Are Omega-3 Fatty Acids *Really* That Important To My
Overall Health?
Sure, you hear that fatty fish like salmon, anchovies,
sardines, and mackerel are good for you (especially your heart and brain!)
because they contain marine omega-3 fatty acids, but what does that even mean?*
As it turns out, there's a slew of reasons adding omega-3s to your diet is such
a wise move for your well-being.
What are omega-3 fatty acids anyway?
Omega-3 fats are a family of long-chain polyunsaturated
fatty acids (aka PUFAs), which are distinguished from saturated and
monounsaturated fatty acids because they contain two or more double
carbon-carbon bonds within the fatty acid chain. There are three main types of
omega-3s: ALA, DHA, and EPA.
Your body is able to make certain fats (lipids) from other
fats, but omega-3s are essential fats that your body is unable to make (ALA) or
very inefficient (EPA and DHA) at making itself, so you must consume them
instead. Omega-3 fatty acids are important to heart, brain, joint, eye, and
overall health—in other words, they're not worth skimping on or skipping when
it comes to meeting daily nutritional needs or supporting current and future
health goals.*
Why Americans are short on omega-3s.
Omega-3s, particularly EPA and DHA, primarily come from fish
with higher fat content. Unlike other in countries where fish is a main food
staple, like Japan and Korea, the average American falls way short on
recommended weekly fish consumption and is therefore short on omega-3 fatty
acid intake as well.
Let's back it up for a second and speak to that weekly fish
recommendation. In 2000, the American Heart Association (AHA) published a
formal dietary recommendation of two servings of (ideally fatty) fish per week
in the journal Circulation. This is the starting point for the general
population, and that amount of fish intake comes out to approximately 500
milligrams of EPA and DHA per day to support overall and heart health.*
Starting points are good places to begin, but the AHA goes
on to recommend a higher marine omega-3 intake (1 gram and up of EPA and DHA
daily) for focused cardioprotective and cardiovascular benefits.* These higher
amounts of omega-3 fats optimally support your body's need for omega-3s, which
are used for critical cell membrane functions throughout the body, among all
the other incredible health benefits omega-3s provide.*
Unfortunately, achieving 1 gram and up of EPA and DHA would
be the omega-3 equivalent of eating a serving of fish a day, which comes with
its obvious challenges (cost, heavy metals, practicality, etc.).
So, what can we do about it?
Sure, we can (and should) eat more fatty fish to ensure
we're getting these healthy omega-3s that our bodies need. This, of course,
isn't feasible for everyone—especially those who live far from the coast and
don't always have access to fresh fish.
Even if you do live close to the Pacific or Atlantic, unless
you plan on packing your diet with grilled salmon, tinned anchovies and
sardines, and tuna fish sandwiches multiple times a week, it might be time to
consider a high-quality fish oil supplement.
A robustly formulated, high-potency omega-3 supplement is a
targeted and prudent strategy to achieve daily omega-3 needs throughout life.
mindbodygreen's omega-3 potency+ provides 1,500 milligrams of DHA and EPA
daily. That's the omega-3 equivalent of approximately one serving of fatty fish
(e.g., anchovies) per day.†
Our fish oil comes from sustainably sourced, 100%
wild-caught, cold-water anchovies from the South Pacific, so you're getting the
purest, highest-quality fish possible. With organic lemon oil and rosemary for
fresh taste (and no fishy aftertaste), plus ORIVO certification for
evidence-based transparency, this is the new school of fish oil.
The takeaway.
Yes, you really do need omega-3 fatty acids. And yes, it can
be difficult to get enough fish in your diet to ensure your body is getting all
the EPA and DHA it needs—but it doesn't have to be!
Fish oil supplements boast a number of wonderful health
benefits, all while helping you meet the ideal EPA and DHA levels.* That's why
a daily fish oil supplement is a quick, easy way to get your recommended
serving of omega-3s in, no matter what's on your plate.
† 1 serving (2 gelcaps) of omega-3 potency+ delivers 1,500
mg (1.5 g) of EPA + DHA. That’s equivalent to the omega-3s (EPA + DHA) provided
in 1 serving of oily fish (anchovies).
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications,
consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always
optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what
supplements are right for you.
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