A lot of Research, large fish oil trials on Omega 3 in form of EPA/ DHA have been conducted over last 2 decades. The results have never been consistent with regards to health claims on CV risk, cholesterol, Brain Health, eye health, anti-inflammatory, etc. etc.
While EPA / DHA may have shown some benefits in clinical trials, but when it is extracted from fish, perhaps the essential phospholipids and and other macro/ micro nutrients are taken out in the process. And therefore it is possible that our body does not assimilate EPA , DHA properly.. so the study says , always eat whole food. If you eat whole fish, you are eating Protein, fat, triglycerides, phospholipids, and some essential vitamins and minerals along with Omega 3 EPA/ DHA. Therefore you get the benefits .
Another example is whey protein extracted from milk in cheese making process. The supplement is becoming a big business world over. It is a fact that the Biological value of whey protein is very high at 104, when compared with Gold standard Egg protein at 96. It has got all the essential amino acids our body needs along with rich sources of BCAA.
However, unfortunately most of the people can not digest whey properly. I tried myself and gave up after first few mild doses after stomach cramps . Then I found out from reviews that I was not alone ! 50% people can not digest whey. When compared with whey, natural whole milk/ yoghurt has 20% whey and 80% casein which can be easily tolerated by most people unless someone has lactose intolerance .
The learning is rely on whole food and avoid all processed food which are devoid of all micro nutrients which are helpful for food assimilation.
Decision is yours whether to buy omega 3 supplement or not to buy!
Most of the members here in HU express their views based upon their own life experience and /or some study reports or articles and only when they have total conviction on the subject. The intention is to help others and they don't have any other vested interest of promoting any supplements or any other business. Our intention is to guide people so that they live on whole food which is naturally found and minimising medication and supplements. Food is medicine is the philosophy here in HU.
The internet is full of conflicting information. We need to be conscious of that. In the previous post please refer to the healthline link which has been posted. At the end of the article , please read the bottom line of the article which I quote:
" The Bottom Line:
Omega-3 fatty acids are vital for optimal health.
Getting them from whole foods — such as fatty fish two times per week — is the best way to ensure robust omega-3 intake.
However, if you don't eat a lot of fatty fish, then you may want to consider taking an omega-3 supplement. For people deficient in omega-3, this is a cheap and highly effective way to improve health.
You can purchase omega-3 supplements online."
Then there is a link to Amazon.....directing you to buy from Amazon.... Originating from the author's webpage. This is known as digital marketing .....
Here the author is very sincere in the first paragraph. But in 2nd paragraph, the author says "if you don't eat a lot of fatty fish, you may want to consider a supplement "... (Here the author is not very sure) ...... Again the author says
" for people deficient in omega 3 ....this is cheap and effective " ...
So are you deficient in omega 3??? There is no such Lab test to measure your omega 3 !
Anyway, decision is yours. If you have any physical conditions , please consult your physician and take his advice. Here we the members can only guide you on proper Food or Nutrition to enhance overall well-being and we don't intend to promote any medicine and supplements..
What I don't "like" about purchasing these "tablets" these days as I have a healthy dose of scepticism.
Once FDA checked the contents of different supplements as I read, the results were less than satisfactory. In essence, you never know what you are actually buying and this report made me wonder what one is actually taking is the same as what the labels say. These days, I try to go back to basics = using the real food groups based on what you or other helpful posters try to educate and inform.
So the issues lie on the logistics of getting the genuine "article" and absorbing the nutrients into the body on the cellular levels.
There's additional issue about eating fish, regularly, these days is the risks of microplastic.
Your threads are extremely inspiring and helpful indeed. Thank you.
I tend to agree with you Autumnsonnet on purity of fish. That is why people talk about wild salmon , fish caught in deep sea etc which you may like to have only 2-3 times a week.
Or else you may like to have Wal-nut or flax seed / Chia seed which have Plant omega-3 known as Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA). Finally your body can also process and convert ALA in to EPA/ DHA though the efficiency is very poor. Study indicates it is the EPA / DHA which seems to have health benefits, though ALA has some stand alone alone health benefits.
Another emerging trend is production of omega 3 free range eggs where the chickens are left free to move around and are fed with flax seeds, chia seeds. The chickens are able to process and convert the ALA in flax seeds in to EPA/ DHA effectively. These eggs are costlier by 3 times than the normal eggs and are certified to contain definite amount of EPA/ DHA per egg. And if you take 2 such Eggs a day, you perhaps get your daily quota/ weekly quota of EPA/ DHA as found in fish.
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