Are ALA Omega 3 Fats Good for Your Health?

Are ALA Omega 3 Fats Good for Your Health?

There have been some quite significant health discoveries in the last 50 years. Perhaps one of the most significant of these health discoveries is that virtually all of us lack sufficient amounts of the essential fatty acids known as the omega 3 fats. These include EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), ALA (alpha linolenic acid), and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

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.

But over the past century there have been dramatic changes in our diet. We are eating much less seafood and seafood is the primary source of DHA and EPA. As a result most of us now lack of levels of both these nutrients which are now called the omega 3 essential fatty acids, and if we increase our intake we are increasing our protection against various health problems.

But how about ALA Omega 3 essential fatty acids? Whilst DHA and EPA primarily come from marine sources, particularly oily fish, ALA is an essential fatty acid found in plants, and is not found in fish. So anyone taking fish oil capsules is not getting ALA in their diet from the capsules.

Many people who are vegetarian are taking vegetarian Omega 3 supplements, particularly flax seed oil capsules, because these contain plant-based nutrients. As a result they are getting ALA omega 3 fats. But are these people getting sufficient Omega3 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.

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 most important factor is that virtually everyone has low levels of the omega 3 fats DHA and EPA. It is DHA and EPA that are most important to good health and anyone taking vegetarian flaxseed oil capsules is not sufficiently compensating for this problem.

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.

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