Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids Are Healthy, But What About ALA Omega 3 Fats?

There have been some significant health discoveries over the last few decades but arguably one of the most important is the fact that virtually all of us are deficient in the essential fatty acids known as Omega 3 fatty acids. There’s a number of these including ALA (alpha linolenic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), though there are more.

Of these 3 it is generally considered that DHA is the most important of the omega 3 essential fats. DHA comprises a large proportion of our brain and is very important to good health, as is EPA.

But sadly over the last century our diets have changed and in particular we are now eating much less fish, and as seafood is the primary source of EPA and DHA we are now mostly deficient in these 2 important nutrients called omega 3 essential fatty acids. And if we increase our intake of these we can protect ourselves from some health problems.

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.

So taking a vegetarian Omega 3 supplement may have some benefit, but not nearly as much as taking fish oil supplements.

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.

But many people taking flax seed oil supplements are unaware that taking the supplements does not provide them with sufficient Omega3 essential fatty acids and does little to increase their store of DHA and EPA.

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.

If you are interested in learning more about the essential fatty acids DHA and EPA and in particular about high quality fish oils supplements then please get over to my website.

What Are “Super” Omega 3 Capsules, Or What Are “Premium” Omega 3 Capsules, (And Why Should You Buy Them)?

You may have heard of “super” omega 3 fish oil capsules. It’s not entirely clear exactly what “super” Omega 3 capsules are, however it would seem reasonable to assume that if any omega 3 supplements are described as “super” then they have to be better than the “regular” supplements. As there are wide variations in the quality of “regular” omega3 supplements it’s is still not entirely clear what you should be getting when you buy the “super” ones.

One of the reasons is that the quantity and quality of the important omega 3 essential fatty acids found in fish oil capsules varies enormously, and it’s hard to know exactly what you should be getting. What you need to do is to understand a little more about Omega 3 capsules before you buy.

One of the biggest variations between the fish oil supplements available is the amount of active ingredient found in them. Most fish oil capsules are what is known as 18/12 capsules. This means that you should be getting 18 percent EPA and 12 percent DHA in each capsule, or 180 milligrams of EPA and 120 milligrams of DHA in a 1000 milligram capsule.

Of these 2 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is the most important Omega 3 fat. To give you an example the Omega3 supplements that I take myself have 2 1/2 times as much DHA as “regular” capsules.

It would seem fair to assume that if any capsules are described as super Omega 3 capsules they would at least contain a much higher percentage of DHA than would be contained in regular capsules and this is the case for these ones.

But when you’re buying you need to consider a little more than just how much active ingredients you are getting in each of the various fish oil capsules available. Manufacturers are now starting to produce a new generation of omega 3 supplements that include a range of other ingredients which offer health benefits on top of the health benefits offered by the fatty acids.

A good example is a new “premium” Omega 3 capsule released this week. These capsules contain 28 percent DHA, as previously mentioned around 2 1/2 times as much as regular capsules, however on top of this they are also include some other active ingredients that will also benefit your health. Not only will these extra active ingredients benefit your health but also your skin.

One of these new active ingredients is called lycopene. You may have heard of lycopene before as it’s been in the news lately. It comes from tomatoes and there is much research showing the benefits of lycopene to our health. There is now evidence that increasing the amount of lycopene in our diet decreases the risk of prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women, for example.

And new research is also showing that increasing our lycopene intake helps protect our skin from the UV rays of the sun, the primary cause of skin aging. Not only that but the research has also shown that increasing your intake of lycopene can actually start to reverse some of the damaging effects of the sun’s UV radiation. Skin aging through the effects of the sun is called photo-aging and it is becoming established that lycopene can help reverse photo-aging.

Modern scientists are studying all sorts of naturally occurring substances from such sources as plants and are discovering the health giving properties of these types of substances. And the best cutting edge companies are following this science and are producing products for us to help improve our health as well as our looks.

If you’re in the market for some Omega 3 capsules you need to understand a little about what you are getting when you buy. Price is not the only determinant, because it’s important to understand how much active ingredient (DHA) you’re getting in each capsule, and you also need to consider whether buying the new generation of omega 3 supplements now coming onto the market would be of benefit to you because of the extra ingredients now incorporated in these products, and their health benefits.

If you’re interested to find out a little more about this new generation of “premium” Omega 3 capsules then please visit my website.

3 Telltale Skincare Signs of Omega 3 Deficiency

If you struggle with the state of your skin, there may be more going on below the surface than you realize. There are a number of minor skin problems that, while on their own may not be bothering you all that much, when combined with other issues can indicate serious vitamin and nutrient deficiencies. In fact, skincare issues often indicate a problem with your levels of omega 3 fatty acid, a deficiency that most Americans have anyway due to cultural dietary habits.

If you have been doing your best to take care of your skin, but just do not seem to be able to get a healthy, vibrant glow, then you might want to take a few seconds to see if any of these issues are contributing factors:

1. Sagging skin
Omega 3 is critical to your skin’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. If you can pinch your skin and it does not immediately return to its original state, then you have a hydration issue. Over time, this can lead to sagging and wrinkles. If you are drinking plenty of water and still have this problem,  then an omega 3 deficiency may be contributing to your skin’s inability to retain water.

2. Dry skin
Dry, flaky skin can be caused by dermatological issues like eczema and psoriasis. These conditions are related to your autoimmune system, and have been shown to improve dramatically when the amount of omega 3 fatty acids in your system escalates.

3. Chronic adult acne or other breakouts
Daily doses of omega 3 decrease your skin’s “irritability.” This means that it is less likely to become inflamed. Shortages of omega 3 can contribute to sensitive skin conditions like acne and other types of breakouts.

If you have noticed any of these symptoms in your own skin but found that they are resistant to treatment, then consider adding a daily omega 3 fish oil supplement to your daily nutritional routine. To learn more about omega 3 fish oil supplements that are highly effective for this type of issue, access www.omega-3.us.

Spotting an Omega 3 Deficiency in Your Child

According to a recent joint study by American and Canadian scientists, nearly 90 percent of all children in the United States and Canada may be omega 3 deficient. This is a startling number, particularly given that in children omega 3 plays a critical role in brain development, autoimmune development and eye sight. In addition, it is thought to impact the emotional state of some people as well.

As you can see from the results of this study, it is actually pretty safe to assume that if you live in the US or Canada, then your child probably is not getting enough omega 3. However, if you do not want to rely on the study alone, here are some indicators that your child may not be getting enough of this vital nutrient in their daily diet:

* They are easily distracted
Omega 3 deficiencies often lead to trouble with focus. In fact, many children who have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD actually are suffering from severe omega 3 shortages in their systems. Of course, all children are fairly easy to distract, so you might want to consult with a dietician or observe your child in conjunction with other children to determine if there is an actual problem.

* Chronic breathing problems or headaches
Omega 3 deficiencies often manifest themselves in minor health issues, including asthma, headaches, stomach aches, ear infections and skin conditions. While all children will experience some of these issues over the course of their childhood, if you feel that the occurrences are too frequent, ask a doctor about a pediatric omega 3 supplement.

* Behavioral problems at school
Often the minor health issues and the focus issues detailed above manifest themselves in an extremely practical symptom: the child gets in regular trouble at school. Of course good behavior should be a requirement, but if your child appears to be misbehaving chronically, then it might be worth considering that there could be a nutritional issue at the heart of the matter.

Learn more about fish oil, fish oil health benefits and how it can impact your child’s health and yours at www.omega-3-us.

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