This is Year Two of me giving up refined carbohydrates and dramatically reducing my overall sugar intake to 15-20 grams per day. It sounds like very little, and it is. Especially for a sugar addict like me. I’m sad to say that although I’ve reduced my consumption of refined sugar, my sweet cravings remain. Seriously, everybody’s got their something, and my “thing” is sugar. But like I’ve said in previous posts, there’s LOTS of sweet alternatives that taste identical to sugar, but the body doesn’t recognize it as such. One such substitute is Xyilitol, and the good news as it doesn’t have any evidence of the damaging effects other chemical substitutes like Splenda and Equal. So that’s when I got excited about what Barlean’s is doing to make fish oil oh so sweet and oh so palatable. If you haven’t yet heard of Barlean’s Omega Swirl, consider yourself notified, and now there’s no excuse.

What it is

Barlean’s Omega Swirl is an emulsified fish oil or flax seed formula that delivers the necessary Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids that nutritionally support:

• Heart Health
• Cholesterol Levels Already Within a Healthy Range
• Joint Mobility and Bone Density
• Energy and Endurance
• Skin, Hair and Nail Health
• Mental Health, Wellness and Acuity
• Blood Glucose Levels Already Within a Healthy Range
• Sexual and Hormonal Health

Here’s the thing: Barlean’s formula does all that stuff without the awful fish burps you get from traditional fish oil caplets. Plus, they’re the only manufacturer I’ve seen that can deliver the nutrients into something truly tasty. The Babster loves the coconut pineapple and eats it like candy. As for me, I just bought the chocolate/raspberry Essential Women’s formula, with evening primrose, flax seed oil, and soy isoflavones. Flax seed oil and fish oil are pretty much interchangeable, because they both provide the chain of Omega 3 fatty acids. Except with flax, your body will have to take the extra step to convert it.

I’m upping my Omega intake because research shows it’s beneficial for the hair, nails and skin, plus assists with mood regulation. They also assist in anxiety and mood disorders, which I have, and manage.

I got the idea after reading The Belly Fat Cure, when the author, Jorge Cruise, recommended Omega Swirl and Clemmy’s ice cream, both of which are sugar free. A scoop of vanilla Clemmy’s and a squirt of Essential Woman, and I’m getting my Omegas and female-friendly oils all at once. And note: even though this is an “oil,” it’s highly emulsified and has the consistency of a sauce. If you can rid your mind of the thought of putting fish oil on your ice cream, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

While the “sauce” looks more chocolate than raspberry, the berry taste is prominent and the chocolate is more of an end note. If you want a more chocolatey taste, mix a little sugar-free chocolate sauce and then…yum.

However, having tried all of the flavors, my TOP pick is the strawberry banana. If you’re interested, now’s probably the time to buy some because more stores are having their New Year’s resolutions sales. You can find them in the refrigerated section where they keep the probiotics.