You Can't Just Squeeze a Fish

You've heard the advertising: omega 3 added, good source of omega 3 oils, or fortified with omega 3's.  So why in the last couple of years are food processors adding omega 3 oils to so many products?  The answer quite simply is that omega 3 oils are essential to being healthy and most people consume hardly any in their standard diet.  

The term "essential" is often associated with omega 3 oils (more correctly called fatty acids).  From a technical standpoint, it means that the body cannot manufacture it's own omega 3 fatty acids but they must be consumed from an outside food source.  There are several fatty acids in the omega 3 category with the most significant being ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).  ALA is generally found in seeds such as flax.  EPA and DHA are found in significant amounts in fish.  Our bodies use primarily EPA and DHA but can convert some of the ALA to these compounds at a rate of about 15%.  Consequently our best source of omega 3 oils is fatty, deep sea, cold water fish.   

Omega 3 fatty acids are necessary for both mental and physical health.  They are a component of nerve membranes and are essential for brain, nerve and eye development.  Deficiency has been associated with depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Alzheimer's, and other nervous system disorders.  Their effects are not limited to the nervous system.  The health of the cardiovascular system also depends on omega 3 fatty acids.  Heart arrythmias, blood clots, strokes and heart attacks are reduced when a person has adequate EPA and DHA in their systems.  Fetal development, joint health, immune system health, kidney health, and lung health all require omega 3 fatty acids. There really aren't too many functions in the body that don't require DHA and EPA.

Certainly having omega 3's added to food products is a step in the right direction for a society that is generally very deficient.  But it is just a very small step.  Most of the added oils are ALA which must be converted to EPA and DHA.   A better solution should be to consume more fatty fish.  That however is not advisable because these fish usually have high levels of toxins.   The toxins are found in the same oils we want to consume for health benefits.  As omega 3 expert Dr. Dan Murphy says, "You can't just go squeeze a fish and get good oils."  The safest way to get the omega 3 fatty acids you need is to get an oil supplement that is made from clean fish stock and is certified pharmaceutical grade with no toxins.  You cannot be healthy without omega 3 oils so please supplement and be sure to supplement with a high quality oil.