There is no doubt about this. You have heard loads about the
benefits omega-3. Understandably, you wish to discover ways to go about
choosing the best
omega-3 supplements. Congratulations, you are a savvy consumer. This short
article will present you with some pointers on finding the best products.
The health benefits of omega-3 essential fatty acids are
myriad and include preventing or reducing symptoms of heart disease, arthritis,
some forms of cancer and depression, to mention just a few.
Omega-3 Fats: What Are They?
Some fats are in fact healthful. Omega-3 fatty acids, also
referred to as n-3 fatty acids, are healthy fats in a category referred to as polyunsaturated
fats (PUFs). There are three major groups; alpha-linolenic acid (ALA),
docosahexeanoic acid (DHA), and eicosapenteanoic acid (EPA) EPA and DHA are
obtained from animal sources such as cold-water fatty fish and krill, and ALA
is obtained from plant sources including flax seeds and chia seeds.
These are also known as EFAs (essential fatty acids) for the
reason that we cannot synthesize them on our own and must therefore get them
via the food we eat.
How To Get Omega-3
Omega-3 essential fatty acids may be obtained from animal or
plant sources. Plant sources offer a type of fatty acid referred to as ALA, and
animal sources supply EPA and DHA. DHA and EPA have been shown to be more
beneficial compared to ALA.
Animal sources of omega-3 fats include fish and seafood.
Some examples are herring, clams, krill, salmon, and halibut. Fish and other
types of marine animals are the best source of omega-3s since they provide DHA
and EPA in a natural state.
Farm-raised fish do not offer these health benefits, mainly
because of the diet they are fed. Wild fish along with other marine animals
obtain the fatty acids via feeding on sea algae or from consuming other sea
animals through the food chain. The right natural environment is nonexistent in
farm-raised fish.
Picking Out Omega-3 Supplements
Regular consumption of fish is the best way of getting
omega-3s. It can also be expensive as well as impractical for most people
because fresh wild-caught fish is expensive and not always available in the
market. Taking dietary supplements is therefore one viable option for many
people.
You should be careful when shopping for omega-3 supplements
as a number of products will provide you with virtually no benefit. Being aware
of what to look for in a product is most important: Here are some tips:
- The primary reason for taking omega-3 supplements is getting the important EPA and DHA fat. Look for reasonable levels of these on the product's label. Do not purchase a product that does not show amounts of those two.
- Species specific products: Steer clear of products that have words on the labels such as "marine lipids" or "mixed species". The product label should indicate the types of fish of fish to be of good quality.
- Equally important is the processing method. Low-heat methods, like molecular distillation, are preferable as they filter out toxins without affecting the healthy properties.
- Synthetic preservatives are rarely a good thing. Krill oil naturally has vitamin E, a natural preservative. Fish oil does not, and vitamin E is often added to avoid oxidation and rancidity. This is advisable. What you need to stay away from is artificial preservatives. These are typically listed in technical names. Needless to say, you do not need color added in a health supplement.
Surprisingly, big brand names don't always make the best
supplements. A number of smaller sized operations make top-quality products.
These usually sell their products directly to the consumer to keep their prices
relatively low.
Omega-3 fats, or n-3 fatty acids, are some of the most
important compounds for optimal health. With the above tips you may be in a
better position to choose the best
omega-3 supplements and avoid useless supplements.
