Fish Oil vs. Flaxseed Oil

Fish Oil vs

Fish Oil vs. Flaxseed Oil

When it comes to fish oil vs. flaxseed oil, which one is more beneficial? Here's what you need to know.

Both fish oil and flaxseed oil are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, but they contain different types of omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat that are essential to good health. The three major types of omega-3 fatty acids are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Flaxseed oil contains ALA. Fish oil contains DHA and EPA.

DHA and EPA have plenty of health benefits. They help keep the brain, heart and immune system healthy, improve blood vessel functioning, reduce blood triglycerides, increase HDL (good) cholesterol, lower blood pressure, relieve pain and inflammation in joints and other areas of the body, and increase fat loss and decrease fat retention.

There's also strong evidence that DHA and EPA may reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease, may be useful in treating ADHD and depression, may reduce the risk of developing breast, colon and prostate cancer, may prevent age-related macular degeneration (an eye disorder), may reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis (plaque build-up in artery walls), and may relieve inflammatory bowel disease.

The health benefits of ALA are not as well documented as the health benefits of DHA and EPA. More studies and research are needed in order to determine if ALA is just as beneficial as DHA and EPA.

The body can convert ALA into DHA and EPA, but this conversion process is often not very efficient because it's highly affected by factors such as age, gender and diet.

The bottom line when it comes to fish oil vs. flaxseed oil is that because fish oil contains DHA and EPA, while flaxseed oil only contains ALA, fish oil has more proven health benefits. Unless you're a vegetarian, fish oil is a better choice than flaxseed oil for getting your omega-3 fatty acids.

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