Discover the Best Omega 3 Sources

<h1>Discover the Best Omega 3 Sources</h1>Author: <a title="Laurel Cohen" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/laurel-cohen/92332.htm">Laurel Cohen</a> Let’s face it.  Some omega 3 sources are plentiful.  Others are limited.  You see, there are several different long chained omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and they are present in different foods. The most abundant is alpha-linolenic acid or ALA.  It is found in plant foods, vegetable oils, nuts, olives and edible seeds. ALA is still listed as the only “essential” omega-3 in some books, because the human body can convert it into the others.  But, most scientists, researchers and other experts have come to the conclusion that the conversion process is too limited to be considered efficient. A person might not suffer from an obvious disease if they consumed only ALA, but they would likely suffer from long-term health problems and minor or major unexplained illnesses, including emotional disorders like depression. Children are more likely to suffer from attention deficit disorders and learning problems if their only dietary omega-3 is ALA.  They are also more likely to suffer from allergies and asthma, if their mother does not have a healthy intake of all of the different sources of omega 3 fatty acids during pregnancy. Research has proven that Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the longest of the long-chained polyunsaturated fats, is essential for normal brain development during infancy and early childhood.  That’s why most infant formulas and a number of baby foods are fortified with DHA. It is estimated that the body can convert between 2-5% of ALA consumed into DHA, but that is only an estimate.  It is believed that some people may lack the innate ability to convert any ALA to DHA.  It is known that supplemental ALA does not correct low blood levels of DHA. So, relying on the conversion process and consuming only omega 3 sources that provide ALA is a mistake.  DHA is not the only important fatty acid.  Eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA is important, too.  Both are necessary for normal brain function and the repair of cellular membranes.  So, where do you find EPA and DHA? The only good source of both is fish.  Some types of seafood are good choices, too.  But, you’ll need to do a little research when planning your meals, because some species, shrimp for example, contains no omega-3s, at all.  Others, such as salmon, tuna, sardines and hoki, will provide enough omega-3s to meet your body’s minimum daily requirements and then some. In addition to include more of the sources of omega 3 in your diet, researchers recommend reducing your intake of omega-6s and saturated fats.  The easiest way to do that is through substitution. <ol> <li>Stay away from corn, peanut, sunflower and grape seed.</li> <li>Substitute fish and seafood for other kinds of meat</li> </ol> Those are just two suggestions, but they are probably the two most important ones. Bottom line, if you don’t care for fish or seafood, fish oil supplements are good omega 3 sources.  They are tasteless and odorless.  Taking one or two capsules per day will insure that your brain gets enough EPA and DHA to function normally and that your heart will stay healthy.About the Author: Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site <a href="http://www.omega-3-for-health.com"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.omega-3-for-health.com">http://www.omega-3-for-health.com</a></a> to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/discover-the-best-omega-3-sources-1457586.html" title="Discover the Best Omega 3 Sources">Discover the Best Omega 3 Sources</a>

Let’s face it. Some omega 3 sources are plentiful. Others are limited. You see, there are several different long chained omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and they are present in different foods.

The most abundant is alpha-linolenic acid or ALA. It is found in plant foods, vegetable oils, nuts, olives and edible seeds.

ALA is still listed as the only “essential” omega-3 in some books, because the human body can convert it into the others. But, most scientists, researchers and other experts have come to the conclusion that the conversion process is too limited to be considered efficient.

A person might not suffer from an obvious disease if they consumed only ALA, but they would likely suffer from long-term health problems and minor or major unexplained illnesses, including emotional disorders like depression.

Children are more likely to suffer from attention deficit disorders and learning problems if their only dietary omega-3 is ALA. They are also more likely to suffer from allergies and asthma, if their mother does not have a healthy intake of all of the different sources of omega 3 fatty acids during pregnancy.

Research has proven that Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the longest of the long-chained polyunsaturated fats, is essential for normal brain development during infancy and early childhood. That’s why most infant formulas and a number of baby foods are fortified with DHA.

It is estimated that the body can convert between 2-5% of ALA consumed into DHA, but that is only an estimate. It is believed that some people may lack the innate ability to convert any ALA to DHA. It is known that supplemental ALA does not correct low blood levels of DHA.

So, relying on the conversion process and consuming only omega 3 sources that provide ALA is a mistake. DHA is not the only important fatty acid. Eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA is important, too. Both are necessary for normal brain function and the repair of cellular membranes. So, where do you find EPA and DHA?

The only good source of both is fish. Some types of seafood are good choices, too. But, you’ll need to do a little research when planning your meals, because some species, shrimp for example, contains no omega-3s, at all. Others, such as salmon, tuna, sardines and hoki, will provide enough omega-3s to meet your body’s minimum daily requirements and then some.

In addition to include more of the sources of omega 3 in your diet, researchers recommend reducing your intake of omega-6s and saturated fats. The easiest way to do that is through substitution.

Stay away from corn, peanut, sunflower and grape seed.
Substitute fish and seafood for other kinds of meat

Those are just two suggestions, but they are probably the two most important ones.

Bottom line, if you don’t care for fish or seafood, fish oil supplements are good omega 3 sources. They are tasteless and odorless. Taking one or two capsules per day will insure that your brain gets enough EPA and DHA to function normally and that your heart will stay healthy.

Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.

Rate this Article:

0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/discover-the-best-omega-3-sources-1457586.html

Article Tags: omega 3 sources, sources of omega 3

Related Articles
Related Q&A

Latest Supplements and Vitamins Articles
More from Laurel Cohen

Fish Oil Pills - What Are They and Why Should You Eat Them?

