ALA Omega 3 Fatty Acids. Are They Good For You?
One of the most important health discoveries over the last few decades is that most of us are deficient in what is known as the Omega 3 essential fatty acids. There are a number of these Omega 3 fats, primarily ALA DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), though there are others.
DHA is generally considered to be the most important of the Omega 3 essential fatty acids. This makes up a large proportion of our brain and is essential to good health. EPA is also very important to good health.
Unfortunately over the last hundred years our diets have changed and we are now eating less and less of the main source of DHA and EPA, namely seafood and in particular oily fish. For this reason it is now generally considered that most of us are deficient in these 2 important nutrients and that this deficiency can lead to a wide range of risks for poor health, and that increasing our intake of both these essential fats can help guard against various health conditions.
But what is ALA omega 3 fatty acid, and where does it come from? ALA Omega 3 is a plant-based form of essential fatty acid. It is not found in seafood and anyone taking fish oil supplements will not be getting ALA in their diet from that source.
However there are many people taking various vegetarian supplements, primarily amongst them flax seed oil supplements. As flax seed oil supplements contain the plant-based form of Omega 3 fat, namely ALA, are these people therefore getting sufficient quantities of the important essential fatty acids?
Sadly the answer is in the negative. DHA and EPA are the most important Omega 3 fats. ALA, whilst being important, is primarily so because the body can convert it into DHA and EPA, but the evidence shows that it is converted at a very low rate. And in particular those of us who are less healthy convert it at a poorer rate.
So vegetarians who take flaxseed oil capsules are getting limited benefits compared to those who are taking fish oil capsules.
So if this is the case why are people taking flax seed oil supplements containing ALA? It’s because, as vegetarians, they are reluctant to take any form of nutrients coming from a fish-based source, so are unable to take fish oil capsules.
But most people who take ALA omega 3 flaxseed oil supplements don’t realise that they are not getting sufficient Omega3 essential fatty acids and that they aren’t really increasing their levels of DHA and EPA significantly.
It is almost everyone who has levels of DHA and EPA, from fish, which are too low. It is DHA and EPA that are important as a health preventative measure and taking vegetarian Omega 3 supplements from flax seed oil does not address this issue.
To find out more about the essential fatty acids DHA and EPA and in particular about where to source high quality fish oil supplements containing these fats visit my website.
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