Whether you are susceptible to clinical depression or just want to keep yourself upbeat no matter what the circumstances, it can never hurt you to prepare yourself mentally for tough times. This does not mean that you need to always be a “downer” that can never see the bright side of things because you are preparing for the worst. In fact, it means quite the opposite. Building up a defense against depression involves doing certain things to help your mind and body resist the urge to “cave” under pressure. You can develop habits that will actually fight off depression should a series of problematic events occur that normally might give you trouble.

Here are three habits that can help you stave off depression:

Develop calming habits.
Whether you like drinking a cup of warm tea in the sunroom each morning or you prefer to give yourself a mini-facial with some spritz-on toner sneaked right out of your bag to sooth your skin after a confrontation, calming habits will help you fight off depression by giving you a “go-to” action to take when you are dealing with stress. These habits relieve stress and help you clear your mind, which will help prevent you from carrying all of that pressure around with you.

Exercise daily.
Not only does fitness help you develop a good self-image (key to feeling positive about yourself and life in general) but daily exercise releases endorphins into your system, which literally make you feel better about everything.

Take a daily omega 3 supplement.
Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to significantly decrease levels of clinical depression, and most people who suffer from depression tend to have omega 3 fish oil deficiencies. This may be due to the fact that omega 3 helps you concentrate and also improves memory and recall. These advantages can dramatically decrease stress, which is a primary factor in depression.

If you believe that you may be depressed, then you should consult a doctor immediately. Be sure to ask them how you can combat the issue naturally as well as with medication. If you want to learn more about the omega 3 benefits and how it can improve depression, access www.omega-3.us.

According to a recent joint study by American and Canadian scientists, nearly 90 percent of all children in the United States and Canada may be omega 3 deficient. This is a startling number, particularly given that in children omega 3 plays a critical role in brain development, autoimmune development and eye sight. In addition, it is thought to impact the emotional state of some people as well.

As you can see from the results of this study, it is actually pretty safe to assume that if you live in the US or Canada, then your child probably is not getting enough omega 3. However, if you do not want to rely on the study alone, here are some indicators that your child may not be getting enough of this vital nutrient in their daily diet:

* They are easily distracted
Omega 3 deficiencies often lead to trouble with focus. In fact, many children who have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD actually are suffering from severe omega 3 shortages in their systems. Of course, all children are fairly easy to distract, so you might want to consult with a dietician or observe your child in conjunction with other children to determine if there is an actual problem.

* Chronic breathing problems or headaches
Omega 3 deficiencies often manifest themselves in minor health issues, including asthma, headaches, stomach aches, ear infections and skin conditions. While all children will experience some of these issues over the course of their childhood, if you feel that the occurrences are too frequent, ask a doctor about a pediatric omega 3 supplement.

* Behavioral problems at school
Often the minor health issues and the focus issues detailed above manifest themselves in an extremely practical symptom: the child gets in regular trouble at school. Of course good behavior should be a requirement, but if your child appears to be misbehaving chronically, then it might be worth considering that there could be a nutritional issue at the heart of the matter.

Learn more about fish oil, fish oil health benefits and how it can impact your child’s health and yours at www.omega-3-us.

If you follow dieting trends at all, then you are probably aware of the many fish-based diets out there. These diets are promoted as both heart healthy and a great way to lose weight. In addition, they are viewed by many as a solution to a nutritional problem: a shortage of omega 3. However, if you are considering adopting some of the more extreme versions out there (such as some version of the Inuit’s cultural diets which consist nearly entirely of fatty fish like tuna and mackerel) then you may want to think again. While it’s a great source of omega 3, the accompanying increase in mercury levels could make you more susceptible to strokes and heart attacks.

In an October 2009 study, the Journal of the American Heart Association revealed new finding that indicate that Inuit from Nunavik are highly exposed to environmental mercury because of their diets, which consist mainly of fish1. As a result, thanks to all that mercury they are far more likely than most to suffer strokes and heart attacks due to their high blood pressure.

