Omega 3 Fatty Acids – Find Out Why They Are Important And Where To Find Them
More and more people have now begun to realize how important and beneficial Omega 3 fatty acids are for our health. In fact, this is one of the very few areas where traditional medicine and alternative medicine actually agree. Let’s take a look at how you can best take advantage of these nutrients.
Of all the Omega 3 fatty acids, the following four are the most beneficial:
- Docosahexanoic Acid – DHA
- Eicosapentaenoic Acid – EPA
- Docosapentaenoic Acid – DPA
- Alpha Linolenic Acid – ALA
Let’s talk about each of them, one by one.
ALA – This fatty acid is found most abundantly in Flax seed oil and other vegetable oils. While like other omega 3 fats, this fat also helps in reducing the risk of heart diseases, studies have shown that ALA can lead to increased risk of Macular degeneration. Flax seed oil also oxidizes easily and quickly becomes rancid. So it’s best to stick to the other omega 3 fats instead of this one.
DPA – This fatty acid is an intermediary between EPA and DHA. Its best source is from certain kinds of fish like Salmon, Mackerel, Trout and the Hoki (a New Zealand fish). It is beneficial for the heart, brain, eyes and also reduces inflammation in the body, which helps in reducing the risk of cancer. Still all in all, it plays more of a supportive role to the other two fats we will discuss now.
EPA – This has been the favorite of omega 3 enthusiasts for long. Many major fish oil brands still swear by it and use it as the primary ingredient in their oil. Latest research, however, has shown that the belief on this fat may have been a little misplaced. It’s actually DHA that is the most beneficial of all the omega 3 fatty acids.
DHA – This nutrient has finally begun to get the attention and respect it deserves. The most beneficial of all, it’s also necessary for proper brain development. In fact, almost 30% of the human brain is made up of DHA omega 3 fats only.
All said and done, no single omega 3 fat is sufficient by itself to keep us healthy. What you need is a proper mix of these fats. Your daily dosage of around 500 mg of omega 3 fats should ideally consist of about 50% DHA, 25% EPA and the rest 25% in DPA.
This is the best mix of omega 3 fatty acids that you should look for in any oil you .
For more information on how to select the best oil to get all the omega 3 fatty acids in the right proportion, visit my website now.
Michael Holman is a dedicated researcher and reviewer of fish oil supplements. He shares his research on his website – .To discover the highest Omega 3 fish oil supplements our editors personally use and recommend, visit – Article Source: