Opting for Omega 3

Omega 3 fatty acids are considered as essential fatty acids because the body can not synthesize these on its own, also they must be consumed from an external form. Deficit of Omega 3 fatty acids has been connected to chronic health ailments like heart condition and obesity, and they are necessary to hormonal balance and connective tissue health. Choosing a good Omega 3 supplement is important because our modern diet often lacks this important nutrient.

Making an Omega 3 supplement part of your daily regimen means considering several factors.

Keep some of these factors in mind:

Source of Omega 3
You will find that there are different types of Omega 3 fatty acids from different sources for different health goals. The most common Omega 3 fatty acid types, Docosahexanoic Acid (DHA), Eicosapentanoic Acid (EPA) and Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA), each provide different results when take as a supplement. DHA and EPA are the most widely extracted forms of supplemental Omega 3, and are backed with the most research.

Vegetarians will appreciate that ALA is derived from plant sources like nuts, seeds and legumes. ALA is eventually turned into DHA and EPA in the body, but the conversion ratio is very very low, and some may not have the necessary enzymes or be healthy enough in order to convert properly.

DHA and EPA are found in highest concentrations in fish and fish products. No conversion is needed for the body to use these forms. Sadly, the ocean is not the clean and pure environment from which to get food that it was in the past. Years of using the ocean as a dumping ground for oil and toxic chemicals have made ocean products, especially large fish, concentration points for toxins and heavy metals. Fish oil from clean sources is the best way to get Omega 3. Small cold-water fish such as sardines and mackerel have the cleanest oils. Market sized larger species will survive long enough that the toxins become concentrated in their tissues.

Omega 3 Dosage Recommendations

Consider the recommended dosage of an Omega 3 supplement before choosing.

To maintain a normal level of health, between 500 and 1000mg of Omega 3 is a normal recommended daily dosage. Label information lists EPA/DHA concentration separately from total Omega 3. This is important if your supplement program is designed to boost EPA/DHA.

For best results in major anti-inflammatory support for cardiovascular support of arthritic inflamed joints the required dosage of Omega 3 may exceed 1000mg, particularly the EPA and DHA concentrations. You will need to be choosing a high-potency Omega-3 product in order to obtain those levels. You can always increase the dose of a normal Omega-3, but it will get costly in the long run, so choose a high concentration EPA/DHA product.

Care when used with Blood-Thinning Medication

Omega-3 and EPA/DHA/ALA are blood-thinning agents. Supplement users who are already taking a blood thinning medication due to a previous heart attack or cardiovascular issue should proceed with caution before choosing an Omega-3 supplement. Because Omega-3 is so good at thinning the blood as well as balancing cholesterol levels and supporting the cardiovascular system, it may cause problems with bruising or overly thinning the blood when combined with blood thinning medication.

Check with your primary care provider to ensure an Omega-3 supplement will compliment your therapy regimen.

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