You have probably heard that taking an omega supplement is good for your health but do you have all the facts? In this blog, you will discover why a plant-based omega blend is better for you than fish oil.
Yes, it is true we need to eat omega fats to be at our best health but do we really need to eat fish, or take. fish oil supplement, to get the omegas we need?
The answer is NO!
Did you know that fish are just the middle guys?
Fish do not actually produce omega fatty acids themselves, they eat plant-based omega foods, like algae, which are then processed in their little bodies and end up in their flesh. The problem is so many other things end up in the flesh of fish that we should not be ingesting and can cause great harm to our health.
What Are Omega Fatty Acids?
Without getting too scientific, in simple terms all fatty acids that bear the “omega” label are unsaturated, containing one or more double bonds.
There are many types of omega fatty acids, which all play an important role for your health; however, these fatty acids must be consumed as part of a balanced diet as the body does not make them.
Research shows a variety of health benefits that come from taking omega fatty acids.
Let’s review the different forms of omega fats and their health benefits:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated and a top your body is unable to make on its own. Therefore, it is a nutrient you must consume. Unfortunately, the typical western diet does not contain enough omega-3’s and a deficiency may contribute to choric diseases such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
There are many types of omega-3 fats but the most common three are:
- ALA (Alpha-Linolenic Acid) – found in a variety of plant-foods and ned to be converted into EPA or DHA before it can be used by the body
- EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) – Plant-based source is algae.
- DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) – Plant-based source is algae.
The health benefits of omega-3 fats include:
- Helps to reduce inflammation
- Shown to help lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis
- Highly concentrated in the brain and appear to be important for cognitive (brain memory and performance) and behavioural function
- Help in weight management
- Prevents dementia
- Promote bone health
- Reduce asthma symptoms
Foods that are high in omega-3 fat include:
- Chia seeds
- Brussels sprouts
- Algae
- Hemp seed
- Walnuts
- Flaxseed
Omega-6 Fatty Acids
Omega-6 fatty acids are also polyunsaturated fatty acids and also need to be obtained from the diet. The typical western diet usually has more than enough of this type of polyunsaturated fat. Too much of this fat in processed form can promote inflammation and be detrimental to health; however, some omega-6 fatty acids have been shown to have many health benefits including:
- Provide energy to the body
- Support brain health and function
- Stimulate hair and skin growth
- Maintain good bone health
- Help regulate metabolism
- Support reproductive health
- Help reduce nerve pain
- Reduce inflammation
Foods that are high in omega-6 fats include:
- Flaxseed
- Hemp seed
- Grapeseed oil
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Pine nuts
- Pistachios
- Acai
Omega-9 Fatty Acids:
Omega-9 fatty acids are monounsaturated, can be produced by the body and are the most abundant fast in most cells in the body.
The health benefits of omega-9 fats include:
- Support metabolic health
- Reduce LDL (the bad) cholesterol
- Improve insulin sensitivity
- Help to decrease inflammation
Foods high in omega-9 fats include:
- Olive oil
- Cashew nuts
- Almonds
- Avocado
- Peanut
- Walnuts
Omega-7 Fatty Acids:
Omega-7 fatty acids are newly recognized and are monounsaturated fats. The most common omega-7 fatty acid is palmitoleic acid, which has been shown to have a variety of heath benefits in the body including:
- Reduced inflammation
- Reduce LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- Lowers insulin levels
- Improve liver function
- Promotes weight loss
- Linked to improved bowel regularity
- Rejuvenation of skin – as it is said to nourish and sustain healthy cells in the digestive tract and skin.
Foods high in omega-7 fats include:
- Olive oil
- Macadamia oil
- Sea buckthorn oil
Why A Plant-Based Omega Blend Is Better For You Than Fish Oil
Fish have been known to be the main source of omega fatty acids; however, fish eat plants, such as algae, to get omega fatty acids their body does not make it. So why don’t eat the middle man? It’s much more effective to go straight to the source.
Plant-based sources of omega’s do not have the mercury and radiation contamination that fish products do. The American Heart Association says that the adverse health effects of taking fish omega products shown in many studies, including abnormal heart arrhythmias, may be the result of methyl mercury, an environmental contaminant found in certain fish that may diminish the health benefits of omega fatty acids.
As mentioned above there are many plant-based sources of omega fatty acids that will provide the body with a variety of health benefits, including no fishy after taste, so there is no longer any need to take fish oil supplements.
According to Dr. Brian Clement, the director of Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach Florida and a leader in health and nutrition as medicine, provides many reasons why you should not eat fish and other aquatic life in his book Killer Fish.
Some of these reasons include:
- Fish harbour saturated fats and disease causing elements derived from the way we prepare them for consumption
- These creatures are filled with industrial waste products and radiation
- Fish are full of parasites and amoebas
- Consumption of fish has been shown to increase the chances of heart disease, strokes, neurological deficits, cancer, auto-immune and endocrine disorders
- Farm raised fish have significantly higher levels of toxins than fish found in nature
- 80% of fish caught in rivers and tributaries were found to contain significant amounts of pharmaceutical drugs because the water treatment plants cannot remove drugs before releasing water back into the environment
As far as I’m concerned, even the fact that there is even a shred of evidence that fish can cause all these problems mentioned above is enough for you to stay as far away from fish as possible if you want to remain in good health…especially when there are other, even healthier, options.
Which Omega Supplement Is Best?
If you can’t get enough omega fatty acids in your diet through food then supplementation becomes necessary. When purchasing an omega fatty acid supplement you will want to be sure the source has been researched, tested for safety and approved by Health Canada.
Unfortunately, many companies don’t take the time to do any of these things because it takes time and money; however, the companies that have taken the time to become approved by Health Canada have a safer and much higher quality product.
This is why I only recommend the Juice Plus Company’s whole food products and especially their high
quality plant-based omega blend. This product has gone through third-party, double blind, placebo based research as well as extensive testing and approval by Health Canada and proven to be effective and safe for consumers.
This plant-based omega product is not only of high quality but it also tastes so good you can chew on the capsule or drink the oil right out of the capsule. It has also been shown to be a great topical hair and skin treatment.
The most important thing when striving for better health is to do as much research as you can. An abundance of information exists proving that plant-based foods are best sources of omega fatty acids. These foods provide provide a variety of heath benefits without the extra poisons, like mercury, and side effects.
Please feel free to leave a comment or question in regards to this topic.
Until next time,
Namaste,
Rachel Joy Olsen, BSc., MBA
Vegan, Author, Health & Wellness Coach
Read my “From Frog Killer To Compassionate Vegan” story.