The Omega-3 Connection: The Groundbreaking Antidepression Diet and Brain Program

By Andrew L. Stoll

Book Overview

Introduces a safe, natural, and simple treatment for managing depression and related illnesses without side effects using diet and over-the-counter supplements. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684871394
• ISBN13: 9780684871394
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

there's hope if you're going through perimenopause!

I fell into a deep depression about seven monthes ago. I've been to doctors and psychiatrists only to be put on different medications for anxiety and depression. I didn't understand why I was in a depression as my life is going very well.The doctors didn't offer any good reasons why this happens. I asked my doctor if this could be because I'm entering menopause. (I have other symptoms of this.) He said I was too young.After doing alot of research on the Internet, I found out that I was going through perimenopause and depression can be one of the symptoms.I researched again and finally found this book. It is truly amazing! My depression lifted in about a week. I can think clearly and I sleep better than I have in years!Not only that, Dr. Stoll mentions that even young children can use Omega-3 safely. This is an added bonus as I have a 9 year-old who has had trouble going to sleep for years and very high-strung and nervous. I found a children's supplement of Omega-3 for him and he now falls to sleep easily and sleeps like a baby. He also tells me he feels more relaxed. (By the way, I took him to so called "specialists" and all they wanted to do was put him on drugs!)I still feel alittle weepy around my menstrual period, but I don't have severe depression anymore. This book is a Blessing!

Omega-3 fish oil-Irish experience

I first became interested in omega-3 when I read Andrew Stoll`s article in Archives of General Psychiatry in May 99.I tried it on a patient with bipolar disorder who had intractable OCD-she worried about Aids all day long.In just a few days her OCD improved dramatically,she stopped smoking,slept well and became quite relaxed.I then read everything I could find on the subject and found Donald Rudin an interesting writer.I was delighted to see Dr Stoll had written this book and have read it a few times.I have enjoyed it more than most novels and it has been very helpful to many of my patients.I have found omega-3 useful too for several other indications,including agoraphobia,alcoholism,drug abuse,sexual abuse,schizophrenia,anxiety,depression,insomnia and withdrawal from benzodiazepines.It has opened a whole new world for me in the treatment of mental illness.Because I have been interviewed on Irish radio many people here take omega-3 and find it takes the edge off the stress of everyday living.

Initially skeptical of omega 3 claims

I was initially skeptical of Omega-3 claims as just more hype for the food supplement industry. However I read in a reputable textbook ""Biochemical and Physiological Aspects of Human Nutrition" by Martha H Stephanie that Omega3 fatty acids are now considered "essential fatty acids" and she explained why. Also the 17th edition of the Merck Manual briefly indicates that the EPA and DHA found in fish oils are essential fatty acids and recommends a ratio of 10:1 for omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids in the diet. Omega 3 fatty acids are essential building blocks for the retina in the eye, nerve tissue, the brain and control details of the proper nutritional balance of cells in the body Since omega 6 is the primary fat in corn, soy, and safflower oils, the typical American diet contains a ratio of 10, 20 or 40 to 1 for omega 6 to omega 3. If you don't have enough omega 3 or if the ratio is too high in omega 6 there can be profound health consequences. I bought "The Omega-3 Connection" as an authoritative source (Dr Stoll is at the Harvard Medical School" to settle my doubts. After reading this book it I think it may be the most important health book of this year( maybe this century) and is MUST reading for anyone concerned for the health of their children. I sent a copy to each of my daughters so my grandchildren can benefit from this new information.

Finally, a "true" advance in mental health treatment

In September of 1998, NIH sponsored the first international workshop on this subject: "Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids and Psychiatric Disorders." Here, Andrew Stoll presented the results of his now famous study in bipolar disorder. In the introduction of this meeting, I suggested that these recent reports of dietary supplementation with essential fatty acids in chronic and severe mental disorders constituted the most important finding in psychiatry in 40 years. In the two years that have passed since then, I am even more convinced of their significance. I have seen lifelong manic-depressive individuals become "well" with this treatment ­ to the point of enabling them to discontinue prescription medications. I would never have believed this possible. Once the basic scientists begin investigations into the neurobiological basis of these phenomena, true progress in the prevention and treatment of mental and neurological disorders will have begun. This book tells the exciting story of the development of this newest frontier in psychiatry and points out the other major health benefits that can result from bringing these essential oils back into our food chain. This book should be on everyone's shelf.