Fish oil supplements are one of the most wildly popular dietary supplements today. So why are people taking them? The idea behind supplements is to deliver nutrients that may not be consumed from food in ideal amounts. If you don’t eat a variety of foods, supplements can help you get enough essential nutrients and support your overall health.*

Backed by research, there are many reasons why fish oil can help maintain your health and support your wellness.* But let’s start with fish oil’s superstar: omega-3 essential fatty acids.

What are omega-3s?

Fish oil is a source of omega-3 fatty acids. These essential fatty acids (EFAs) play an important role in the body as components of cell membranes. EFAs are fatty acids needed for our bodies to function properly and are considered essential because we must ingest them. Our bodies cannot make them on their own. There are three main types of omega-3s:

• Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
• Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
• Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)

EPA and DHA are the main types of omega-3s consumed by humans. ALA can be converted into EPA and DHA, but this conversion in our bodies is poor so it isn’t the best source.

How do I get omega-3s?

You can get your omega-3s from food and dietary supplements. The best way to get omega-3s is from fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, and sardines. Getting EPA and DHA from plants is pretty rare, but some small amounts are found in seaweed and kelp. ALA is more commonly found in plant sources including walnuts, flax, hemp, and chia seeds, as well as canola and soybean oil.

The best way to get omega-3s — just like any other nutrient — is from food. But let’s be honest, many of us aren’t consuming fatty fish on the regular. If salmon dinners just aren’t your thing, taking a fish oil supplement can help with your daily intake of omega-3s.

So wait, if I’m eating fish, I don’t need a supplement?

Our diets today tend to be low in omega-3s, and higher in omega-6s.¹ We eat a lot of chicken and beef compared to fish and consume vegetable oils, margarine, cereals, and grains on a daily basis. This results in an imbalance of fatty acids.¹ Even if you are eating fish, the ratio of omega-3s to omega-6s could be far from ideal. Taking an omega-3 fish oil supplement can help you restore balance.*¹

How can a fish oil supplement support my health?

Fish oil provides omega-3 fatty acids that help maintain good health.* Research has shown that omega-3s support:

• Heart & vascular health*
• Brain & cognitive health*
• Skin health*
• Eye health*

Omega-3s come in different forms, including triglycerides and ethyl esther. Omega-3s in ethyl esther form aren’t absorbed by our body as well as the triglyceride form.*¹ To make sure your body is taking in all these uber-important omegas, choose a fish oil supplement in triglyceride form.* They’re much easier for us to process, and will be readily available when our body needs them.*

If fish and seafood aren’t part of your weekly meal plan, there’s a good chance you’re missing out on some pretty important nutrition. Adding a top-notch fish oil supplement to your day is a quick and easy fix to get your essential omega-3s.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

 

¹ National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Accessed 3/19/2019.