Issue 22 - June 2, 2010

In This Issue:

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Antiaging

• Video Game Addiction

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Antiaging

Omega-3 fatty acids have a variety of health benefits. They have powerful anti-inflammatory properties, they reduce the risk of heart disease and heart attack, they improve blood vessel functioning, they increase HDL (good) cholesterol, and they lower blood pressure.

Now there's evidence that the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) also have an antiaging effect.

A recent study looked at the effect of DHA and EPA on telomere length. Telomeres are structures at the end of chromosomes that are markers of biological aging. As telomeres shorten, it contributes to the aging process. Genetic factors, exposure to certain chemicals and environmental factors, inflammation, obesity, and lack of exercise all shorten telomeres.

Researchers from the University of California investigated whether blood levels of DHA and EPA were linked to changes in telomere length in a study of 608 people. The researchers suspected that DHA and EPA may have an antiaging effect, and that's exactly what they found.

The researchers found that study subjects with the least amount of DHA and EPA experienced the most rapid rate of telomere shortening. Subjects with the highest levels of DHA and EPA experienced the slowest rate of telomere shortening. Each one-standard deviation increase in DHA + EPA blood levels was associated with a 32% reduction in the odds of telomere shortening.

So how do DHA and EPA provide an antiaging effect? The most likely reason why is because DHA and EPA reduce free radical damage, and free radical damage shortens telomeres.

Eating fatty fish or taking a fish oil supplement are the best ways of getting enough DHA and EPA. If you're thinking about taking a fish oil supplement or you're presently taking one, you should read my review of the best fish oil supplement on the market.

Video Game Addiction

I was surprised to learn recently that video game addiction is a serious and growing problem that affects not just kids, but plenty of adults as well.

Here are some facts I want to share with you that were provided to me by digital addiction and recovery consultant Ryan Van Cleave, who overcame his own addiction to video games.

• According to ComScore, a leader in measuring the digital world, 217 million people worldwide play online video games. 114 million of these are American adults. In 2009, 25% of Americans over the age of 50 played video games, an increase from 9% in 1999.

• With 3 billion hours being spent each week playing online video games, video game addiction is more relevant than ever.

• Video game players are considered addicted when they become utterly consumed by the gaming experience and can't stop playing, even when the negative consequences (financial, emotional, familial) of their playing begin to mount.

• China and South Korea consider video game addiction their #1 public health issue.

• A 2007 study by the American Medical Association found that more than 5 million American kids ages 8-18 meet the definition of video game addiction.

If you want to learn more about video game addiction, check out Ryan's new book Unplugged: My Journey Into the Dark World of Video Game Addiction. The book not only details Ryan's own video game addiction and how he overcame it, it also provides plenty of tips, advice and strategies that will help people rediscover balance in their lives.

Ryan is offering the book at a special low price (and also giving away a bunch of free bonuses) to anyone who purchases it on June 2 or 3. Click here for more details