The Supplement I Wish We Learned About In School!
Omega-3’s are one of the foundational supplements I recommend. They’re often recommended for heart, brain, and eye health. All very important to take care of if you ask me!
They are often sourced from fish, like mackerel or sardines, but can also be sourced from algae if you are vegetarian/vegan.
So why are these called “essential” fatty acids?
These fatty acids are essential for us to consume, as our bodies do not produce them on our own- we must get them from our diet.
Omega-3s are crucial for brain health. The brain is made up of 50-60% fat and omega-3s are anywhere from 20-35% of that fat. I think of them as the oil to lubricate our brain, keeping things running smoothly. Learning, memory, and brain function all rely on omega-3’s, specifically DHA.
If you’ve ever been pregnant, you might remember DHA being recommended for healthy baby development.
Well, our brains still require DHA throughout our entire lifetime. I honestly am so surprised that we aren’t taught more about this vital nutrient. If we want our brains to function optimally, we must be sure to have omega-3s in our regimen. Whether you eat cold-water fish or take a supplement, having omega-3s are necessary for optimal brain health.
What I Use In My Home
The algae omega-3 from Sunwarrior is a great vegan/vegetarian option. If you think about it, where do the fish get their omega-3s from? They get it from the algae, so we can cut the middleman and go right to the source.
The other brand I’ve used is Nordic Naturals. I don’t mind this brand, I’ve gone to a few trainings and appreciate how they use smaller fish for less contaminants and make it a point to “purify” their fish oils to be free from heavy metals, pesticides, etc. Some do complain about fishy burps, but I personally don’t experience this. They also have super concentrated products if you’re looking to maximize the amount of omega-3s you can take.
My favorite to take is Barlean’s fish oils in their fun flavors like Pineapple Passionfruit swirl. They use an emulsification process to ensure the fish oil gets absorbed well, and you can’t even taste the fish oil. These products contain ingredients like xylitol and xanthan gum, which may not agree with everyone.
Omega-3 to Omega-6 Ratio
In comparison to omega-3s, there are also omega-6 oils. These oils are often found in refined vegetable oils like canola, sunflower, soy, and corn. This is probably why so many people are against seed oils right now – not only are these oils often rancid by the time they hit the grocery store, they can also be inflammatory.
Why? The reason is that our omega-3 to omega-6 ratio is supposed to be more balanced, like 1:4 (omega 3:6). For every one part of omega-3, we consume 4 parts of omega-6.
Unfortunately, with the quality of food nowadays, this ratio looks more like 1:16, as people unknowingly consume much larger quantities of omega-6 than omega-3. This imbalance can show up as achy joints, inflammation throughout the body, dry eyes, skin, and hair, brain fog, inability to concentrate, poor memory, and more.
I hope you learned something about omega-3s and how crucial they are for optimal health. You can shop many different brands of omega-3s through my Fullscript account by clicking the button below. You get an ongoing 10% discount and free shipping over $50!
Before becoming an acupuncturist on Maui, I practiced as a clinical herbalist and supplement advisor for many years. I have a strong background in Chinese and Western herbs, along with thousands of hours spent researching and advising clients on supplements.
If you’re interested in connecting and discussing what supplements might work best for you, please reach out for your free 15-minute consultation to see how I can best serve you.
Mahalo,
Meghane Hernandez - Maui acupuncture & herbalist
