Omega-3's: The Good Fat

Many people know they need to be taking supplements to make up for what they do not get in their everyday diet. Those same people choose not take supplements and miss out on obtaining their daily dietary needs because they do not know which supplements they need to be taking, how much they need to take each day, etc. Many of us recognize that a multivitamin is necessary to fill in the gaps of our not-so-perfect diets. Dr. Chris believes that a daily vitamin is crucial for maintaining a healthy diet, but he wants you to put omega-3s at the top of your list.

Why should Omega-3s be at the top of your list?

Americans do not consume enough Omega-3s, period, and this could contribute to some chronic health challenges that many of us face today. The importance of getting Omega-3 oils in your daily diet begins at conception and continues throughout your entire lifetime. DHA and EPA are Omega-3 essential fatty acids that cannot be made by our body and must be obtained from our diet. DHA and EPA are “GOOD” fats meaning they’re associated with good health and have a variety of beneficial roles in the body.  

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We eat far greater amounts of pro-inflammatory Omega-6 fatty acids than we do Omega-3s. Maintaining a balance between these essential fatty acids seem to help support the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response. They also help to strengthen cellular membranes and increase cellular permeability.   They play an important role in the production of prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that help modulate the body’s natural inflammatory response which helps reduce stiffness and support healthy joint function.

Omega-3s also support:

  • Cardiovascular health
  • Triglyceride management
  • Emotional balance
  • Antioxidant availability
  • Normal Immune response
  • Healthy normal blood coagulation
  • Normal blood pressure already w/in normal range
  • Mother and baby during pregnancy and lactation
  • Skin, nail, and hair health
  • Cognition

A misconception by many Americans is that you can get the majority Omega-3s from flax or flaxseed oil found in seeds, nuts, beans, and green leafy vegetable. Your body is capable of converting the Omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) found in flaxseed into the EPA and DHA that your body needs, but in this process, only a fraction of the ALA is turned into EPA and/or DHA. The latest studies show that only 0.5% of the ALA from flax is converted to EPA and DHA. This is a very small amount and is not enough to give your body what it needs.

Dr. Chris offers one of the highest quality of Tuna Omega-3 oil in the office. Every batch of Standard Process Tuna Omega-3 oil is consistently tested for contaminants by microbiologists and chemists as well as a third party to ensure compliant levels of contaminants. You will also never experience those dreaded fish burps that other Omega-3s have. Dr. Chris offers the freshest Omega-3 oil that won’t have the long shelf life that local stores have which is one of the reasons for fish burps.

Taking an Omega-3 supplement every day is a safe and convenient way to ensure that you’re consistently getting the DHA and EPA that you need to maintain optimal health.

Christopher Kelley