The List Of Omega-3 Benefits Are Astounding

What are Omega-3s? Omega-3s refer to a certain type of long chain fatty acids. The scientific names of the ones we are most interested in because of their benefits are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). It’s just much easier to refer to these two molecules as EPA and DHA. In easy terms, EPA helps the arteries and joints and DHA helps the brain and eyes.
These molecular components of Omega-3s are now recognized by doctors, scientists, the American Heart Association and even the US Government as having numerous benefits:

1. Superior cardiovascular health: Fish oil’s DHA and EPA has been proven to work wonders for your heart and the very large network of arteries and veins that make up our cardiovascular system. They help lower “bad” LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure, while at the same time increasing “good” HDL cholesterol. This can add years to your life expectancy.

* How do we know this? All these conclusions were found by the researchers exploring the heart health of traditional Inuits. For further study, I highly recommend you read Dr. Andrew Stolle’s 2002 release, The Omega-3 Connection.

2. Protection from heart attack and stroke: When cholesterol plaque builds up on arterial walls and then breaks loose, it causes what’s known as a thrombosis, which is just a fancy word for “clot.” If a clot gets stuck in the brain, it causes a stroke and when it plugs an artery, it causes a heart attack. Research shows fish oil fatty acids break up clots before they can cause any damage.

* How do we know this? The underlying cause of this plaque buildup is atherosclerosis. For decades, the medical establishment has named “cholesterol” as the problem.
*

Cholesterol in itself isn’t actually damaging to artery walls. In fact, as we’ve discussed, cholesterol is actually used by your body to repair damaged artery walls. If, due to atherosclerosis, the liver begins releasing too much cholesterol, instead of simply plugging up small holes in arteries, this excess cholesterol begins forming plaques over damaged artery walls. Frequently these plaques also get bound up with blood platelets (the proteins in blood that make blood clot), making them larger and more unstable. When these plaques get too large, they can break off, leading to heart attacks, strokes, embolism in the lungs, and other very serious health complications.
*

The real problem in this scenario isn’t actually cholesterol – it’s the damage to artery walls that is causing excess cholesterol to be released into your blood. Reversing this damage and preventing further damage is the only real way to improve your cardiovascular risk profile. The cause of this damage is inflammation. Healing this damage and preventing future damage requires taming down the inflammation in your blood vessels and, indeed, in your entire body. This is where Omega 3 fats come in.
*

Omega-3 fats are inherently anti-inflammatory. In essence, they prevent the creation of chemicals that drive inflammation in blood vessels. Your body makes a variety of chemicals called “eicosanoids” that create inflammation. The major source of these pro-inflammatory eicosanoids are Omega-6 fats. Omega-6 fats are very common in vegetable oils and make up a large part of the American diet. Omega-6 fats act opposite to Omega-3 fats in your body. Consuming Omega-6 fats creates more inflammation, while consuming Omega-3 fats creates less inflammation. In fact, the underlying problem that we call cholesterol is now known to be inflammation caused by Omega-6 fatty acids. In a healthy diet, the intake of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fats is balanced. For instance, The Inuit have a 1:1 correlation in their Omega 6 : Omega 3 intake. In the United States its 20:1 on average and ever increasing with use of the wrong kind of cooking oils and eating “junk food.”
*

The inflammation in the arteries caused by too many Omega-6s requires cholesterol to be summoned by the body’s immune response. The sandpapering of the arteries can’t be tolerated and the cholesterol (fat) is called to soothe the arteries and try to repair the thin walls of the arteries. Reduce the Omega-6s and increase the Omega-3s and you won’t need an over-abundance of cholesterol. Your body will figure that out in a reasonable amount of time.
*

Omega-6s vie for the same enzymes as Omega-3s. Under our western lifestyle and eating habits, we have so many omega-6s in the diet, they win the enzyme contest. Omega-6s promote inflammation, causing a narrowing of the arterial walls and robbing the heart of oxygen. Omega-3s on the other hand, relax the arteries, reduce inflammation, help break up clots and allow for a free flow of oxygen to the heart. Both Omegas are needed but in a rational proportion.
*

For more proof, cardiologist Alexander Leaf of Harvard Medical School performed laboratory experiments on animals. Labs rats were induced to cardiac arrest. These heart attacks were stopped and reversed by intravenous injection of omega-3s. Animals pre-treated with Omega-3s had far fewer cardiac arrests. One can’t really say enough good things about the ability of the heart to prosper and life to be extended through the proper ingestion of Omega-3s.

