A lot of people think if they're taking Omega 3,6,9 that they're getting a more 'complete' Omega. More is better, right?
Okay well let's take down some numbers - Omega 9, the human body can make itself, so you don't need any extra. Forget about it.
And Omega 6? Well a 100 years ago people died from Omega 6 deficiency, that's no longer the case today. We get plenty. Many of us get too much and too much of a good thing can be bad for you.
Omega 6 although essential for survival is everywhere in a variety of foods we eat. Here are just a few foods with high amounts of omega 6 fats, - If this makes you hungry I apologise - French fries, Sunflower oil, Corn oils, nuts, seeds, cakes, crisps, chips, fried chicken, fried foods, red meat, snack-bars, milk, eggs, cakes.
Even our old sunny friend olive oil contains 12% Omega 6.
What is crucial here is the balance between Omega 3 and Omega 6.
Too much Omega 6 is detrimental to the absorption of Omega 3 and has a negative effect on your health. It can contribute to you piling on the pounds, especially if you ate that list I just gave you. Too much Omega 6 will only go into storing in the body where we don't want it, around the stomach in most cases. Where does Omega 3 store? In the brain, eyes and heart. Where it has real benefits.
The ratio should be around 1:1 to 4:1 (Omega 6 to Omega 3) but in typical Western diets it can be anything from around a staggering 50:1 in favour of the Omega 6. Many scientists think this accounts for the rise in obesity and heart disease, depression and many other conditions.
So what I'm saying is - lay off the Omega 6 pills - You don't need them.
So what about the popular combination 3 and 6 combination capsules? Well, Omega 6 and Omega 3 compete with each other for absorption within the body. And in that fight Omega 6 always wins. You may as well not bother with any Omega 3 at all, it's just good money down the drain.
There are many Omega 3 supplements out there, yet are bulked with fillers such as borage, hemp, olive, sunflower oil , flax oils, so watch out for those.
In many expert opinions the healthiest option to make sure you get your daily dose of the good stuff is to take an Algae based omega 3. The best choice in sustainability and developed in a controlled environment. It's natural and vegan.
Sure you can get omega 3 from eating fish but is that really the best healthy option? And do you get the right dosage?
The facts are that Humans cannot manufacture long chain Omega 3 EPA & DHA, they have to get it from their diet by consuming either oily fish or an algae oil supplement.
Algae are the source of long chain essential fatty acids (PUFA's) and fish obtain Omega 3 from their diet of algae. So it kind of makes perfect sense that you should too.
The future without question, should be algae derived Omega 3, why? It's pure, unadulterated and 100% natural, and is especially important for expectant and breastfeeding mothers. Algae based Omega 3 is guaranteed to be free of toxins, heavy metals and PCB's because it's grown in a controlled pharmaceutical grade facility, away from the sea. Therefore you can be sure of the highest quality and purity of our algae oil without having to take a fish oil.
Simon Worth, General Manager of Nuique Ltd one of the few companies that make this algae based omega 3 says "One day in the not too distant future all long chain Omega 3 will come from algae and not fish! Why plunder our oceans when there's a perfectly sustainable, toxin free alternative to fish oil?"
The bottom line is omega 3 is good for your heart, your eyes and your brain. It would do you a lot of good to take in more.