Signs You Are Taking The Wrong Omega 3 Supplement

You Are Taking The Wrong Omega 3 Supplement

Unsurprisingly, the popularity of omega-3 supplements has surged in recent years. Time and time again, studies are establishing a host of unique benefits, such as those to your heart and brain.

However, as the demand for these supplements rises, so do concerns about their quality and environmental impact. While fish and cod liver oil are rich in EPA and DHA - the compounds responsible for many of the beneficial effects, the majority of the products on the market are sub-par at best. Issues with toxic contaminants such as mercury and PCBs, damaging environmental practices, low dosages, and harmful fillers have meant that countless consumers have fallen victim to supplement companies that are driven by profit.

Fortunately, there is a way to experience the benefits of omega-3s without damaging your health and the environment. Other sources, in particular, omega-3s derived from algae oil, do not have the same concerns and appear to be better for your health.

If you are looking for a pure and properly dosed algae oil supplement, we recommend Performance Lab® Omega-3. The innovative formulation of Performance Lab® Omega-3 boasts enhanced bioavailability and a gut-friendly composition. This means you can experience all the benefits that omega-3 has to offer without harming your body or the planet.

The goal of this article is to give you the information you need to make an informed choice for both your health and the world we live in.

Understanding the Key Benefits of Omega-3

Omega 3 fatty acids have a wealth of benefits that make them essential in the fight against cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and chronic inflammatory conditions.

The Heart-Health Powerhouse

Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, are widely recognized for their significant benefits to heart health. These polyunsaturated fatty acids have been extensively studied in numerous randomized controlled trials. Some of the key benefits to heart health include:

• Omega-3s can reduce triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood, which is a key factor in preventing heart disease and managing coronary heart disease.

• They help maintain healthy blood pressure levels, which is especially beneficial for those with high blood pressure.

• By reducing inflammation, a contributing factor in cardiovascular diseases, omega-3s also lower cardiovascular risk.

• Omega-3s have been shown to improve cholesterol levels, particularly by reducing LDL and increasing HDL, which can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Cognitive Function and Brain Health

The brain thrives on the nourishment provided by omega-3 fatty acids. One essential fatty acid is particularly beneficial - DHA. DHA is a primary structural component of the human brain and is crucial for maintaining its health and function. Your body cannot produce DHA on its own, so for optimum brain function, you need to get enough in your diet and through supplementation.

These essential fatty acids are known to support cognitive processes and reduce age-related cognitive decline. They can even improve memory, focus, and overall brain function.

In a 2022 study by the Association Academy of American Neurology involving 2,183 middle-aged adults, researchers found significant cognitive benefits associated with higher Omega-3 levels.

The study revealed that individuals with a higher Omega-3 index had increased hippocampal volumes, crucial for learning and memory. They also benefited from enhanced abstract reasoning skills, which are essential for understanding complex concepts and logical thinking. Perhaps most impressively, participants carrying the APOE4 gene, often associated with cardiovascular disease and vascular dementia, showed fewer instances of small-vessel disease when they had higher levels of Omega-3s

Anti-inflammatory and Joint Health Benefits

Countless studies have confirmed that omega-3s can act as powerful anti-inflammatories, thus lowering the risk of inflammatory diseases. Inflammation has been linked to numerous diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and diabetes.

The anti-inflammatory properties also benefit your joints and alleviate joint stiffness and pain. Omega 3s have been heavily studied for their potential benefits to one inflammatory disease in particular - rheumatoid arthritis. In a 2020 review published in The National Libary of Medicine, it was concluded that:

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids which have an impact on health and disease. They act as precursors to lipid mediators of inflammation and may attenuate and modulate the autoimmune inflammatory response. They have been shown to ameliorate or prevent experimental arthritis and may decrease disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.

Impact on Eye Health

As if the benefits to your brain, heart, and joints weren't enough to convince you that omega-3 supplementation is important, there is another benefit to consider - those to your eyes. Omeg-3s help protect your retina and overall eye health and prevent age-related macular degeneration.

Why You Are Taking The Wrong Omega 3 Supplement

Supplement companies are great at advertising, but the sad truth is that most supplements on the market today are not up to standard. For example, if you bought your omega-3 supplement from Holland and Barrat, it's safe to say that your money was wasted. Not only are their products often underdosed, but Ethical Consumer also rate them poorly in terms of environmental practices.

However, low dosages and environmental impact are not the only common issues of fish oil supplements. Rancid products and harmful contaminants could also damage your health.

Rancidity in Fish Oil

One of the most concerning issues with fish oil is its susceptibility to oxidation, leading to rancidity. When fish oils oxidize, they lose their health benefits and produce harmful free radicals and peroxides. This can promote inflammation and cause gastrointestinal discomfort and fishy burbs.

When fish oil goes rancid, it should give off a nasty smell, which would be a warning to a potential consumer that their supplement has gone off. However, supplement manufacturers add flavors such as citrus to mask this smell, putting profit before people's health.

Rancid fish oil is common because of the long supply chain. A typical fish oil supplement will be made from fish caught off the coast of South America before being processed, stored, and shipped globally. This process lowers the quality of the product and puts it at high risk of oxidization.

A 2021 review from Oxford Academic found that around 20% of fish products have excess oxidization and that this may cause supplements to be ineffective and even harmful.

Environmental Concerns

The production of most omega-3 supplements, such as those derived from fish oil or krill oil, is incredibly damaging to the environment. Overfishing to meet these demands leads to the depletion of fish populations and disrupts the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. It also results in bycatch - which is where other marine life, such as whales, sharks, and dolphins, get caught and killed in nets made for fish.

