What Are ALA Omega 3 Fatty Acids, And Are They Good For You?
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).
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.
Unfortunately over the last hundred years our diets have changed and we are now eating less and less of the main source of DHA and EPA, namely seafood and in particular oily fish. For this reason it is now generally considered that most of us are deficient in these 2 important nutrients and that this deficiency can lead to a wide range of risks for poor health, and that increasing our intake of both these essential fats can help guard against various health conditions.
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?
The answer to that question is no. Whilst it is true that ALA can be converted into DHA and EPA in the body the conversion rate is very low. And the less healthy amongst us convert it more poorly. Unfortunately DHA and EPA are the most important essential fatty acids.
So if you are taking vegetarian Omega 3 capsules you are getting some benefits, but not as much by far as you would from taking fish oil capsules.
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.
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Tags: ala dha, ala omega 3, dha, omega 3