Observations about Vascepa...
Vascepa is not magic..It is likely to improve your over all health under most conditions, but the most important of EPA's benefits result from moderating inflammation via the eicosanoid system. The eicosanoid system is sensitive to diet, and to gain maximum benefit from Vascepa, it is necessary to eat correctly...
The eicosanoid system is very complex and has been present since long before the first animals or plants lived on land..Arachidonic Acid (AA)..DHA and EPA are signalling molecules, which are borrowed for nerve structure and nerve transmission (signals) in the brain.
Biological systems use economies of design so that the nervous system, immune system, inflammatory system and hemostasis borrow from each other's strategies.
The system effect we use for our purposes is EPA's effects on inflammation as a competing cascade verses AA...Simplistically both EPA and AA compete for cell receptors (on most every cell). These cell receptors are capable of expressing a variety of active signalling molecules which may increase inflammation, constrict vessels, raise body temperature, blood pressure or lessen these effects..Generally AA tends to increase the "bad" effects, while EPA tends to moderate these effects or induce a sense of well being..
The relative amounts of EPA vs AA sets the inflammatory thermostat..AA is derived from Omega6 PUFAs by a cascade, ie, a sequence of chemical reactions..EPA is mainly obtained from fish oil...The AA cascade can be speeded up or suppressed by other agents. EPA, and Glucagon retard the production of AA from Omega6s. In the case of EPA you get a double benefit..not only does EPA lower the amount of AA, it also decreases the number of cell receptors available for the AA to use, by occupying them. .Insulin acts to increase the production of AA from Omega6s...
The idea is to increase EPA and lower AA...Increasing the amount of EPA is largely a matter of diet (taking Vascepa)...Decreasing AA involves lowering Omega6 intake and decreasing insulin. Insulin secretion is triggered by excess carbohydrates, or fast acting carbohydrates which rapidly raise blood sugar.
Fast acting carbs are addicting, in some ways like cigarettes..They sell themselves, by raising the blood sugar..which then triggers insulin...which lowers the blood sugar, by converting the carbs into fat..leaving you with low blood sugar..hungry..and wanting more carbs...Also you don't feel all that great...its the AA effect...
Vascepa is not going to keep you in the Zone all the time..But it will allow you to get there if you get the diet and the med right..and that's a great feeling..and yes you will be much healthier..
":>) JL
AI
