There's no doubt now about the health benefits of fish oil. Fish oil contains DHA and EPA which are the 2 most important of the essential fatty acids known as the omega 3 fats. But this reason sales of fish oil supplements have exploded over the last decade or 2.
However many people are unaware that there are different forms of Omega 3 essential fatty acids, and that the omega 3 fats found in plant based sources are quite different from those found in fish.
The 2 most important Omega 3 fats for our health are DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid). DHA in particular is extremely important for the development and proper functioning of our brain.
Our brain is made up of somewhere around 60 percent fat, and a large proportion of that is DHA. It is now established that an adequate supply of DHA during gestation of the foetus is important for proper development of the brain as well as development of mental function during childhood and in fact through life.
Fish, and particularly oily fish, are the best source of DHA and EPA. In fact these 2 omega 3 fats come from the seagrass eaten by fish, and those important fatty acids work their way up the fish food chain.
Many people look to get their omega 3 fats from other sources, and in particular plant based sources such as flax.
However many people are also unaware that they are not getting DHA and EPA from flax seeds, they are actually getting a different form of Omega 3 fat called ALA.
ALA is not nearly as beneficial to the health as either DHA or EPA. It is in fact a precursor to DHA and EPA and can be converted in the body into these 2 fats, hence its benefits.
However research has shown that the rate at which ALA is converted is very low, some estimates are that only around 5 percent of ALA is converted in the body.
And for this reason ALA, which is the plant-based form of Omega 3 fats, is not nearly as effective for promoting good health.
This of course presenta a conundrum for anyone who, for philosophical reasons, does not wish to eat fish. Unfortunately the fact remains that fish is by far the best source of the important omega 3 fats.
And eating fish has it's own problems. Fish has become very expensive, and is now commonly contaminated with Mercury and other toxins, and in fact we are advised not to eat too much because of this contamination.
There are high quality fish oil supplements available which overcome this problem. They are free of contamination and they are also cost-effective to take every single day.
So if you're looking to add the health benefits of the omega 3 essential fatty acids to your diet remember that it is the fish-based form of the omega 3 fats that is healthy, the plant-based form is much less so.
And remember that the best alternative to eating lots of fish is to take high quality fish oil supplements. Note however that not all fish oil supplements on the market are high quality.
However many people are unaware that there are different forms of Omega 3 essential fatty acids, and that the omega 3 fats found in plant based sources are quite different from those found in fish.
The 2 most important Omega 3 fats for our health are DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid). DHA in particular is extremely important for the development and proper functioning of our brain.
Our brain is made up of somewhere around 60 percent fat, and a large proportion of that is DHA. It is now established that an adequate supply of DHA during gestation of the foetus is important for proper development of the brain as well as development of mental function during childhood and in fact through life.
Fish, and particularly oily fish, are the best source of DHA and EPA. In fact these 2 omega 3 fats come from the seagrass eaten by fish, and those important fatty acids work their way up the fish food chain.
Many people look to get their omega 3 fats from other sources, and in particular plant based sources such as flax.
However many people are also unaware that they are not getting DHA and EPA from flax seeds, they are actually getting a different form of Omega 3 fat called ALA.
ALA is not nearly as beneficial to the health as either DHA or EPA. It is in fact a precursor to DHA and EPA and can be converted in the body into these 2 fats, hence its benefits.
However research has shown that the rate at which ALA is converted is very low, some estimates are that only around 5 percent of ALA is converted in the body.
And for this reason ALA, which is the plant-based form of Omega 3 fats, is not nearly as effective for promoting good health.
This of course presenta a conundrum for anyone who, for philosophical reasons, does not wish to eat fish. Unfortunately the fact remains that fish is by far the best source of the important omega 3 fats.
And eating fish has it's own problems. Fish has become very expensive, and is now commonly contaminated with Mercury and other toxins, and in fact we are advised not to eat too much because of this contamination.
There are high quality fish oil supplements available which overcome this problem. They are free of contamination and they are also cost-effective to take every single day.
So if you're looking to add the health benefits of the omega 3 essential fatty acids to your diet remember that it is the fish-based form of the omega 3 fats that is healthy, the plant-based form is much less so.
And remember that the best alternative to eating lots of fish is to take high quality fish oil supplements. Note however that not all fish oil supplements on the market are high quality.
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