inflammatory disease, since many organs do not have many pain-sensitive nerves. Treatment of organ inflammation is directed at the cause of inflammation whenever possible.