Monday is Blog Carnivals Day. A Blog Carnival is basically a collection of articles or blog posts, all relating to a similar subject, that are gathered together for your viewing pleasure. You can quickly and conveniently see a list of Article Titles a…

We used to get more EPA and DHA in our diet, and a lot less omega-6 fats. What’s happening today is first, we are underconsuming omega-3 fats (they are essential nutrients) and second, we are overconsuming omega-6 fats (e.g. soybean and corn oils). While both omega-3 and omega-6 fats are considered essential fats (humans can’t make them, we must eat them) it’s the imbalance that is further increasing our need for omega-3s.

I disagree with the comment on DHA from algae sources for several reasons. First, several studies indicate that DHA alone (from algae) doesn’t work as well in humans (postnatal depression, attention defiicts, etc). In most studies, people have better results with both EPA and DHA. Man evolved eating fish, providing both EPA and DHA. According to the experts, DHA does not retro-convert to EPA very well. To suggest that better fish oil isn’t pure is misinformation.

The manufacturing of fish oil has evolved to offer highly purified fish oil, and the concerns present with some of our fish supply, disappear. The problem with the fish oil industry is that the mass product on the market (aka cheap, poor tasting fish oil) is not very fresh or pure but it’s very cheap to buy – often from the Chinese market – and sell. It’s a huge disservice to the public who doesn’t know the difference.

There are excellent brands of fish oil available in retail stores (e.g. Minami Nutrition) and online (e.g. PharmaOmega.com). These are highly concentrated, fresh and purified fish oils……..and one capsule can give you more than what the daily US recommendations will be. I’ll end my post here, but the other issue to consider is dose.

Dose is the difference. The dose is determined by your reason for taking omega-3s (general nutrition, disease prevention or therapeutic application) and your family history, health status and diet. I wonder how many Americans are consuming one capsule of fish oil, consuming less than 120 mg EPA and DHA (while dealing with bad taste burps) but believe they are taking a “therapeutic dose” (2000 mg/day minimum is recommended to reduce triglycerides). Many doctors don’t know the difference in quality, or the importance of dose, either (I’m doing what I can to educate them).

Omega-3 levels influence mental health, and we need them. Finally, don’t be confused with omega-3 from plant sources – they are not a substitute for fish sources. In December 2006, the American Psychiatric Assoc sub-committee on omega-3s made the recommendation that anyone with a history of mental health conditions consume at least 1 gram (1000 mg) of EPA and DHA omega-3s. Another note of interest, there are no known contraindications for taking omega-3s (good quality) with anti-depressant meds. This makes good sense, given that omega-3s are nutritionally essential fats that belong in our diet. In fact, omega-3s may help the meds work better. Up to 3 grams per day is considered GRAS. I could go on but will really stop here………..thank you for reading.
Gretchen Vannice, MS, RD

If you cannot get both, you should use fish oil. Both EPA and DHA are necessary and work together in your body.

The human body is effecient at converting DHA to EPA as well: so other plant sources consumed regularly — which should be in one’s diet anyway, such as walnuts, seeds (chia, hemp and flax), and dark leafy greens — are readily available in any market and can also serve as a source.

If cost is an issue in regard to algae oils (fish oils are cheap for a reason), I would think people would value the health of their brain of ALL things above a cost, and cut back in other areas, if need be. The availability of algae-based oils, however, is wider and the cost going down; so it’s becoming more doable.
This non-fish source is perfect for those with seafood allergies as well as vegans and vegetarians,and any other persons unwilling or unable to consume fish.