Omega-3 is a polyunsaturated fatty acid also known as PUFA. Consumption of omega-3 is necessary to maintain normal growth and development. A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and arthritis. Omega-3 is found naturally in cold-water fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna and halibut. In order to get the recommended allowance of omega-3 individuals should consume two servings of fatty fish per week or through the ingesting of fish oil supplements.

Requirements for Men and Women

The daily recommended allowance of omega-3 for men is 1600 milligrams. Women should have 1100 milligrams a day. Men require more because they have more muscle mass. Pregnant women should have 1400 milligrams. The increased dosage is because they are providing nutrients to their unborn child. The Mediterranean diet was used as an example in determining the proper intake of omega-3.

Omega-3 Fish Requirements

A variety of oily, cold-water fish have omega-3. Unlike other fatty protein sources, fish is a healthy unsaturated fat. Salmon contains the highest amount of omega-3. A 3 oz. serving of cooked salmon contains 1.1g to 1.9g. Flounder and pollock have approximately the same, between .45g to .48g. Shellfish such as crabs have up to .4g. These fish options do not contain any detectable mercury concentrations.

Fish Oil Supplements

Fish oil supplements can be bought at any pharmacy or prescribed by your health-care provider. Fish oil is extracted from the oily fish like salmon and tuna. One, over-the-counter fish oil supplement contains about .85g of omega-3. Lovaza is fish oil that needs a prescription. One Lovaza capsule contains .842g of omega-3. It is up to the provider to determine how much should be taken with either option. Any supplement taken over the counter should be discussed with your provider first.

Health care reform doesn’t apply to these types of insurance plans. Why? Because supplemental health (emphasis on supplemental), like cancer and accident insurance, are not your traditional type of health coverage. The major difference is supplemental pays you, not your health care provider, for specified illnesses and/or events. Where health insurance usually pays for all kinds of illnesses and/or accidents (sometimes excluding pregnancy) and always pays the medical facility, never you. The government is not concerned with reforming supplemental health insurance due to these plans are viewed as optional coverage and should not be mixed up with traditional coverage – you should always keep a traditional plan if possible.

Then why would you need supplemental health coverage? Consider this…for now and at least the next four years, the major part of health care reform won’t take effect and even then there will always be what many refer to as, “Out of Pocket Expenses.” Let’s look at some of these expenses that have been draining American’s savings accounts, sending some into bankruptcy and causing severe debt…

Typical expenses a person sees if ever sick, can’t work and has traditional health insurance:

Loss of wages Deductibles Co-Pays Certain medications not covered Can you imagine your finances surviving months of these expenses?

Health care reform will change a lot of things like being able to get traditional health coverage with pre-existing conditions and/or if you qualify for low income insurance through state offered exchanges, but remember we won’t be seeing these changes until 2014. Don’t rule out supplemental health now or then. Because supplemental coverage is about freedom, helping you along when making crucial decisions in your health care management. Let’s hope this never happens but what if you’re struggling to make a mortgage because your pay check took a hit from too much time off of work, but you’d still really like to have that second opinion that your traditional insurance isn’t paying for…guess what, this extra money in your pocket does equal freedom!

Here are some other reasons why you should consider Supplemental Health Coverage:

Designed to supplement your income in time of need – Kind of like the cheapest disability insurance you’ll ever find. Most of these plans pay you to get your regular wellness tests, bringing your cost down greatly Some of these plans can cost as low as $10.00 a month – this low cost feature is an appealing benefit to protecting yourself.