Omega 3 Fish Oils

Omega 3 essential fatty acids, often just referred to as omega 3 fish oils are known as essential, because they are very important to our well-being, but our bodies cannot create them in the quantity that we need them. Therefore, we have to eat them. These omega 3 fish oils are mainly found in oily fish like salmon, herring and mackerel.

Omega 3 retains two fatty acids that are very beneficial for human beings. These fatty acids are called DHA and EPA. So, the solution is to consume more fish, right? Well, yes and no. For decades, dietitians and doctors suggested eating at least two portions of oily fish a week. However, nowadays fish is polluted with heavy metals especially mercury.

Mercury is extremely toxic to human beings, so that is the dilemma. We should eat more fish, but numerous people believe that fish is now too toxic for us to eat. Scientists have stepped up to the breach and extracted fish oils from fish and then extracted the heavy metals from those oils.

This puts us back on an even keel. Now you can get your essential fatty acids DHA and EPA without poisoning yourself in the process . These omega 3 fish oils are normally put into capsules and sold as supplements.

Omega 3 fatty acids have been linked with the prevention and reduction of several very serious human diseases like cancer, diabetes, macular degeneration, high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol and atherosclerosis. DHA in particular is very important to the brain where it acts to reduce the rate of memory loss and decrease the chances of Alzheimer's

A low amount of DHA has also been associated with depression and schizophrenia. It is fairly evident to doctors and dietitians that these omega 3 fish oils really are essential to our health.

Despite being able to get omega 3 from fish oil, fish do not produce it themselves either. Instead these fatty acids are present in the foodstuff that they eat such as algae and krill. Krill oil is a comparatively recently discovered source of omega 3. It contains less of the oils, about 63% of that in fish, but the advantageous effects are similar.

Green-lipped mussels from New Zealand are another bountiful source of these fish oils. In fact they contain a somewhat different combination of omega 3 which looks as if it will greatly help neutralize inflammation. Inflammation is a key contributing factor to arthritis.

Other, land-based origins of omega 3, do not contain DHA or EPA, but they are useful anyway. Some of these sources are walnuts, pecan nuts, butternuts and some seeds especially flax and hemp.

Grass-fed meat and free-range chickens and their eggs also contain omega 3, but again, not the important DHA and EPA acids.

How much omega 3 should you eat? Well, there is no 'recommended daily amount' (RDA) as with vitamins, but the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends 1.6 grammes/day for men and 1.1 grammes/day for women, but the total calorific value should be between 0.6 and 1.2% of your daily total.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a number of topics, and is now concerned with pure omega 3. If you would like to know more, please visit our site at Omega 6 9