3. Relieve pain in joints and mitigate inflammation: Omega 3 fish oil fatty acids, particularly EPA, have a very positive effect on your inflammatory response. Through several mechanisms, they regulate your body's inflammation cycle, which prevents and relieves painful conditions like arthritis, prostatitis, cystitis and even Crohn's disease!

* How do we know this? More than a dozen studies on the effects of omega-3s with rheumatoid arthritis sufferers showed significant reduction in swelling and associated pain to the point that many patients were able to discontinue their anti-inflammatory medications. Similar studies were done with Crohn’s sufferers, and ulcerative colitis with similar results, reduction in symptoms and the reduction of toxic drugs with major side effects. It’s similar to point 2 above. Omega-6s and Omega-3s need to be in balance. Ideal would be a 1:1 correlation. If you got your correlation down from 20:1 to 4:1 there would be significant improvement on a whole host of health issues.

4. Better brain function for us and higher intelligence for our kids and grandkids: Pregnant and nursing mothers can have a great impact on the intelligence and happiness of their babies by supplementing with omega 3 fish oil. The DHA component is the material that our brain cells are made out of. For grown adults, fish oil improves memory, recall, reasoning and focus. You’ll swear you’re getting younger and smarter.

* How do we know this? Dr. Andrew Stolle states that the nutritional needs for fetal development in the womb come from the mother. If the mother is deficient in folic acid, the baby will develop spina bifida. Likewise, “Both new and old research indicates that a lack of Omega-3s during gestation may impair development of the visual system and compromise future intelligence.” DHA is needed to grow billions of brain cells. (The Omega-3 Connection, page 90, Andrew Stolle, 2002)

5. Elevated Mood: Making you smarter is not all that fish oil does for your brain. Psychiatry department researchers at the University of Sheffield UK, along with many other research studies, found that fish oil supplements alleviated the symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder and psychosis.

* How do we know this? of Affective Disorder Vol. 48(2-3);149-55 Dr Andrew Stolle presented findings in 1997 to the American College of Neuropsycholopharmacology. His finding were dramatic and startling, demonstrating that Omega-3s help alleviate symptoms in the most difficult of bipolar cases. This was met with a mixture of skepticism, excitement, encouragement and jokes. However, the Archives of General Psychiatry, a leading journal, published his paper. Now fish oil and highly concentrated Omega-3s are routinely used in hard to treat mood disorders.

6. Lower incidence of childhood disorders: The benefits of fish oil fatty acids include studies that show children (and adults) with ADD and ADHD experience a greatly improved quality of life. And those with dyslexia, dyspraxia and compulsive disorders have gotten a new lease on life thanks to fish oil supplements.

* How do we know this? The leading researcher linking low levels of DHA to various disorders including ADD and ADHD is John R. Burgess and his team at Purdue University. While indications are that low levels of DHA are noted in children with characteristics akin to ADHD - whether children were diagnosed or not - reflects strongly that future treatments will address nutrition along with other treatments. Even schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are being treated with omega-3s.

7. Reduction of breast, colon and prostate cancer incidence: Finally, fish oil has been shown to help prevent three of the most common forms of cancer – breast, colon and prostate. Science tells us that it accomplishes this in three ways – by stopping the alteration from a normal healthy cell to a cancerous mass, by inhibiting unwanted cellular growth and by killing off cancer cells.

* How do we know this? It may be the overzealous growth of cell in cancers is aided and abetted by the overabundance of Omega-6s, which facilitate cell growth. Omega-3s have the opposite effect. In nature’s way of synchronization, the body does so much better when the Omega-3s are in balance with Omega-6s. Omega-6s are needed for certain biochemical functions but they must be kept in balance with Omega-3s for optimal health.

