{"id":371,"date":"2019-12-01T20:03:25","date_gmt":"2019-12-01T20:03:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mrplantbased.com\/?p=371"},"modified":"2020-01-15T12:23:49","modified_gmt":"2020-01-15T12:23:49","slug":"is-algae-a-good-source-of-omega-3s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mrplantbased.com\/is-algae-a-good-source-of-omega-3s\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Algae a Good Source of Omega-3\u2019s?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Planning a balanced diet to maintain optimal nutrition<\/strong><\/span><\/em> while eating a primarily plant-based diet<\/span> has its challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n

This includes consuming enough Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.<\/span><\/p>\n

These special kinds of fats work in our bodies to support different organ functions. They are also credited with limiting inflammation in the body<\/em> and reducing the risk of different cardiovascular diseases.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fatty acids are also believed to have a role in improving mood and supporting mental health.<\/span><\/p>\n

It goes without saying, omega fatty acids<\/a> are important for our health.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We have to consume these fatty acids in our diet because our body does not create them spontaneously. Nor do we process them from other foods.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been researching this topic you\u2019ve probably heard about algae oil.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Have you wondered if algae is a good source of Omega-3s? It seems improbable, but yes. They actually are.<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to explain why, first let us dive in a bit deeper as to what exactly Omega fatty acids are, why we need them, and how to incorporate them into our diet.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The Deal on Essential Fatty Acids<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

We need Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is why you will hear them referred to as \u2018essential fatty acids\u2019 more often than not. They are essential for our overall health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Omega-6 fatty acids are actually really abundant<\/span>, even for people who eat a plant-based diet.<\/span><\/p>\n

They are common in commercial oils that we use for sauteing, frying and baking.<\/span><\/p>\n

For plant-based eaters, they are abundant in processed vegan or vegetarian foods<\/strong> like veggie burgers and non-dairy butter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Honestly, you are most likely getting more than enough Omega-6.<\/span><\/p>\n

You should be aware of how much Omega-6 you are consuming because too much can be unhealthy.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Quality Omega-3 fatty acids, however, are much harder to find. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

And the thing is, your body needs a combination of both to function.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nutritionists recommend a healthy ratio of 1:2 Omega-3 to Omega-6 fatty acids.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Omega-3 is widely available in the plant kingdom with the highest concentrations found in flax seeds and flaxseed oil.<\/span><\/p>\n

Did you know that there are different types of Omega-3 fatty acids you need to consume?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll keep things brief for this explanation.<\/span><\/p>\n

First off, there are actually a few types of Omega-3s<\/strong>. The most understood and commonly studied are referred to by their acronyms ALA, DHA, and EPA.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most abundant plant-based Omega-3s are ALAs<\/a><\/span>.<\/em> These are easy to consume in sufficient quantities by carefully planning your snacks and meals.<\/span><\/p>\n

DHA and EPA, however, are two Omega-3s that are just as essential for your body function as ALAs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, they are not quite so easy to come by in a plant-based diet. In fact, it can be a real challenge to get enough of them.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Our bodies are amazing creatures though.<\/span><\/p>\n

Through different biological processes, we can convert ALAs into DHA and EPA.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

For a long time, nutritionists recommended that vegans and vegetarians simply consume higher amounts of ALA omega-3 containing foods to boost DHA and EPA production in the body.<\/span><\/p>\n

The sad reality is that we would have to consume a lot of ALA to process as much DHA and EPA that our bodies need. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

This can lead to consuming too many calories, which has its own health risks.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is a lot easier to take a supplement. In fact, it is the one supplement that we should be taking.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But wait a minute\u2026 If DHA and EPA Omega-3s can\u2019t be easily found in a plant-based diet, where are they found?<\/span><\/p>\n

Most commonly, in fish. More specifically, in fish oils.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Now, this creates a dilemma. How can we maintain a plant-based diet, if an essential supplement that we need is mainly produced from fish?<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s think about it for a minute. <\/span><\/p>\n

Fish have such high DHA and EPA concentrations because they consume it in their diet.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

So what are fish eating?<\/span><\/p>\n

Fish eat algae. Then those fish that eat algae get eaten by other fish.<\/span><\/p>\n

DHA and EPA Omega-3s enter into the food chain at the very beginning, starting with algae – a plant-based source.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Algae Derived Omega-3s are a Real Thing<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

It turns out that algae are an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids<\/a><\/span>, especially DHA and EPA.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is great news for those of us who want to stick to a plant-based lifestyle.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Surprisingly, industry has known about algae as a source for DHA for a long time. <\/span><\/p>\n

Baby formulas, different kinds of cooking oils, and even soy milk that are labeled as \u2018DHA fortified\u2019 are fortified with Omega-3s derived from algae.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you read deep enough into the research, you come to realize that algae are not just a good source of Omega-3\u2019s. They<\/em><\/span>\u00a0are, in fact, the original source of DHA and EPA in the oceanic food chain.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Can it really get any better than that for those of us that want to stick to a plant-based diet?<\/span><\/p>\n

Are There Any Downsides to Algae Oil for Omega-3\u2019s?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"algae<\/p>\n

One thing that you may have read when researching algae oil and Omega-3\u2019s is that some algae oils do not actually contain any EPA fatty acids.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

While it is true that some varieties of algae do not contain EPA, producers of Omega-3 algae oil<\/a> normally use species of algae that contain significant quantities of both DHA and EPA.<\/span><\/p>\n

One particular type of algae, known as Schizochytrium<\/a><\/span>, contains plenty of EPA and has a DHA to EPA ratio of 2:1.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Many high-quality supplements, such as Vivo Life\u2019s Omega-3<\/a><\/span>, use this easy to cultivate and highly nutritional algae as the source of Omega-3s in its production – eliminating the concern over missing EPAs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong> If you want to get a discount on Vivo Life products then check out my other article where you can get a discount code.<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The other disadvantage to Omega-3 supplements derived from algae<\/a> is its cost.<\/span><\/p>\n

As of right now, algae production and processing tend to be more expensive than the production of fish oil. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This means a more expensive Omega-3 supplement for those who choose the plant-based option.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cost efficiency is relative though<\/strong> when one takes a good hard look at the environmental costs that overfishing has on our oceans.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sure, omega-3 supplements from fish oil are much less expensive. They are certainly comparable when it comes to the quality of DHA and EPA that one can consume.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, their cheap price does not include the hidden cost of the widespread food chain collapse<\/em> that is currently happening at an alarming rate in our oceans around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, is algae a good source of Omega-3s?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Absolutely.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are dedicated to a healthy plant-based diet, algae are the best source for Omega-3s.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if you occasionally eat fish or dairy products, the scientific data doesn\u2019t lie.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Algae offer an environmentally friendly, contaminant-free, complete source of high-quality omega-3s that are otherwise impossible to find in plant-based sources.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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