Omega-3s are worshiped among scientists and health enthusiasts because of their incredible health benefits. They are an essential part of our diet and are required for maintaining and building a healthy mind and body.
Many assume omega-3s come from fish oil; however, algae oil is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids. And it’s suitable for vegans too!
This article teaches about algae omega-3, why it is better than fish oil, and how it can benefit your health.
Read on to find out more!
In a hurry? Then check out our guide to the top algae vegan omega 3 upgrade over fish oil!
What Are Omega-3s?
Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat and are an essential part of our diet. They help support a healthy brain and body by providing energy and structural integrity to cell walls and regulating the function of several different body systems. More specifically, they are key to proper brain, heart, eye, and immune function, to name a few!
Omega-3s cannot be produced by the body, so they must be consumed in the diet or taken as supplements. There are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids that our bodies require.
These include EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), derived primarily from oily fish, such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, and sardines, as well as meat, dairy, and eggs. Finally, there's ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), which is found in plant-based sources such as seeds and nuts.
Why Algae Omega-3?
Algae is perhaps most well known for the greenish slime it creates in ponds or lakes and as a food source for marine life. But did you know that it is also cultivated in laboratories for its oil that possesses astounding health benefits?
This is because, like fish oil, algae oil is also packed full of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids. Fish oil is a popular supplement for this very reason. But, taking fish oil is not suited to everyone for dietary reasons or environmental and ethical concerns. It is also known to contain contaminants such as heavy metals.
Not only does algae oil solve these issues, but it is also a much better source of omega-3 than fish oil! Research suggests the amount of omega-3 in algae is comparable to that of fish oil.
Scientists have also found that by manipulating the conditions the algae are grown in, such as UV light, oxygen, temperature, and glucose, they can increase the amount of omega-3s present 1.
The reason fish oil is packed with omega-3s is that the fish themselves eat the algae which contain these fatty acids. Time to cut out the middle man!
Health Benefits Of Omega-3s
Eye Health
DHA is a major structural component of the retina in the eye, which sends visual information to the brain that enables you to see the world in front of you. When you aren’t consuming enough DHA in your diet, you may suffer from vision problems and even vision loss.
Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide and has been linked to a lack of DHA. Research suggests that increasing omega-3 intake may help reduce the risk of macular degeneration and vision impairment 2.
Brain Function
Omega-3s are essential for brain growth and development, especially in young children. Interestingly, studies have found that children born to mothers with high omega-3 intake during pregnancy have higher intelligence, better social skills, and fewer behavioral disorders, such as ADHD 3.
Fight Depression and Anxiety
Depression and anxiety are two of the most common mental health problems worldwide. Scientists have found that people who have a high omega-3s intake in their diet have a reduced likelihood of developing depression and anxiety.
Additionally, studies have found that omega-3 supplements can actually improve symptoms of anxiety and depression. According to one study, EPA omega-3 fatty acids may be as effective at treating depression as antidepressants! 4
Reduced Risk of Heart Disease
Heart disease is one of the significant causes of death worldwide, so reducing risk factors is important for everyone. These include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and chronic inflammation.
Researchers have found that people who eat large amounts of fish have much lower rates of heart disease, which is attributed to high omega-3 consumption 5. This is because omega-3s help lower the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke by:
- Reducing levels of unhealthy blood fats called triglycerides, which can build up in the arteries and cause thickening or hardening of walls.
- Reducing blood pressure.
- Increasing levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol which helps remove other forms of harmful cholesterol.
- Preventing blood platelets from sticking together and forming blood clots.
- Reducing inflammation by limiting the production of inflammatory substances.
Reduce Inflammation
The inflammatory response is necessary to help the body fight infections and damage. However, sometimes it persists even when there is no requirement for it, known as chronic inflammation.
Chronic inflammation increases the risk for almost all diseases, such as cancer and obesity. Research suggests omega-3 supplements can reduce the risk of disease by suppressing the production of inflammatory molecules and lowering inflammation throughout the body 6.
Lower Risk of Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases arise when the immune system malfunctions and starts attacking its own healthy body tissues because it mistakes them for foreign cells.
For example, in type 1 diabetes, the immune system starts attacking insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Insulin is an important hormone for regulating blood sugar levels. By hindering production, the body’s ability to manage blood sugar levels is compromised, which poses some serious health risks.
Research suggests that getting plenty of omega-3s in the first year of life can significantly help reduce the risk of diabetes 7. Scientists have also found that omega-3s are effective at helping treat other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis.
Conclusion
Omega-3s are essential fatty acids that we must consume through our diet or as supplements. They help maintain a healthy heart, brain, eyes, nervous system, cell membranes and are generally important for overall good health. The three main types of omega-3s are EHA, DPA (which are derived mainly from fish), and ALA (which comes from plants).
Fish oil is often the most popular supplement choice for obtaining omega-3s. However, it is unsuitable for vegans, may contain contaminants, and poses other ethical and environmental concerns. Algae oil is now growing in popularity as it doesn’t pose these problems and is, in fact, a richer source of omega-3 fatty acids!
Omega-3s obtained from algae oil have been scientifically proven to help improve brain function, reduce the risk of heart disease, fight anxiety and depression, reduce inflammation, improve eye health, and much more!
Upgrade your fish oil with Performance Lab’s ultra-clean omega-3 algae oil. It provides high potency DHA and EPA benefits without the drawbacks of fish oil.
References
- Adarme-Vega, T. Catalina, et al. "Microalgal biofactories: a promising approach towards sustainable omega-3 fatty acid production." Microbial cell factories 11.1 (2012): 1-10.
- Merle, Bénédicte MJ, et al. "Circulating omega-3 fatty acids and neovascular age-related macular degeneration." Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 55.3 (2014): 2010-2019.
- Helland, Ingrid B., et al. "Maternal supplementation with very-long-chain n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation augments children’s IQ at 4 years of age." Pediatrics 111.1 (2003): e39-e44.
- Jazayeri, Shima, et al. "Comparison of therapeutic effects of omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid and fluoxetine, separately and in combination, in major depressive disorder." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 42.3 (2008): 192-198.
- Leaf, Alexander. "Historical overview of n− 3 fatty acids and coronary heart disease." The American journal of clinical nutrition 87.6 (2008): 1978S-1980S.
- Calder, Philip C. "n− 3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids, inflammation, and inflammatory diseases." The American journal of clinical nutrition 83.6 (2006): 1505S-1519S.
- Stene, Lars C., Geir Joner, and Norwegian Childhood Diabetes Study Group. "Use of cod liver oil during the first year of life is associated with lower risk of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes: a large, population-based, case-control study." The American journal of clinical nutrition 78.6 (2003): 1128-1134.