Let’s summarize:

* Health benefits for everyone!
The American Heart Association reports, "Omega-3 fatty acids benefit the heart of healthy people and those at high risk of or who have cardiovascular disease." See American Heart Association Statement
* Labeled “essential” by the US Government.
In May 2003, OMB and the White House said Americans would be healthier if they consumed more Omega-3s. See White House / OMB Statement
* Lowers triglycerides
* Decreases the growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque, hardening of the arteries.
* Helps kids develop with higher intelligence
* May help prevent some cancers
* Improves blood circulation
* Natural anti-inflammatory can help relieve joint pain
* Improved mental health

Issues With Omega-3 Fish Oils

One reason you may not want to take an Omega-3 fish oil despite all the benefits listed above:

* Repeating: Low grade fish oils cause a “fishy burp” - if you think you should save some money and try a really cheap, inexpensive fish oil from a big box store, chances are you will take the fish oil once or twice and then it will sit on your kitchen shelf untouched. It’s just too uncomfortable for most people to have fishy breath.
*

Solution: The solution to this is very simple. Buy a high grade Omega-3 fish oil, meaning an Omega-3 oil that is highly concentrated with 60 -70% of the capsule contents being pure EPA/DHA.

Where Can I Get It?

Fish oil has been so widely accepted, and its benefits are so obvious, that you’d have trouble finding a grocery or drugstore that didn’t have a ready supply of fish oil products.

However, not all fish oil products are alike. Some have higher or lower concentrations of Omega-3s. Some are likely to cause the fish burps. And some have questionable additives.

If you’re concerned about your health, I can’t recommend fish oil enough. But make sure you do your homework. Get a good product – or you may not be doing your body as much good as you think!

Personally, I’ve found one fish oil that I trust: Res-Q® 1250.

I first heard about Res-Q® 1250 on the radio and, after doing my homework, I found that it was one of the best fish oil supplements out there. I called in and ordered a 3 month supply of the full line of products.

And the proof is in the pudding. After 3 months of taking the product, I retested my cholesterol. My triglycerides were down to 200! That was a drop of 308 points – and got me back into the reasonable zone. I lost 15 lbs. and 3 inches off my waist (I credit the exercise for that).

At that point, I became a believer. Will these supplements do it all? Actually I think they would, but I am honestly telling you my story and what I did to change my habits - which included not being a slouch, getting my body moving, and eating sensibly.

I recently read a Harvard Medical Journal on the centurion studies going on around the world. The common key ingredient for those who are living to 100 and beyond is that they move their bodies, and keep their minds active and eat the “hunter-gatherer diet.” So think about it.

Do Something Good For Yourself!

I can tell you from firsthand experience that Omega-3s contained in Res-Q 1250 do a lot more than help keep your heart health in check. Dr Ray Crayhon says, “Omega-3s are not in your brain, they are your brain!” It’s not yet conclusive but he and many, many other researchers now believe that sufficient dosing of Omega-3s daily may prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. It is your brain! Dosing with RES-Q 1250 helps me to think better, and feel better. No matter if you eat fish or not, this is a sure way of getting a quality source of Omega-3s daily. No worries about toxicity associated with statin drugs OR worrying about the mercury content of the fish you may purchase from the market.

And now I want you to do something good for yourself. In solidarity with my fellow cholesterol-sufferers, I’ve arranged for a discount on Res-Q® 1250 products bought through my Health Site. Because there are so many of us, we’re getting a bulk discount. You’ll have trouble finding such a high-quality fish oil product at the same price.

Or, if you have a different brand you prefer, please, pick that up today! I know that Res-Q 1250 works, but others work as well. If you want to experiment, go ahead.

All I ask is, don’t take your health for granted. The first signs of heart disease are often heart attacks. Watch your diet, exercise, and make Omega-3s a part of your daily diet.

With a little dedication and some simple supplements, we may not only live to see our grandchildren, but our great-grandchildren as well.

In Health,

Garey
Optimizing Health One Step at a Time.

Taking Omega-3 nutritional supplements have several health benefits according to webmd.com. These includes reduced risk of having a heart disease and hypertension, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), joint pain and other rheumatoid problems and even certain skin diseases. Some studies also reinforces that it also strengthens the bodies immune system and to a certain extent shields us from Alzheimers disease.

With regards to heart disease, Omega-3 aids in preventing the blood from being to sticky, thus lowering the risk of unexpected heart attack. Although there are no indication that Omega-3 can heal damaged arteries it was found out that it plays an important role in the health of the membrane of each cell in the body.

Researchers has also found out that Omega-3, also has the ability to reduce the harmful impact of another fatty acid called Omega-6s, commonly found on dairy and poultry products. The experts have advised a dosage of 4 parts omega-3s to 1 part omega-6s.

