Spectrum Organic Products: Alpha-Linolenic Acid Is Proven to Be Heart Healthy.

PETALUMA, Calif. -- Separate research studies reveal that a diet rich in the omega-3 essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and sudden cardiac death 

Spectrum Organic Products, a leading manufacturer of natural and organic fats and oils, is endorsing new studies that demonstrate the cardiovascular benefits of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a form of omega-3 unsaturated essential fatty acid found in flaxseed oil, flax seed, canola oil, walnuts and walnut oil, plus certain green leafy vegetables.

A Harvard University School of Medicine study, presented in November at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association in New Orleans, suggested that women who reported eating diets rich in ALA had a lower risk of dying from heart disease and sudden cardiac death than those whose diets are low in the plant-derived fatty acid. The study tracked 76,763 women who completed a food questionnaire every four years over a 16-year period beginning in 1984.

According to the study's lead author, Christine M. Albert, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard University's Medical School in Boston, the study suggests that the higher a woman's ALA intake, the greater the benefit in preventing life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.

In related news, researchers at Pennsylvania State University reported in the latest issue of the Journal of Nutrition that a diet rich in ALA not only lowered bad cholesterol but also decreased markers for blood vessel inflammation in men and women representative of typical Americans at cardiovascular risk.

According to the results of the Penn State study, compared to the average American diet, an ALA diet lowered total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Additionally, C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation strongly associated with heart disease, declined after six weeks on the alpha-linolenic acid diet.

"The real news behind these two studies is that ALA by itself has been reaffirmed as a healthy dietary fat that can significantly reduce coronary heart disease (CHD) risk," says Dr. Richard Delany, M.D., F.A.C.C., and president of Personalized Preventive Medicine in Milton, Mass. "ALA works not only by preventing lethal arrhythmias (and thus sudden death) but also by acting directly in preventing the body from making pro-inflammatory compounds, thus helping in the prevention of plaque formation, heart attacks and CHD death. This anti-inflammatory action of ALA illustrates the multiple ways that ALA is able to reduce coronary heart disease risk," he says.

"By simply adding a little flax oil to your cooked foods you can add a wonderful flavor while adding a heart-healthy fat to your diet," says Claire Criscuolo, owner of Claire's Corner Copia Restaurant in New Haven, Conn., the nation's longest-running vegetarian restaurant. Criscuolo further counsels people to use the right cooking oil for the right reasons. "The folks at Spectrum have created an easy-to-understand method for people to correctly cook with the right oils, called 'Cooking 1-2-3,'" added Criscuolo.

Here's how "Cooking 1-2-3" works:

1) Refined for High Heat

High heat cooking, such as frying or sauteing, requires refined oils that won't burn at high temperatures. When cooking oil burns or reaches its "smoke point," it begins to decompose, which can cause a loss in nutritional integrity and the healthful properties of the oil. Spectrum recommends almond, avocado, or high heat canola oil.

2) Unrefined for Flavor

Unrefined oils are best used for short-term, medium heat cooking, such as sauteing or baking, or for adding a flavor component to a prepared dish. Spectrum recommends extra virgin olive, peanut, toasted sesame, corn, walnut or coconut oil.

3) Nutriments for Health

Oils with nutriment qualities complement a dish by providing nutrients that nourish, promote growth or repair cell damage. These oils are best used in finished dishes, including soups, grains, hot cereals and salads or blended into dressings. They can also be taken without food, as a dietary supplement. Spectrum recommends flax, flax/borage and wheat germ oil.

For more information, please visit www.spectrumorganics.com.

Spectrum Organic Products Inc. (OTCBB:SPOP), the leading manufacturer and marketer of organic and natural oils and condiments in North America, was founded in 1986 by Jethren Phillips. Today, the company sells more than 175 products under the Spectrum Naturals(R) and Spectrum Essentials(R) brands, as well as industrial sizes of oils and condiments through its Spectrum Ingredients(R) division.

'Safe Harbor' Statements under the Private Securities Act of 1995: The statements contained in this release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks are described in SPOP's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Content provided by Compass Natural Marketing, Boulder, CO, www.compassnaturalmarketing.com.