Fish Oil Revisited

It is my sister this time around who was my inspiration for today's blog posting. We were on the phone earlier this week and she mentioned to me that she heard that Fish Oil supplementation can help reduce belly fat and asked for my thoughts on the subject.

There are several studies dating back to 1997 that focus on the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids, specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (found in large amounts in the oil from cold-water fish) as a means of benefiting body composition and metabolic rate in humans.

Specifically, Fish Oil supplementation helps to reduce body fat mass and stimulates lipid oxidation in healthy adults.

The most recent research, published in the October 8 issue of the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, concluded that 6-weeks of supplementation with Fish Oil significantly increased lean mass and decreased fat mass. These changes were significantly correlated with a reduction in salivary cortisol following Fish Oil treatment.

If you're in the market for a good Fish Oil supplement, check out this posting which appeared on CFB back in March 2010. Remember, it’s just as important to read the labels on your supplementation products as it is on packaging at the grocery store!

Train hard; stay strong.

Peace.

Susan

Inspired By A Pickle

A trip last Saturday to the Union Square Farmer's Market in NYC inspired me to put fingers to keyboard and type my first Catapult Fitness Blog posting in two months. TWO MONTHS! I was honestly beginning to think it was time to simply remove CFB from the blogosphere.

So, what exactly was my inspiration? Honestly, with the abundance of fresh veggies, fruits and locally produced treats, inspiration came quite easily. But what really took me over the top was my visit to the Rick's Picks Pickle stand.

Growing up, having a plate of sliced all sour pickle's on the dinner table was the norm. We'd go to the flea market on Sunday's and never fail to stop at the Pickle vendor for an all sour that would make your lips curl (YUM!). Our monthly family pastrami and corned beef night was always accompanied by some friendly gherkins. In short, I really, really like(d) pickles.

Why the past tense? Well, unfortunately, pickles really didn't fit in to my low sodium diet and for the past 15-months I have been pickle-free.

That is until this past Saturday when I happened by the Rick's Pick stand. A friendly chat with the Rick's Pick representative and a sampling later and I was on my way with a jar of Rick's Picks Slices Of Life - a bread and butter style pickles with a mere 10 mg of sodium per 1 oz serving (roughly 5 pickle rounds, if you are wondering). The entire jar contains only 80 mg of sodium, so if I decide to go pickle crazy one day, no harm no foul.

To put this in to perspective, 1 oz of the various brands of pickles you would find in your local supermarket contain anywhere from 180 mg sodium to 210 mg of sodium per ounce. Again, did I mention that I could eat the entire jar of Slices of Life at only 80 mg?!

Ok, obviously, I'm excited about this pickle find. But more importantly, I'm thrilled to find artisanal companies like Rick's Picks who are dedicated to creating healthy alternatives to what can typically be found in the marketplace.

According to Zagat's, Rick's Picks can be found in local Whole Foods or you can always order online.

Train hard; stay strong.

Peace.

Susan