So what is Ahiflower?
This hearty-healthy oil is pretty new on the scene, but scientists are excited about its potential as a safe, healthy, and sustainable plant-based alternative to fish oil.
Here's why:
Before we get more into the science behind Ahiflower, let's talk Omegas. Ask any health and nutrition expert and they’ll tell you: Getting enough Omega fatty acids in your diet is a MUST if you want your body to function and thrive.
The challenge?
Figuring out where and how you get them.
Most people’s go-to for Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids are whole food sources such as salmon, sardines, mackerel and herring—or dietary supplements like flaxseed, algal oil, krill, and fish oil.
But what if you’re vegan or vegetarian, worried about harming our overfished oceans or find “fish burps” disgusting?
Ahiflower® Oil might be the plant-based alternative you’re looking for.
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Multi Omega 3-6-9 with Ahiflower Oil Gummies
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Multi Omega 3-6-9 with Ahiflower Oil Soft Gels
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Elderberry Immune Multi Omega 3-6-9 with Ahiflower Oil Gummies
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Studies show that Ahiflower Oil provides the richest, most complete, biologically advanced and balanced combination of polyunsaturated fatty acids currently available in the plant kingdom. It tops every other natural plant source—flax, chia and hemp and even offers the benefits of evening primrose oil.
How?
Most plant-based Omega essential fatty acid sources contain Omega-3 ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) and Omega-6 LA (Linoleic acid). Few contain the super healthy fatty acid Omega-6 GLA (Gamma-linolenic acid ) in meaningful quantities. Even fewer contain any Omega-3 SDA (stearidonic acid). Ahiflower Oil is unique in that it contains all of these essential components.
What’s more, Ahiflower Oil provides a far more efficient conversion to Omega-3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) in the body compared to flax and other oils that primarily supply ALA.
To put this into perspective:
It would take 4 soft gels of flaxseed oil to yield the same amount of beneficial EPA in the body as 1 soft gel of Ahiflower Oil.
Most people take Ahiflower oil like they do fish oil—in the form of a soft gel to “top up” their daily intake of Omegas. Unlike fish oil, there’s no yucky smell or taste. (Spoiler alert: At Forest Remedies, we offer Multi Omega 3-6-9 Ahiflower supplements as both soft gels and gummies.)
Consuming Omega-rich Ahiflower Oil (and omega fatty acids in general) can:
Ahiflower oil is pressed and extracted from the seeds of a small herb in the borage family (Buglossoides arvensis) that’s native to the English countryside and naturally rich in essential Omegas.
100%. Ahiflower is grown exclusively in the United Kingdom by a group of independent, trained farmers using regenerative farming practices. It’s a single, pure, non-genetically modified ingredient, derived from plants that are fully traceable.
Along with that, Ahiflower adds valuable biodiversity to the land it’s grown on and provides good habitat for bees and butterflies. It’s estimated that each acre grown yields as much Omega-rich oil as 320,000 anchovies—without harming a single fish. That’s great news for our overfished and rapidly depleting oceans.
If you’re a regular reader of The Daily Green, chances are you care a great deal about protecting the planet.
Did you know that each year 15 - 25 million tons of oily fish are harvested for omega oil and animal feed? That’s an immense amount of pressure being put on birds and animals like whales and dolphins that rely on oily fish for food.
Making the switch from marine-based omega sources like fish oil to an effective, plant-based product doesn’t sound like much, but collectively, it could have a profound positive impact on the health of our oceans and land. At Forest Remedies, that’s something we’re happy to get behind—and we’re guessing you are too.
Our NEW vegan Multi Omega 3-6-9 and Elderberry Immune Omega 3-6-9 daily supplements are available now!
Understanding Omegas can be a bit tricky, so we’ve put together this easy guide to help you make sense of them—and begin to harness their power for good health!
Omega 3, Omega 6, and Omega 9 are polyunsaturated fatty acids (aka dietary fats) that are vital to maintaining overall good health, and they mainly come from the foods you eat.
Every cell in your body needs and contains omega 3 and 6 essential fats. However, about 80% of people don’t get enough Omegas in their diet.
There are several different kinds of omegas (ALA, EPA, DHA and SDA to name a few), and your body utilizes each one differently. Together they help support things like:
While your body needs Omegas to function and thrive, it’s crucial that you get Omega 3, and 9 in the right proportions. Research suggests that an imbalance can trigger an inflammatory response in the body and contribute to chronic diseases over time.
Below we have some tips for how to add more and healthier Omegas to your diet in the right balance.
But first, here’s a breakdown of the differences between Omega 3, 6, and 9 and what they do.
In the health and wellness world, Omega 3s get a good deal of attention—and rightly so. Science suggests there are many health benefits to maintaining an adequate daily intake of these “healthy fats.”
Omega 3s are essential fatty acids—“essential” meaning that your body is unable to produce them on its own. Instead, they must come from your diet. Good food sources of Omega-3s include oily fish like sardines and mackerel, chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, walnuts, algae, and Ahiflower Oil.
After consuming foods with these healthy fats, omega 3 fatty acids are incorporated into cell membranes in all tissues of the body. From there they act as a starting point for other important functions in the body like making hormones that regulate blood clotting and inflammation.*
The three most well-known Omega 3s are Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA is the most common plant-derived Omega and what your body uses as a building block to create other Omegas.
