Here at MaMa Jean’s, we’re all about food. We try to offer you the best possible quality of food at the best possible price. As it says right here on our website: “Food should be nutritious. It should also be delicious and affordable.”
This is as important as it is correct – good food is essential to our health. “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” said some guy whose writings are just the philosophical underpinnings of all modern medicine (so, he’s got cred).
Twenty-four hundred years ago Hippocrates said this. Not pills, not serums, FOOD. There exists, however, a dilemma: we want to eat healthy but it can be difficult at times, both physically and financially, to get the content into our systems that we really need. Even at MaMa Jean’s, some of the things we need most can still be a bit expensive – particularly if we’re trying to get them in the amounts deemed necessary. Few things are more representative of this than fish.
Doctors around the world agree, there are few things better for you than a diet rich in seafood- primarily fatty fish. The fats contained therein are some of the most essential nutrients we can consume (particularly Omega-3’s), and have a variety of benefits so significant that you would need a whole article unto itself just to scratch the surface (For that exact article, click here.) As human beings, we thrive on omega-rich fish. But, as our populations have grown and moved inland, away from ocean shores and river banks, we have developed culinary traditions that contain less and less of this content. At the same time, overfishing has made quality fish more scarce. So:
– Good, clean fish is an excellent food source.
– We don’t eat nearly enough of it.
– We don’t live in a region where fresh seafood is in abundant supply.
– Due to overfishing, there aren’t as many fish to be had, period.
What does that make this particular product? That’s right: EXPENSIVE. At Mama Jeans, the average cost of a fresh, frozen, fatty fish like salmon or trout can be $20-$30 per pound (and that’s not bad). The basic, recommended, weekly allowance by the American Heart Association is 3.5oz twice a week. So, you’re looking at half a pound of fish a week, MINIMUM, just for yourself. Got a family of four to feed? You could be averaging out at $50 a week just on fish.
Your body has a need that may require a significant change in dietary habits, AND is costly to purchase in the necessary amounts. You have the perfect equation for an unfortunate situation.
Enter Wholemega, by New Chapter.
“I’m ready for my close-up.”
For all the reasons listed above, fish oil supplements are one of the biggest parts of the supplement industry. In 2013, in the U.S. alone, sales were a $1.2 BILLION (that’s a lot of fish). At Mama Jean’s we have any number of excellent, quality fish oil brands: Nordic Naturals, Barlean’s, Green Pastures, Renew Life, Carlson…..the list goes on (and on), but New Chapter’s Wholemega has long been, and remains, one of our all time favorites.
Why? Simply put, it’s great stuff:
– Wholemega is 100% WILD Alaskan Salmon – NOT farm raised.
– One week of Wholemega gets you THREE servings of salmon (that’s a bonus serving!)
– It has a full complement of 17 whole Omegas, including Omega 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9’s.
– Oil is extruded with a process similar to fine olive oils, yielding an “extra-virgin” product (low-heat/no-chemical processing, leaving nutrients intact).
– It’s also a natural source of Astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant.
– Processed with minimal environmental impact relative to other oils. (VERY important to us here at Mama Jean’s)
– Your recommended allowance of these quality, whole-food Omega’s is less than $30 a month.
But the thing we like the most is this, from New Chapter itself: “Our philosophy on nutrition is simple; seek the benefits of whole food. While others create food supplements, New Chapter strives to deliver Supplemental Food.”
Like we discussed above, food is the most important thing. In all studies recommending the increased consumption of Omega-3’s, the overwhelming consensus it that that content should be coming from fresh fish (i.e. REAL FOOD) as much as possible. But, again, for all the reasons listed above, that isn’t necessarily do-able for the average consumer – at less than $30 a month, Wholemega is.
Food is, and should be, your most basic medicine. Always look to good nutritional options as your first step when treating any number of health issues. When ideal food options aren’t available, supplements can help. When that option is fish oil, try Wholemega.
Contributors – R. Cummings, A.Harmon
