It is easy to get confused when anyone talks about essential fish oils. Some think that they are more important to health than other oils. Others believe the term is an advertizing pitch. Let's face it. Many companies do a poor job of clarifying the terminology.
Ok, please clarify the terminology.
When any health professional is speaking about essential fish oils, he or she is not speaking about the oil or the fish. It is the two omega 3 essential fatty acids in the fish that matter. They are called DHA and EPA.
The reason that they are called essential is that neither our or the fishes body can make them. The original source for these omega 3s is microalgae in the ocean. The omega 3s travel up the food chain from predator to predator. It should come as no surprise that the richest sources are wild predatory species like salmon, sharks or mackerel.
The problem is that both man made and natural toxins are also consumed up and down the food chain. Most of these contaminants are not removed by cooking.
Farmed species are not a solution. Many farms just feed the them pellets which means the fish have little DHA or EPA in them. Remember, if it is not in the food chain, their bodies can not make them. Farms also have health issues with viruses and parasites.
With all this in mind, the FDA recommends no more than 2 servings per week of seafood. Other experts think that is too much.
There are other sources of DHA and EPA like flax, various nuts or grass fed beef. Ok, you say. I'll have some fish and nuts occasionally, and I will be covered. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The problem is that these sources either have limited amounts of omega 3s or are not absorbed very well by the body.
Essential fish oils are also necessary.
A recent Harvard study, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that omega 3 deficiencies are the 6th biggest killer in the US. Tobacco, high blood pressure and obesity were the top three. This information will come as no surprise to health professionals. DHA and EPA are part of every cell membrane and either directly or indirectly affect every organ in the body.
The FDA and American Heart Association recommend 2-3 grams per day of omega 3s for healthy adults. Most people will not get anywhere near that amount at the dinner table. This is why the omega 3 supplement market is growing so fast.
In conclusion. Choosing a quality supplement is important. The market is filled with products that are just not very pure or have limited health benefits. It is not that difficult to get essential fish oils that are safe to take in larger quantities. My website can help in this area.
Author Resource:
Get my free five-part mini course on the benefits of omega 3, including critical information on why you should take omega3 fish oil .
To sign up for the course and get more tips on the importance of omega 3, visit my website: http://www.omega-3-guide.com/
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")