I’ve been taking omega 3 supplements for quite a while. It seems to me that there is overwhelming evidence that omega 3 fatty acids in your diet is one of the most important things you can do for your health, and that our diet is currently too low in Omega 3 fats.
However speaking to a friend recently he told me that he wouldn’t take supplements. I asked him why, and he told me that supplements are untested, unproven and unscientific. Not mainstream. I thought I’d address that.
Because for many people there is a perception that taking supplements is akin to voodoo. No one really knows what’s going to happen if you do.
And there is also the perception that taking dietary supplements is somehow alternative. That real people who listen to their doctor wouldnt consider taking dietary supplements including omega 3 dietary supplements.
So lets see if there is any acceptance of Omega 3 dietary supplementation by mainstream medicine.
No lesser authority than the American Heart Association says:
“Omega-3 fatty acids benefit the heart of healthy people, and those at high risk of ” or who have ” cardiovascular disease.”
Their recommendations about Omega fats is that we eat fish at least twice a week and that we also eat other foods containing omega 3 oils like tofu and various oils such as canola oil.
They make specific recommendations for anyone suffering from Coronary Heart Disease. They ought to eat at least a gram of EPA and DHA (found in Omega 3 oils) every day, and if they need to lower their triglycerides it should be from 2 to 4 grams of EPA and DHA each day, as capsules, supervised by a doctor.
You cant get any clearer than that. The AHA recommends the intake of omega 3 fats, preferably as food but also as capsules, every day.
Now of course if you can take your omega 3 oils through your diet that’s great. Cheaper and a good way to do it. But that isn’t always quite so easy. Here’s an example.
There are omega 3 fatty acids in meat. Ordinary beef and lamb. However when you buy meat that has been raised as grain fed, rather than more naturally grass fed, there is very little omega 3 in the meat. So although we are eating what would normally be a natural source of omega oils, because of the way our food is produced we still aren’t getting them. There’s more examples than this.
So getting enough good fats like omega 3 fats through diet alone isn’t as easy as you might expect.
And if the American Heart Association is prepared to suggest getting your omega 3 oils through supplements then there’s nothing “alternative” about that. So if youve been wondering if you really ought to avoid all these Omega 3 supplements because, well, they arent really mainstream, then listen to the American Heart Association.
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