Natural sources of Omega-3 are found in walnuts, some fruits and vegetables, and cold water fish such as herring, mackerel, sturgeon, and anchovies. Nutritionist have advised that it is more important to take whole food with rich sources of Omega-3 than taking supplements, because the former have a 90% absorption rate while the latter has 50% absorption rate.

As a word caution, consult your doctor first before taking any Omega-3 supplements.

The trick to asking this kind of question is to understand the answer. If you go the more popular culture route, there are some good general lectures broadcast regularly in PBS that will answer these questions about Omega-3 and coronary and heart health.

Dr. Andrew Weil is one of several physicians who discuss health, healthy diets, and the use of supplements on PBS lectures. He has been a proponent of eating wild-caught salmon and other foods high in the Omega-3 fatty acids. Here is his web page about Fish Oil and Omega-3: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART03050/Fish-Oil-Omega-3-Dr-Weil.html Weil answers questions about where to find Omega-3s in food (many of the oily fish), he talks about deficiencies (ranging from dry hair and skin to serious conditions such as high cholesterol, rheumatoid arthritis, and coronary artery disease, to name just a few.)

Nicholas Perricone is also very persuasive in his lectures and writing about the benefits of Omega-3 in fish oil. http://www.perriconemd.com/category/perricone+lifestyle/anti-inflammatory+diet.do He also discusses these foods as useful for having healthy skin and slowing the aging process.

If you want to dig deeper, look for more complex and specialized answers from an important medical information site like the National Institutes of Health. This link goes to a search at the sight on "Omega-3": http://tinyurl.com/ydch9ax

In a study available through the NIH this week, one study shows that the more fish oil you eat, the less an important chromosome component shrinks. This is from the Jan. 19 article:

>>>>TUESDAY, Jan. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists think they have uncovered at least one of the reasons why omega-3 fatty acids are good for your heart.

The more omega-3 that patients with coronary heart disease consumed, the slower their telomeres shrank. Telomeres are structures at the end of a chromosome that get shorter the more times a cell divides, making them a marker of biological age.

"We're certainly not saying that this is the reason for all the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, but it is a new pathway linking omega-3 fatty acids to biological aging in these patients," said study lead author Dr. Ramin Farzaneh-Far, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

The findings are published in the Jan. 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.<<<<

You can read the rest here: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_94277.html

Another NIH link takes you to a page of links to recent articles on the Health Effects of Omega-3 on cardiovascular disease. http://ods.od.nih.gov/Headlines/Omega-3_AHRQ_Reports.aspx

Eating fish at meals is good for you, but in this day and age, we are cautioned to eat some types of fish in moderate amounts, maybe on a weekly basis instead of more frequently. Larger fish, such as salmon, accumulate some pollutants that smaller fish (like herring and sardines) don't to such a degree, based upon what they eat. Here is some information about wild and farm-raised fish and recommendations for how to eat them. As you get toward the bottom they make recommendations about where to buy fish and such; I'm not posting this to in any way endorse those recommendations, I'm interested in the information about healthy fish oil in fish consumed by people. http://preventdisease.com/news/09/082009_farmed_fish.shtml

benefits of taking an omega 3 oil supplement

It's magical! Ok... that's obviously an exaggeration, but from all of the scientific studies done and all of the medical research known, an omega 3 fish oil supplement is my pick for the closest thing to a real life miracle pill.

Let's take a look at some of its benefits taken directly from MedlinePlus, which is a service of the US National Library of Medicine:

- lowers blood triglyceride levels
- reduces the risk of heart attack
- reduces the risk of dangerous abnormal heart rhythms
- reduces the risk of strokes
- slows the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques
- lowers blood pressure
- reduces stiffness and joint tenderness associated with Rheumatoid arthritis

An omega 3 fish oil supplement may also help improve or prevent the following:

- Alzheimer's disease and dementia
- depression
- heart disease
- cancer
- arthritis
- diabetes
- hyperactivity
- ADHD

It has also been shown to improve a person's ability to concentrate and just think clearer in general. And, as if all of this isn't enough, fish oil is also highly recommended by nearly every well respected strength and conditioning coach, trainer, and diet/fitness/nutrition expert of any kind as one of the few supplements that should be taken by anyone with the goal of building muscle, losing fat, or improving their fitness level or athletic ability in any capacity.

