[.ca] The Omega-3 Connection: The Groundbreaking Omega-3 ... (ISBN 0684871386)

From Amazon.com:
A must-read for anyone dealing with depression, The Omega-3 Connection by Andrew L. Stoll, M.D., strikes yet another blow against the standard American diet. We already know that years of noshing on highly processed foods have saddled us with sky-high rates of heart disease, obesity, and related conditions. But, as we're starting to understand now, our eating habits may also be subtly altering our brain chemistry, leaving us vulnerable to anxiety disorders and depression. Only in this case, it's not just what we're eating--it's what we're not eating: foods containing omega-3 essential fatty acids--the "good fats" that help maintain optimal brain function. In his book, Stoll, the director of the psychopharmacology research lab at Boston's McLean Hospital and assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, suggests that restoring our body's natural balance of omega-3s may help alleviate (and prevent) many types of depression--even for those who don't respond to traditional antidepressants. Omega-3s may also prove helpful with other problems, such as the inability to handle stress, memory loss, and cognitive decline. The book contains a "renewal plan" designed to help readers put Stoll's concepts into practice, recipes for omega-3-rich dishes, advice for choosing supplements, and dosages for therapeutic use. Although Stoll is quick with the caveat that much of the research on omega-3s and brain function is still evolving, he makes a compelling case for using these fats to regulate depression and other cognitive disorders. Along with major epidemiological evidence that shows lower rates of depression in those cultures that consume a great deal of omega-3s, Stoll's own studies indicate that boosting their intake can reduce depression symptoms. And Stoll cites stacks of additional studies suggesting that omega-3s can also help with major depression, schizophrenia, and postpartum depression. Going even further, Stoll makes a strong argument that omega-3 deficiency could be contributing to rising rates of teen violence and attention deficit disorders. Of course, depression should never be treated without physician supervision. But in laying the groundwork for the omega-3s to emerge as the next big thing in natural depression therapy, Stoll certainly gives us food for thought. --Norine Dworkin

good guide, but smacks of marketing:
This book does present a persuasive case for the efficacy of Omega-3 in treating depression. But there's a little too much of "so you should buy our product, because it's the BEST omega-3 on the market!!!" Yes, your company's omega-3 tablets are of great quality and high concentration. But excessive promotion detracts from the scientific message of the book.

Sorry it's all marketing:
The essential fatty acids idea is wrong. This was proven 50 years ago! It's all marketing and distortion of the facts. Check the newsletter, at Dr. Raymond Peat's website, "The toxicity of unsaturated fats".

How to better understand brain dysfunction in depression:
Andrew L. Stoll wrote un very interesting book on depression and diet. The tremendous change in the balance of essential fatty acids during this century and particularly in well developped countries is clearly documented. The war against fat is not fair and produce significant countereffects which lead to depression, obesity, metabolic syndrome and for kids underdevelopment of the brain. These facts are described with details inside this book. Obviously a diet approach is restrictive because physical exercise, meditation, environment and genetics play also a role in depression but one must keep in mind that without a good intake in omega 3 fatty acids it is difficult to maintain brain health.

Good source of information:
Stoll needs an editor--much of the material is repeated one or more times and often cut-and-paste is in evidence. There is much tangential information that won't be of interest to everyone in order to pad it into a full-length book. Still, it is a good source of information regarding sources of omega-3 oils and how much to take.

Essential Read:
This book is essential for anyone wanting to try using Omega-3 supplements for the treatment of bipolar and depression. Discussion on past clinical trials, information on what to look for in Omega-3 when buying and more are covered in the book. Very easy to read for everyone I think as it is not a bunch of medical verbage, more common language.