Not only that, but it reduces fish populations in areas where local communities rely on fish for income and food. Industrialised fishing has made the lives of people living in these communities increasingly difficult.

While krill oil was initially praised for being more ethically sourced than omega-3 sourced from fish, the increased demand has led to an impact on Antarctic ecosystems. Krill are a foundational species in these environments, serving as a primary food source for larger marine animals. Research from 2020 showed how the demand for krill has directly contributed to declining penguin populations in the Arctic.

As if that wasn't bad enough, the ethical concerns don't stop there. The entire lifecycle of these products, from harvesting to processing, contributes to carbon emissions and ecological strain.

Harmful Chemicals in Fish-Based Supplements

When omega-3 supplements are derived from fish, there is a high risk that they are contaminated with heavy metals like mercury and industrial chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These harmful chemicals are present in our oceans, and the bodies and organs of fish absorb them, especially fatty fish.

The presence of these contaminants in fish oil supplements varies based on the source of the fish and the purification processes employed. This is concerning as even small amounts of mercury can negatively impact brain function and heart health, which not only negates the benefits of omega-3s but may do you harm.

The story isn't much better with PCBs. Despite being banned in many countries, they persist in our oceans and, therefore, the fish we consume. These chemicals are linked to various health issues, including cancer, immune system suppression, and reproductive disorders.

The Misconception about Dosage and Purity

Navigating the world of omega-3 supplements can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to understanding dosage and purity.

One common misunderstanding is that more is always better. While omega-3s are essential, the appropriate dosage varies based on individual health needs, age, and lifestyle. Too much can cause stomach upset, low blood pressure, and even insomnia.

While there's some variation in the guidelines, most health authorities agree on a minimum recommended intake of 250–500 milligrams of combined EPA and DHA. While up to 5,000 mg per day is considered safe.

There is also confusion about the specific amounts of EPA and DHA needed, as their ratio in supplements can significantly impact their effectiveness. You should look for a supplement with a 2:1 ratio of DHA to EPA for the greatest health benefits.

The Problem With Most Plant-Based Alternatives

If you are concerned about contamination and environmental impact, then you may be looking to plant-based alternatives. Unfortunately, most plant-based alternatives, such as flaxseed and soybean oils, do not provide the same benefits. This is because they do not contain DHA and EPA, which are the key fatty acids responsible for the associated benefits.

Common plant-based alternatives contain high amounts of ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), which needs to be converted into EPA and DHA, a process that is inefficient in humans. Only a very small percentage of ALA is converted into EPA and even less into DHA.

Taking The Right Omega 3 Supplement - Algae Oil

Fortunately, there is one plant-based alternative, which, when extracted properly, contains the proper amounts of EPA and DHA. The answer? Algae oil.

Algae oil surpasses other omega-3 supplements in terms of purity, sustainability, dosages, and effectiveness.

• Sustainability: Algae oil is more sustainable than fish or krill oil. If you are looking to make an ethical choice, then microalgae stands as an environmental wonder, as it can double in size in less than 24 hours!

• Purity: Fish are not able to produce EPA and DHA, so they source it from seaweed and algae. However, unlike fatty fish, it is not susceptible to rancidity and has a significantly reduced risk of contamination with pollutants such as mercury and PCBs.

• Dosages: Algae oil contains high levels of EPA and DHA.

• Effectiveness: In one research study, it was discovered that algae oil supplements offer nutritional benefits equal to cooked salmon, functioning similarly to fish oil within the body.

• Less Side Effects: Algae oil even comes with fewer negative side effects that are associated with fish oil, such as digestive upset and unpleasant taste.

Performance Lab® Omega-3: A Cut Above the Rest

Now that we have narrowed our search to algae oil, the world of omega-3 supplements becomes much less overwhelming. We are left with just a few products to choose from and even fewer with proper levels of DHA and EPA.

For us, there is one clear winner - Performance Lab® Omega-3. Performance Lab® is a trusted supplement manufacturer who is always looking for innovative ways to improve its products. Their Omega-3 supplement derived from algae shines in terms of dosage accuracy, purity, and nutritional value.

With a meticulously crafted formula, Performance Lab® Omega-3 delivers precise amounts of EPA and DHA with the optimum 2:1 ratio. This precision ensures that users receive the optimal dosage necessary to reap the full benefits of Omega-3s without the risks associated with overconsumption. The ingredient list is fully transparent, with no harmful fillers hidden behind proprietary blends.

Purity is another cornerstone of Performance Lab® Omega-3's appeal. In an industry where concerns over contaminants are paramount, Performance Lab® Omega-3 offers a product virtually free from the pollutants often found in fish-based Omega-3 supplements.

Another standout feature of Performance Lab® Omega-3 is its unique encapsulation method. Algae oil comes encased in NutriGels® soft gels, which are made from tapioca. This prebiotic fibre is gentle on the gut and enhances absorption.

Improving Your Health With The Right Omega-3 Supplementation

Considering all the incredible benefits of omega-3, adding a supplement to your routine is a smart choice. However, with concerns over rancidity, potential contamination, and environmental concerns, traditional fish oil is not the best option. Most plant-based options also come up short; while flaxseed and soybean oil are rich in ALA, they do not provide the necessary levels of DHA and EPA.

Fortunately, there is an effective alternative - algae oil is high in DHA and EPA while being a sustainable choice. Algae oil also sidesteps the issues of contaminants and rancidity.