What you probably have not heard of before is Omega 3 Stearidonic acid (SDA). Your body converts all ALA to SDA before converting it to EPA and DHA. For this reason, consuming foods or supplements high in SDA, is the most efficient way to boost your overall Omega 3.*
Omega ALA, SDA, EPA and DHA all have different health benefits and functions including:
Omega-6 fats are typically considered to be “less healthy” fatty acids, which is unfortunate because they’re essential for good health.
Omega 6s are fatty acids that mostly provide your body with energy, and just like with Omege 3s, these dietary fats must come from your diet.*
Most Omega 6s in the average Western diet come from linoleic acid (LA) found in nuts and seeds and plant and vegetable oils like safflower oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, and soybean oil. Your body converts LA to gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Studies suggest that GLA can help with inflammation.*
Trouble starts when our Omega 6/Omega 3 ratio is out of balance, which can lead to inflammation and other health concerns.*
For optimum health, it’s believed that Omega 6s should be present at similar or slightly higher levels than Omega 3s in our diets—between 1:1 and 3:1. However, many highly processed snacks (the stuff we tend to eat way too much of) contain oils like corn, soybean, and safflower which are all abundant in Omega 6 LA.
As a result, the typical Western diet has pushed this ratio out of whack to approximately 25:1! One way to avoid this is to cut back on processed foods (looking at you potato chips) and opt for more clean, whole food alternatives.
Another alternative?
Opt in for more Omega 6 GLA. This lesser known Omega is found in oils like evening primrose and borage. Unlike LA, GLA gets readily converted to Omega 6s that are thought to have anti-inflammatory properties and other health benefits associated with hair and skin health and hormonal balance.*
Omega-9 fatty acids are also considered “healthy” fatty acids. These monounsaturated fats are found in olive oil, avocado oil and many of the same foods that are rich in Omega 3s.
Our bodies produce Omega-9 fats, so we don’t necessarily need to get them from our diet. However, studies show that consuming foods rich with them can provide us with numerous health benefits—like reducing “bad” LDL cholesterol, increasing “good” HDL cholesterol, and lowering blood pressure.
It can be overwhelming trying to figure out whether or not you’re getting enough omega fatty acids and the proper ratio of each in your diet.
Honestly, most of us would much rather focus on how delicious our lunch tastes versus how many eicosanoids and polyunsaturated fats our body is synthesizing with each bite.
Here are a few simple tips to help you get started, but don't forget to check with your healthcare professional if you want tips specific to your dietary needs:
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Multi Omega 3-6-9 with Ahiflower Oil Gummies
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Multi Omega 3-6-9 with Ahiflower Oil Soft Gels
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Elderberry Immune Multi Omega 3-6-9 with Ahiflower Oil Soft Gels
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]]>While they may be recommended for disease control and prevention and slowing the spread of COVID-19, we can probably all agree that wearing a mask isn't great.
Essential oils can help.
They're an easy and natural way to help instantly refresh cloth face masks. Just a few drops can make going to the grocery store, the bank... anywhere a little more pleasant, and hopefully a little less stressful too.
Follow our easy steps below for how to safely and effectively use essential oils on your face mask.
Essential oils work best on cloth masks, whether it's a homemade mask or your latest find on Etsy or Amazon. But first things first, always remember to wash your hands before touching your mask.
This is necessary before applying pure essential oils anywhere that may have direct contact with your skin, like your face mask.
Here’s why:
Our essential oils are made from premium, highly-concentrated botanical extracts to deliver rich and lasting scents. As a result, they, like any highly-quality extracts, can cause irritation if applied directly to your skin.
Before applying to your mask or topically, we recommend diluting 2 drops of your favorite essential oil in 1 tsp (5 mL) carrier oil like olive oil or argan oil.
TIP: Dilute in a clean spray bottle for easy application. If you don’t have a spray bottle any small clean glass or plastic bottle or container will do.
Step 2. Apply the diluted essential oil mix to your face mask covering
If you used a spray bottle, we recommend giving your mask one or two light sprays. For a less intense aroma, try spraying the outside of your mask (the side not touching your skin).
If you used a bottle or container without a dropper or other applicator, use a cotton swab to dip in the diluted essential oil mix and add a few drops to your mask. We recommend adding it to the outside of your mask and starting with 1 - 2 drops for a less intense aroma. Scent to your smell preference.
You just made wearing your face mask a little more pleasant by utilizing the natural qualities of plants!
]]>Where does Michael turn for inspiration? Renowned environmental advocate Dr. Jane Goodall, a family friend who encourages Michael to pursue opportunities with seismic impact. Michael says, “every purchase, every choice we make dictates the world around us. Why not make consumption a force for good? Cannabis has incredible potential in consumption, personal care, and home care products. It’s a sustainable crop that supports good-paying jobs too.”
Michael’s leadership philosophy is to listen. What do people want? Then, he delivers those products in an affordable package that works. He likes to solve problems quickly, so he can bring innovations to market and scale faster.
This year’s launch of Forest Remedies points to that philosophy. The new line has high-quality hemp extracts and essential oils. Consumers want effective plant-based products and Forest Remedies are natural, sustainable, and high-grade, while also being traceable. This launch is just the beginning. New products are in the works and on the way throughout this year.
“We stand on the edge of a plant-based revolution. It will drive not only cannabis demand, but all alternative products,” Michael said.
Michael was born with a keen business sense and entrepreneurial spirit. He found his passion in building natural brands — even being called the “New Face of Natural” alongside heavyweights P&G and Unilever.
“I’m excited about the future for our brands, and look forward to bringing innovative new products to market that are safe, effective, natural, and that our community will love,” Michael said.
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