Are ALA Omega 3 Fatty Acids Good For Your Health?
Posted on July 14, 2010
Filed Under Health & Fitness | Leave a Comment
There have been some significant health discoveries over the last few decades but arguably one of the most important is the fact that virtually all of us are deficient in the essential fatty acids known as Omega 3 fatty acids. There’s a number of these including ALA (alpha linolenic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), though there are more.
Of these 3 it is generally considered that DHA is the most important of the omega 3 essential fats. DHA comprises a large proportion of our brain and is very important to good health, as is EPA.
Unfortunately over the last hundred years our diets have changed and we are now eating less and less of the main source of DHA and EPA, namely seafood and in particular oily fish. For this reason it is now generally considered that most of us are deficient in these 2 important nutrients and that this deficiency can lead to a wide range of risks for poor health, and that increasing our intake of both these essential fats can help guard against various health conditions.
But what is ALA omega 3 fatty acid, and where does it come from? ALA Omega 3 is a plant-based form of essential fatty acid. It is not found in seafood and anyone taking fish oil supplements will not be getting ALA in their diet from that source.
However there are many people taking various vegetarian supplements, primarily amongst them flax seed oil supplements. As flax seed oil supplements contain the plant-based form of Omega 3 fat, namely ALA, are these people therefore getting sufficient quantities of the important essential fatty acids?
The answer to that question is no. Whilst it is true that ALA can be converted into DHA and EPA in the body the conversion rate is very low. And the less healthy amongst us convert it more poorly. Unfortunately DHA and EPA are the most important essential fatty acids.
So taking a vegetarian Omega 3 supplement may have some benefit, but not nearly as much as taking fish oil supplements.
So if this is the case why are people taking flax seed oil supplements containing ALA? It’s because, as vegetarians, they are reluctant to take any form of nutrients coming from a fish-based source, so are unable to take fish oil capsules.
Unfortunately many of those people are unaware that they are taking a form of omega 3 essential fatty acid which is not particularly beneficial to the health and which does not make up for their low levels of DHA and EPA.
The bottom line is that virtually all of us are deficient in the fish-based Omega 3 fats DHA and EPA. These are what are important to our health and taking an ALA Omega 3 supplement such as a flax seed oil supplement does not address this problem.
If you are interested in learning more about the essential fatty acids DHA and EPA and in particular about high quality fish oils supplements then please get over to my website.
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