By: Peter Leigh | 26/11/2009
What are fish oil pills and why are they good for you?

Free Weight Loss Supplements - Are Supplements For Losing Weight Worthwhile?

By: Renata Nyleve | 25/11/2009
In the world today many people are looking for a quick fix to their many problems. One of the worst among these problems is excess weight.

Investing in Your Health

By: Pete Piranio | 25/11/2009
Invest in your health and the payoffs will speak for themselves.

Benefits of Green Tea

By: catherine preth | 25/11/2009
Many people have been calling green tea the new miracle drug, possible of curing cancer and keeping your body immune from diseases. Here are some benefits of green tea.

Fixing Wrinkles Naturally and For Good

By: Rachel Hammond | 25/11/2009
If there’s one thing that most people want to do when the aging process kicks in, it’s fixing wrinkles! Nothing quite displays our age to the world, especially face wrinkles, and without resorting to any drastic or expensive measures, there are natural proven ingredients you can use to fade them.

Fixing Wrinkles Naturally and For Good

Fish Oil Adverse Effects and How To Avoid Them

By: Rich Hawkins | 25/11/2009
If you want to avoid any fish oil adverse effects, the key is to know exactly what to look for to get the purest one possible. In a flooded marketplace, there are many poor quality oils that could still contain toxins from the fish for example, so here is a guide to lead you to the very best.

How To Avoid Fish Oil Side Effects By Using a High Quality Pure Oil

By: Rich Hawkins | 25/11/2009
If you want to avoid an unpleasant fish oil side effect, you simply need to know what to look for to get the purest oil. If you do this, then you shouldn't have to worry about any side effects at all. Here are some simple tips to guide you to the handful of quality supplements from the many poor ones available.

Learn about Omega 3 Capsules

By: Laurel Cohen | 19/11/2009 | Supplements & Vitamins
Let’s face it. Supplementing your diet by taking DHA rich omega 3 capsules will greatly benefit your health, as these nutrients are a powerful disease preventative, and also an effective treatment for many of you who may already suffer from an inflammatory malady. A lot of people have still not caught on to just how much omega-3 fatty acids can do for them. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits they offer.

The Positive Benefits of Omega 3 Oils

By: Laurel Cohen | 19/11/2009 | Supplements & Vitamins
If you haven’t already heard about the many positive benefits of supplementing your diet with an ample supply of omega 3 oils, then you might just want to take a minute to find out what amazing things these essential nutrients can do for you. It is now being said that you could possibly get more out on increasing your consumption of omega fatty acids, than by taking just about any other supplement.

Why Fish Oil Price should not Determine Your Choice

By: Laurel Cohen | 19/11/2009 | Supplements & Vitamins
You may disagree, but hear me out. What you must be aware of when you are shopping for an omega-3 supplement is that fish oil price should not be the deciding factor in whether or not you buy a product. Prices can vary wildly when it comes to supplements, and the most expensive brands are not always the ones that are of the highest quality. Of course, you should not base your purchase on how much money you are saving on a product either.

Learn about Fish Oil and Its Benefits

By: Laurel Cohen | 19/11/2009 | Supplements & Vitamins
You may disagree, but hear me out. I believe that everyone can benefit by learning a little more about fish oil, and some of the wonderful things that supplementing your diet with omega-3 fatty acids can do for your health. It wasn’t that long ago when the truly in-depth studies into the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids began, and over the last couple of decades it has become apparent as to why we all need to get more omega-3s into our system.

Learn the Correct Omega3 Omega6 Ratios in Fish Oil

By: Laurel Cohen | 19/11/2009 | Supplements & Vitamins
Let’s face it. Many people are starting to understand the need for getting more fish oil in their diet, but a lot of people do not comprehend the importance of a correct omega3 omega6 ratio. Both of these sets of nutrients benefit the body by providing inflammation. Although it seems to go against reason, some inflammation in the body is necessary, as it is through inflammation that the immune system battles illness, and treats injuries.

Learn about Omega 3 Fatty Acids Side Effects

By: Laurel Cohen | 18/11/2009 | Supplements & Vitamins
What if I told you although you may hear things about the negative effects that omega fatty acids can have, you have to keep in mind that omega 3 fatty acids side effects are all positive ones. The only negative effects that come from having an abundance of omega fatty acids in your diet come from having too many omega-6s as compared to omega-3s. High levels of omega-6s can cause you numerous health problems.

What are the Benefits of Taking Omega 3?

By: Laurel Cohen | 18/11/2009 | Supplements & Vitamins
A lot of you may ask, what are the benefits of taking omega 3 fatty acid supplements? The answer to that question is that these omega fatty acid supplements can do a great number of things in order to prevent you from falling victim to the wealth of inflammatory diseases that afflict so many of us, and they can also help to alleviate the symptoms of these maladies in those already suffering.

Discover the Benefits of an Omega 3 Fatty Acid Supplement

By: Laurel Cohen | 18/11/2009 | Supplements & Vitamins
Have you read about this recently? Everyone would truly benefit from the daily consumption of an omega 3 fatty acid supplement, because what these essential nutrients can do for your body and mind is absolutely amazing. A lot of people I am afraid are still unaware of exactly what it is that these fatty acids have to offer, so they have no idea of how much healthier they could be if they included a high quality fish oil supplement in their diet.