Omega3 fatty acids are possibly the most important supplement that we here in the West can take. Eating a diet full of fresh organic foods will prevent serious nutritional deficiencies, but omega3s are an exception. In fact, most people in the US (and probably elsewhere) are severely deficient in these fats.
Ok, so which omega3 acid is the most important?
Although each omega-3 acid has its uses, the two most important are DHA and EPA. They are mainly found in fatty cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, or sardines. This is the main reason for our omega 3 deficiency. We don’t eat enough fish, but the FDA says too much is bad for us.
Our modern oceans and rivers are now polluted with heavy metals and other toxins. These contaminants find their way into the diet of the fish and then onto our tables. Farm-raised species have their own health problems. Also, due to the pellet feeding process, they do not have a single omega3 acid in any volume.
This leaves us with fish oil supplements. The good ones use a process called molecular distillation to remove contaminants. So far so good, but this is where it gets confusing. DHA is generally considered the most important omega-3 acid, but all eight are essential because the body cannot make them and we need them to live.
So why is it the most important thing?
More individual benefits are attributed to DHA due to its role within our brain and cell membranes. Since 2002, the FDA has allowed formula manufacturers to add it to their products, a process that has been done in Europe for years. Its role in fetal and infant development cannot be underestimated.
However, the real benefit is the molecular complexity of DHA. It can be very easily broken down into EPA or other nutrients. In other words, it’s just easier to go from complex to simple than vice versa.
Therefore, in a fish oil supplement you should look for one that is heavily loaded with DHA, preferably twice as much. Most of them aren’t, because it’s cheaper to do it if you fill it with EPA or something else.
In the summer, look for a fish oil supplement that is ultra-refined to remove contaminants and has the right ratios of omega-3 acids; remember, the more DHA, the better.
The product I take daily costs less than $20 per month and is the cheapest health insurance I have. If you’re already taking a quality fish oil supplement, don’t keep it a secret. tell your friends. If not, you can do further research on my website.