Everything mentioned above has at least some amount actual scientific proof behind it. Researching some other sources showed me that some people experienced other benefits not mentioned above. For example, I've heard of people claiming to have improved vision, improved memory, improved mood, and less back pain.

Long story short, a fish oil supplement appears to improve our body's ability to do damn near everything.

For me personally, I feel I experienced some of the mental and physical benefits. I noticed a definite improvement in mental clarity and really just the way I feel in general. Now, I didn't develop any kind of super powers or anything, but after a couple of weeks, I felt like I noticed a difference. I remember reading the phrase "an enhanced well being" when doing my fish oil research. That's a really good way of describing it. And physically, I feel I noticed an improved calorie partitioning effect, meaning when consuming an excess of calories, more calories went towards the building of new muscle rather than the storing of new fat. I also felt a similar effect when in a caloric deficit, meaning my body did a better job of using stored body fat for energy rather than muscle. Basically, I felt I did indeed experience an overall improvement both physically and mentally.

But really, even if I felt exactly 100% the same, I'd still be taking an omega 3 fish oil supplement anyway. Why? Because even if I didn't notice any of its benefits, the fact that there is actual scientific proof that it may help improve or prevent even 1 (let alone all) of the diseases and disorders listed above is MORE than enough convincing for me.
hree new studies add strongly to the growing evidence that consumption of fish and fish oil supplements can reduce death from heart disease.

In the April 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, investigators from the Harvard School of Public Health reported that women who consumed more fish and fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids) significantly reduced their risk of heart disease. In this study, among 85,000 women enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study, those who ate fish 2 to 4 times per week reduced their risk of heart disease by 30%, compared to women who rarely ate fish.

Similarly, in a study published in the April 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital reported that men in the Physicians' Health Study (men who had no evidence of prior heart disease) who consumed omega-3 fatty acids had a significantly reduced risk of sudden death.

And finally, investigators from Italy reported this week in Circulation that consuming 1 gram per day of omega-3 fatty acid supplements resulted in a significantly reduced risk of sudden death among survivors of heart attacks.

While a major benefit of fish oil in these studies appears to be a reduction in sudden death from cardiac arrhythmias, omega-3 fatty acids also appear to reduce triglyceride levels, reduce blood pressure, and stabilize the blood clotting mechanisms. Thus, there are several pathways in which fish oil can potentially benefit the cardiovascular system. The evidence that omega-3 fatty acids benefits the heart, thanks to these three studies, is now nearly irrefutable, and will no doubt become widely accepted by the medical community. (The American Heart Association, however, is waiting for yet more evidence before changing its official recommendations.)

Omega-3 fatty acids are most plentiful in darker, fatty fish such as mackerel, sardines, and salmon. If individuals take the new evidence regarding fish oil to "heart," we are very likely to see a shortage of affordable sources. (People might also want to keep in mind that there is some concern about the level of mercury in certain fish. The FDA last year said that pregnant women should not eat some kinds of fish - king mackerel being one of them - because of the risk of mercury toxicity to the fetus.) Fortunately, scientists are avidly attempting to devise a means of synthesizing omega-3 fatty acids so that we are not completely reliant on marine vertebrates.

Omega 3 fatty acids play an important role in our health. It keeps the heart, kidneys, and digestive system healthy. It also helps the body make prostaglandins which is very important to our body because it regulates blood clotting, hormone production, and inflammation. It also reduces the pain and swelling in the body.

It has no direct effect on the blood vessel or arteries but it lowers the levels of triglycerides. Tryglycerides are fats in the blood. Omega 3 supplement raises the levels of good cholesterol (HDL). This is very important because the fats in the blood can cause buildup in arteries that can clog it which will lead to heart attack and stroke. It will avoid the platelets to become sticky and clumping together to form blood clots. Blood clots will also cause blockage in the arteries leading to cardiovascular disease or stroke.

The recommended dosage by American Heart Association is 2 gram of EPA plus DHA(combined) each day. You can obtain this by taking fish oil capsule supplements or eating fish.
But you should consult your physician about this so that you will be thoroughly examined because proper dosage should be administered since taking more than 3 grams a day can increase the risk of bleeding. Since patients who have heart disease are taking some blood thinner medications also so this should be taken into consideration and in this case your physician will be able to make the appropriate dosage which is effective and safe for you to use.

