Omega 3 is a hot topic and one of the most researched and talked about areas in health & wellness. Do I need to take an Omega 3 supplement? What are essential fats and what are ALA, EPA & DHA? Do I not get all of this from my diet?
Let us bring you up to speed….
So what exactly is Omega 3, and why do we need it?
In short, it nourishes the whole of your body for the whole of your life. It has benefits for your brain, eyes, heart, skin, joints & bones.
Fat is an essential part of our diet and some of them are essential, as they form an important part of all of the cells in our bodies, meaning our bodies can function as they should.
Omega 3 is an essential fat and without it your body doesn’t work quite as well. If something is called essential, this is because your body can’t produce it on its own, it needs to be consumed in your diet or via a supplement. Typically, you’ll hear lots of people saying you need to eat foods rich in omega 3 such as oily fish, or nuts and seeds. Truth be told though, the majority of us in the UK don’t eat anywhere near enough fish, nuts and seeds and therefore don’t get anywhere near enough omega 3 in our diets.
The different types of Omega 3
Omega-3 fats come in different forms, although the three you’re most likely to have heard of are ALA, EPA & DHA, this is because these three provide the biggest benefit to our bodies.
ALA also known as alpha-linolenic acid cannot be made in the body so must be consumed in our diet. ALA is found in vegetable oil, flaxseed, various nuts such as walnuts and hazelnuts and also green leafy vegetables. ALA is important because it is needed in the body to make other omega 3 fats.
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are long-chain fats that can be made from ALA in our bodies. Humans aren’t particularly efficient at the conversion from ALA to EPA & DHA, but we’ll go into that in slightly more detail below.
EPA & DHA, have the most direct health benefits, for the various functions in the body that we mentioned above. EPA and DHA work together and assist in the functioning of every cell in the body, but each of them are unique as well, DHA being more prominent in supporting the brain whilst EPA is an important nutrient for the skin. Remember both EPA & DHA cannot be produced by the body, they need to be acquired in your diet.
Eating enough oily fish such as salmon or mackerel isn’t always an option to get enough omega 3 in our diets, which is why there is often a need for omega 3 supplementation.
How much Omega 3 do you need?
In the UK there is no specific recommendation of a dose for omega-3 for the general population and will depend on individual needs.
It is always best to try and get any essential vitamin, mineral or nutrient from your diet, omega 3 is no different, but often a supplement will be required.
What’s the best supplement to take?
All of the products in the Cleanmarine range contain a Phospholipid Omega 3, which provides the omega 3 in the form of EPA & DHA so your body doesn’t need to make the conversion, ensuring quicker and easier absorption into your body. We don’t just stop there though, for optimum health we need to realise The Importance Of B Vitamins whilst looking at other Essential Minerals & Nutrients as well.
Each Cleanmarine product is unique and has bespoke ingredients for the demographic or solution it’s looking to target, for more information, you can check out the full Cleanmarine range