When consumers look at the title of this article, they think fish omega3 and flax seed omega3 are a choice of one or the other. As a result there are people who start taking sides in a debate that is not needed. Each nutrient has benefits that the other does not.
Fish omega3 oil has two essential fatty acids - DHA and EPA. Flax seed oil also has one omega3 essential fatty acid - ALA. By essential, that means the body can not make it. This is an important point. We get these essential fats either at the dinner table or by supplement. I personally do both.
Mountains of research tell us that DHA and EPA are good for our brains, eyes, joints, skin, cardiovascular system and the immune system. We need them in the womb and through old age.
The ALA from flax seed does not directly provide most of these benefits. Our bodies must first convert it to DHA and EPA. Then we can use it. Here is the problem. If you are an adult in peak condition you will only convert less than 20% of the ALA to these important substances. As you get older or less healthy even that number will drop.
Put another way, if you are trying to get DHA/EPA fish omega3 benefits from ALA, you are using a middle man that takes a big piece of the action.
Should I throw away my flax seed?
No. Just take it for the right reasons. Flax seeds, not flax oil, provide your diet with soluble and insoluble fiber and lignan. Fiber is a big help to the digestive system. It can help prevent some chronic diseases like constipation and hemorrhoids and lower cholesterol a bit. Fiber and lignan are linked in preventing some cancers such as colon and breast cancer.
What about taking fish omega3 supplements and flax seed?
Each of these nutrients has things that the other does not. Because of our grossly out of balance Western diets, you need a lot of fish omega3. Realistically, the only way to get enough of them is by supplement.
This is where the real research begins. I stopped counting how many bad to mediocre fish omega3 products there are in health food stores and on the internet. They can be spoiled, partly toxic and be loaded with chemical additives. To make matters worse, some of them do not have very much DHA or EPA in them.
Go to the manufacturers website. The few quality companies will submerge you in information. The others act like disclosing what is actually in the product is like sharing top secret information. However, that does not stop them from making unsubstantiated claims.
Be aware that flax seed oil does not have fiber or much ligan in it - it is mainly ALA. Stay away from ALA supplements or omega 3 6 9 products. Otherwise you are paying the middleman again.
This does not have to be a competition. I get ground flax seeds at the supermarket and use supplements for fish omega3. 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/
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