Now Black Currant Oil 500mg - 100 Softgels

GLA

Gamma-linolenic acid is an omega 6 essential fatty acid. "Essential" means that the body does not produce the fatty acids on its own and therefore they must be taken in through the diet. Your body uses GLA to produce hormone-like substances (eicosanoids) that support cardiovascular health. GLA also helps maintain cholesterol levels because healthy fats build HDL cholesterol.
HDL cholesterol is responsible for moving fat, from storage or plaques, into the liver where processing and excretion of fat occurs. By decreasing fatty build-up on arteries it helps to regulate blood pressure. GLA reduces the production of an inflammatory compound called arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid causes pain and inflammation in conditions such as arthritis.

GLA helps to make the sheath (myelin) that surrounds the nerves that conduct messages from the brain to the muscles and organs of your body, performing a similar function to the insulation sheathing of electrical wires. If this protective sheath degenerates (as in MS), a "shorting out" of the message that the nerve is carrying occurs. Since healthy fats play a large role in hormone formation, borage oil can thus help optimize hormone levels in both men and women. GLA supplements are used to treat atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, arthritis, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, PMS, menopausal discomforts, multiple sclerosis and liver cirrhosis.

The best-known natural sources are borage seed oil, blackcurrant seed oil and evening primrose oil. Of these, borage seed oil contains a significantly higher concentration of GLA and is, therefore, a preferred supplement. Evening Primrose oil promotes estrogen production and so should not be used by cancer sufferers with estrogen receptor positive tumours. Use black currant seed oil instead.

Ensure your GLA supplement is not processed with heat because it damages the acids and creates free radicals. Some of the damaged fats turn into trans-fatty acids, which are well known for their promotion of cardiovascular disease. Refrigerate all liquid GLA supplements and keep capsules away from heat because they can become rancid.

ALA

Alpha-linolenic acid is an omega 3 essential fatty acid. "Essential" means that the body does not produce the fatty acids on its own and therefore they must be taken in through the diet. Most North American and Western diets are very low in Omega-3 and extremely high in Omega-6.
Too many saturated fats are consumed and the ratio of ingested EFA's averages more like 20:1 Omega-6's to Omega-3's instead of the recommended 4:1. ALA is found in vegetable oils like canola, flaxseed, soybean and walnut.

ALA helps maintain cholesterol levels because healthy fats build HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is responsible for moving fat, from storage or plaques, into the liver where processing and excretion of fat occurs. By decreasing fatty buildup on arteries it helps to regulate blood pressure. It also provides valuable support for immune system function because many immune cells use omega 3 fats in their cell membrane. Having a properly functioning membrane allows the cells to do things like release packets of chemicals when they come in contact with foreign invaders. Since healthy fats play a large role in hormone formation, ALA can thus help optimize hormone levels and strengthen male fertility.

Ensure your ALA supplement is not processed with heat because it damages the acids and creates free radicals. Some of the damaged fats turn into trans-fatty acids, which are well known for their promotion of cardiovascular disease. Refrigerate all liquid ALA supplements and keep capsules away from heat because they can become rancid. Using liquid ALA, in the form of flaxseed oil is much more cost effective than capsules because numerous capsules must be taken to make an equivalent amount of liquid oil. Ground flaxseeds also contain some EFAs along with fiber. Golden flaxseed contains more ALA than the same amount of brown flaxseed.