This is an interesting and useful question.
There are info on internet but please consult your doctor on Omega-3 taking.

A: Info on Omega-3
There is this organization called DHA-EPA Omega-3 Institute where lots of info on Omega-3 is available:
http://www.dhaomega3.org/
Its health conditions page mentioned many of Omega-3 benefits on:
cardiovascular, cancer, cognitive performance, eye & visual, fitness & body, inflammatory diseases, mental health, nervous system, renal disorder, skin… and other health conditions.

Check its “recent research” if you wish to keep up-to-date about omega-3 research findings.

On “What makes one omega-3 supplement better than another?”, you may refer to FAQ. Some of the useful topics are: DHA or EPA or mixture, ratio of DHA/EPA, sources of DHA/EPA, QC of the manufacturer, types of fishes (some fishes have problems of mercury contamination) etc..

Refer to AHA website below for mercury contamination.

B: Dosage

For dosage, American Heart Association (AHA) is a good source of information.
Do note that American Heart Association recommended that taking Omega-3 should be considered in consultation with the physician. Dosage may be different for different individual due to normal intake by the person, medication etc.

This webpage in AHA has the recommendations for dosage for different populations:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3071550
DHA and EPA mentioned are Omega-3.
Note: Omega-3 consumption through food is preferable but eating some fishes may have risk of mercury contamination. AHA has some advices on types of fishes, precautions and resources to check.
Refer to the website for details.

Excerpt:
“1. Patients without documented coronary heart disease (CHD)
Recommendations:
- Eat a variety of (preferably fatty) fish at least twice a week. Include oils and foods rich in alpha-linolenic acid (flaxseed, canola and soybean oils; flaxseed and walnuts).

2. Patients with documented CHD
Recommendations:
- Consume about 1 g of EPA+DHA per day, preferably from fatty fish. EPA+DHA in capsule form could be considered in consultation with the physician.

3. Patients who need to lower triglycerides
Recommendations:
2 to 4 grams of EPA+DHA per day provided as capsules under a physician’s care.”

This webpage in AHA inform of the risk of taking too much omega-3: 3 grams, risk is excessive bleeding.
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4632
Excerpt:
“Patients taking more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids from capsules should do so only under a physician’s care.
High intakes could cause excessive bleeding in some people.”

C: Can Omega-3 fatty acids heal damaged arteries?
There is this research study that shed some lights on this issue:
http://www.escardiocontent.org/periodicals/yeupc/article/S0021-9150%2806%2900132-8/abstract
The study has a portion that research on Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) of EPA group vs control group of patients with type 2 diabetes.
The result:
EPA treated group vs control group:
mean IMT, −0.029±0.112mm versus 0.016±0.109mm respectively, P=0.029
max IMT, −0.084±0.113mm versus −0.005±0.108mm respectively, P=0.0008

EPA (a type of Omega-3) treated group has a significant decrease in thickness of the carotid arteries.

Note: “bad” arteries (atherosclerosis) happens when fatty materials deposit and thicken artery wall.
A significant decrease in thickness of arteries (in EPA group) means "healthier" arteries.

Hope this helps.

it's like draino for your veins and arteries, i think.

Here is the answer, part by part;

1. What are the Health Benefits of taking Omega-3 Nutritional Supplements?
Ans. Precisely, the Omega-3 fatty acids are Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA) that increase the level of HDL (High Density Lipoproteins or Good Cholesterol), which in turn reduces the level of LDL (Low Density Lipoproteins or Bad Cholesterol) in blood. This prevents deposition of this bad cholesterol inside the arteries and thereby effectively reducing the risk of heart attacks due to blockage in arteries. They are also considered good for brain and eyes. This is the basic story. Now, while essays and books can be written by elaborating this fact with scientific terms and related bio-chemical reactions, I don't think it is necessary here.You may have a look at this;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-3_fatty_acid
http://www.healthcastle.com/omega3.shtml
http://www.womens-health-fitness.com/omega-3-fish-oils.html
http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/good-fat-bad-fat-facts-about-omega-3

2. What makes one omega-3 supplement better than another?
Ans. It is the source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids that decides which one is better. Those taken from natural sources like Fish Oil etc. are considered better. Synthetically synthesized ones are not considered good. Further, whether the source was organic or not, also makes a difference.