Now, I know that you are not likely to eat mackerel or tuna – no matter how delicious – for breakfast, lunch and dinner unless you have no other choice. However, the results of this study do bear consideration if you have recently started taking an omega 3 supplement (many of which are made from tuna or mackerel) or if you are attempting to increase the amount of fish in your diet for health reasons. As a result, you may be exposing yourself to some of the same mercury issues.

If you want to avoid the risk of mercury entirely from fish oil, then most of your omega 3 fatty acids should come from Arctic salmon, which are less likely to contain mercury, or from a (WHO) World Health Organization-approved supplement made only from Arctic salmon and guaranteed tested and toxin free. Molecular optimization of your omega 3 supplement will also improve its effectiveness and eliminate other unpleasant side effects associated with fish oil, such as gas, nausea, and fishy body odor.

To learn more about fish oil supplements approved by both the WHO and representatives from the American College of Toxicology, access www.omega-3.us.

1http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/742_mercury_poison_in_country_food_could_lead_to_more_strokes_heart_attacks/

You probably already know that omega 3 fatty acids play a critical role in your health. After all, they are good for your heart and your memory. They can help alleviate or eliminate depression and some forms of ADD and ADHD. They probably prevent strokes and they likely can prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. And that does not even take into account the improved muscle condition, easier weight loss, younger-looking skin and decrease in migraine frequency.

However, now there is another benefit to add to the omega 3 fatty acid list: improved liver health. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism released a study this October (2009) in which scientists drew a direct association between lower occurrences of liver disease and reduced liver fat1. Why does this matter? Because omega 3 fatty acids can reduce liver fat.

The study monitored 25 women who were considered already prone to liver disease. The results indicated that omega 3 fatty acids had a beneficial effect on liver fat content. In short, they reduced it. As a result, the women who took the omega 3 supplements were less likely to encounter problems with liver disease because at the end of the study, their livers contained less fat.

It should be noted that this was a small study, and the results, by the scientists’ own admission, require further study. However, the indications of this study are clear, and if you are not already taking an omega 3 supplement for heart health or any of the other myriad benefits of this vital nutrient, then you can add one more thing to the list of reasons that you need to find yourself a good, effective omega 3 fish oil supplements today.

Learn more about how omega 3 can improve your health and learn how to select an omega 3 fish oil supplement that is right for you at www.omega-3.us.

1 http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/94/10/3842

Initial results of a study following 187 verbally apraxic children indicates that a nutritional combination including omega 3 fatty acids can dramatically improve the ability to form words and use the mouth to make purposeful, coherent sounds and words. In fact, in the words of the study, “97 percent reported positive advancements in speech, communication, sensory issues, eye contact, and behavior”1.

Apraxia is a neurological disorder, so it is not entirely surprising that omega 3 fatty acids might play some role in the correction of this issue. After all, omega 3s are vitally important to memory function, and can dramatically increase your ability to recall specific items of information and “access” your reference memory, which is where facts and data is stored.

People with apraxia have the mental and physical abilities necessary to form words and sentences. However, they struggle with deliberate formation. They may stutter, mispronounce words, or even be unable to speak. In addition, they frequently have allergies and impaired digestive systems. The theory behind the research is based in the idea that the lower levels of absorption of nutrients due to the gastrointestinal difficulties may play a role in apraxic symptoms.

In this study, the omega 3 fatty acids were combined with doses of vitamin E. The creators of the nutritional combination believe that these two factors together resulted in the positive effects, included first words spoken, “babbling” and better eye contact and eye hand coordination.

If you or your child suffers from apraxia, then you should always consult your doctor before adding additional nutritional elements to your diet or altering dietary intake. However, this groundbreaking combination could hold the key to improvement in your life and your ability to communicate, so be sure to work with your doctor to determine if omega 3’s could help in your specific case.

To learn more about the benefits of getting a daily omega 3 fish oil supplements and fish oil health benefits, visit www.omega-3.us.

1 http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/08/prweb2743644.htm