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 (alpha linolenic acid), 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.
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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 fat? DHA and EPA are found in marine sources and in particular oily fish. ALA is an omega 3 fatty acid that is found only in plant based sources. It is not present in fish, and anyone taking fish oil supplements is not getting any ALA in their supplements.
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?
Unfortunately no. The reason is that DHA and EPA are by far the most important of the essential fatty acids. ALA can be converted in the body into DHA and EPA, however the rate at which the body converts it is very poor, and varies according to your state of health. Those amongst us who are healthier can convert ALA at a higher rate, those of us less healthy, as well as the elderly, convert it at a slower rate. But in any event the rate at which it is converted to the important essential fatty acids DHA and EPA is very low.
So why would anyone consider taking ALA omega 3 supplements? The answer what we said before. There are many people who are vegetarian who will not be able to eat fish and who will also not be able to consume anything from a fish-based source, namely fish oil supplements. They tend to take vegetarian Omega 3 supplements from such sources as flax seed oil. Unfortunately many of those people are unaware that they are taking a form of omega 3 essential fatty acid which is not particularly beneficial to the health and which does not make up for their low levels of DHA and EPA.
The bottom line is that virtually all of us are deficient in the fish-based Omega 3 fats DHA and EPA. These are what are important to our health and taking an ALA Omega 3 supplement such as a flax seed oil supplement does not address this problem. 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.
Should You Be Taking ALA Omega 3 Supplements? Ala
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