3. How much Omega-3 does a healthy person need to take versus a person w/ high cholesterol?
Ans. The recommended dose for a healthy adult man or woman ranges from 300 mg to 500 mg per day. For a person having high cholesterol, this dose goes up to 4 grams per day (Generally, it is 900 mg or more for heart patients).

http://www.ehow.com/way_5245795_many-omega_3-fish-oil-day.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Omega3-Dosage---Whats-the-Ideal-Daily-Omega3-Dose-an-Average-Person-Should-Take?&id=2454204
http://ezinearticles.com/?Therapeutic-Dosage-of-Omega-3-for-Children-and-Adults&id=782254
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/555607_7

4. Can Omega-3 fatty acids heal damaged arteries?
Ans. Although Omega-3 Fatty Acids are known to speed healing of burns and reduce inflammations, they are not known to heal damaged arteries and no source of such information has been found yet.

Hope that helps. Thanks

* They can help to increase your energy level.
* Might prevent certain types of cancer
* Improve your sleep
* Reduce inflammation
* Improve muscle recovery from trauma
* Help with arthritis.
* Provide lubrication to the skin, arteries, veins and intestinal tract.
* Help to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
* Help to improve concentration
* Benefit for diseases like: Alzheimer’s, depression and many other cognitively impaired situations.
* Reduces high blood pressure and lowers cholesterol.
* Might improve the healing capability for various health problems.
* Can improve constipation.

Recently, research on Omega-3 has been published that shows our body needs a fresh supply of omega-3s every 24 hours. There are many omega 3 benefits. I would like to share some of benefits here:

1. Strengthen heart, blood vessels and nerves.
2. Maintain blood pressure levels.
3. Support for joint and muscle health.
4. Maintain good cholesterol levels.
5. Boost memory and brainpower.

If you would like to know more about Omega-3, supplements and super foods, have a visit to the link provided here.
And here, you could also find best omega 3 supplements.

Okay, I'll be answering your questions one by one.

Omega-3 has been known to be very beneficial to heart and vascular system. It helps lower cholesterol and triglycerides, reduces the risk of heart disease, and decreases blood pressure provided, it is taken in the right dosage.

For your first question, I cannot find that information that tells that omega-3 is better than the others because every food supplement has health benefits and your body possibly needs it, too so you cannot just discard it from your diet. In fact, it is better recommended that you get your omega-3 from your food, preferably. But, if it's not possible for you and you have no good source of it then you are advised to have your health provider prescribe a supplement for you.

For your second question,
-quote-
The recommended omega-3 dose will depend on how much you already get from food and why you are taking it. There are three kinds of omega-3 fatty acids: ALA, DHA, and EPA. A daily intake of 2 grams of ALA is often recommended as part of a healthy diet. The American Heart Association recommends taking 1 to 4 grams of DHA and EPA daily.

Omega-3 Dose for the Treatment of Heart Disease
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that people with heart disease (CHD), also known as coronary artery disease (CAD), should consume about 1 gram (1000 mg) of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids daily, preferably from eating fish. However, many people do not like fish or do not have access to a good supply of fish, and it is probably not reasonable to expect most people to eat one or more servings of fish per day (some fish have more omega-3 fatty acids than others). For instance, to get the recommended 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids, you would need to eat one to two servings of salmon, four to seven servings of cod, or four servings of shrimp per day.
-end of quote-
http://heart-disease.emedtv.com/omega-3/omega-3-dose.html

For your third question, here's a quote for you:
-quote-
The benefits of omega 3 fatty acids are not only protective and preventative. Other studies have found that a steady supplement of fish oil can actually break up fatty atherosclerotic buildup within damaged arteries. This means that in a person who is already suffering from atherosclerosis, fish oil may help reverse the effects of years of damage. This attribute alone makes fish oil the holy grail of health supplements considering our ever increasing levels of heart disease and stroke. If the heart healthy effects of omega 3 fatty acids aren't enough, it has also been found to improve and preserve the memory and nervous tissue.
-end of quote-
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Fish+Oil+to+Help+Fight+Cholesterol-a01073872668

Before taking any food supplement, you should consult your doctor first.