Omega 3 fatty acids, also known as fish oil, are the only fats that are considered “essential” to our body. Basically, these fats can be subdivided into Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are the beneficial parts of the fish oil. It’s almost impossible to obtain enough of the essential EPA and DHA omega 3 fats from our diet. Basically, you need to eat 2-3 sources of fatty fish (salmon, herring, sardines, bluefish, Atlantic halibut, tuna, and Atlantic mackerel) every week. To complicate matters further, remember to beware of high Mercury content in certain fish. For this reason, I generally recommend a quality fish oil (EPA and DHA) supplement for most people.
Benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA)
- Improves Heart Health
- Reduces Hypertension
- Improves depression and other mental health symptoms
- Helps prevent and support cancer
- Improves brain Health of adults and fetuses/babies/children
- Improves Acne and other skin conditions
- Helps control Insulin Resistance and Diabetes
- Improves any inflammatory condition, especially Arthritis
Be selective with fish oil supplements
Supplementation of Omega 3 fish oils is a tricky process. Basically, companies are trying to fool customers out of the essential EPA and DHA fatty acids. Therefore when purchasing fish oil or Omega 3’s, inquire how much EPA and DHA are in each pill. In my opinion, a quality omega 3 supplement should contain more than 500 mg of combined EPA and DHA per pill. When selecting the appropriate supplement, quality standards are very important. Make sure to pick a pharmaceutical grade supplement because they are more likely to test the fish for heavy metals and chemicals. If you tend to burp up a fishy aftertaste, the product my have compromised quality.
Who needs to take Omega 3 fish oils:
- Pregnant or lactating women
- Infants and children
- Anyone with the following conditions: Heart disease, Hypertension, Diabetes, Skin rashes, Acne, Cancer, Arthritis, and ADD
Supplements that I carry:
- Omega 3 Softgels: 1 pill = 750 mg EPA/DHA (1-2 pills/day is a basic recommendation for the average person)
- Omega 3 Liquid: 1 tsp=1700 mg Omega 3 fatty acids. It has a mild lemon flavor (no fishy taste), so it’s great for kids. (1 tsp/day is a basic recommendation for adults and 1/2 tsp for kids)
- Omega 3 chewable gels for kids: Kids love the strawberry essence flavor of these mini gels. 2-4 gels a day is recommended.
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