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Information on the Flax Seed Oil Vs Fish Oil Debate
Much has been written about the health advantages of flax seed oil vs fish oil. I would like to delve into the nutritional aspects of both, and also explain how the body breaks down certain foods it uses to help us understand if we are getting the complete benefit of what we consume.
First of all, both of these types of oils contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are so important to maintaining good health. Omega-3s are crucial for the membranes of all our body cells and is very important in proper brain function. Our body does not produce omega-3 fatty acids on its own, so depends on getting it from the foods and supplements that we consume.
Cold-water fatty fish such as tuna, wild salmon, and herring are high in the omega-3 fatty acids DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), which the body can readily use to the fullest extent. Fortunately, there still are some areas that are not contaminated and polluted where this type of fish can be harvested and used for fish oil supplements providing us with an excellent source of DHA and EPA. One of these regions in the Southern Ocean near New Zealand that produces a deep-sea fish known as the hoki that is high in DHA and provides an extremely nutrient-rich fish oil.
Flax seed oil vs fish oil debates are important to understand when you realize the difference in flax seed oil is that it contains a-linolenic acid (ALA), which is more difficult for the body to immediately absorb. Other plant sources of ALA consist of walnuts, spinach, olive oil, and soybean oil.
In order to reap the beneficial effects of these plants, the body converts some of the ALA into EPA, which then needs to be converted into DHA. This is not always an efficient process especially if one is in poor health already or elderly. Toby Smithson, the national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association states that whole flax seeds can actually go through your entire body undigested. Since these components of omega-3 are still good for you, he recommends grinding up the whole flax seeds so the body can absorb more of the omega-3 nutritional benefits. This is one situation when health advantages of flax seed oil vs fish oil debate are more inline with each other.
To conclude this flax seed oil vs fish oil matter, I would suggest omega-3 dietary supplements to be assured we take in an adequate amount of these essential fatty acids that our bodies so desperately need to function properly. If you want to take flax seed oil, that is fine, but please take fish oil along with it to get the DHA and EPA that you need as well. Some studies have shown that it takes about 11 grams of ALA to equal 1 gram of DHA and EPA.
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First of all, both of these types of oils contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are so important to maintaining good health. Omega-3s are crucial for the membranes of all our body cells and is very important in proper brain function. Our body does not produce omega-3 fatty acids on its own, so depends on getting it from the foods and supplements that we consume.
Cold-water fatty fish such as tuna, wild salmon, and herring are high in the omega-3 fatty acids DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), which the body can readily use to the fullest extent. Fortunately, there still are some areas that are not contaminated and polluted where this type of fish can be harvested and used for fish oil supplements providing us with an excellent source of DHA and EPA. One of these regions in the Southern Ocean near New Zealand that produces a deep-sea fish known as the hoki that is high in DHA and provides an extremely nutrient-rich fish oil.
Flax seed oil vs fish oil debates are important to understand when you realize the difference in flax seed oil is that it contains a-linolenic acid (ALA), which is more difficult for the body to immediately absorb. Other plant sources of ALA consist of walnuts, spinach, olive oil, and soybean oil.
In order to reap the beneficial effects of these plants, the body converts some of the ALA into EPA, which then needs to be converted into DHA. This is not always an efficient process especially if one is in poor health already or elderly. Toby Smithson, the national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association states that whole flax seeds can actually go through your entire body undigested. Since these components of omega-3 are still good for you, he recommends grinding up the whole flax seeds so the body can absorb more of the omega-3 nutritional benefits. This is one situation when health advantages of flax seed oil vs fish oil debate are more inline with each other.
To conclude this flax seed oil vs fish oil matter, I would suggest omega-3 dietary supplements to be assured we take in an adequate amount of these essential fatty acids that our bodies so desperately need to function properly. If you want to take flax seed oil, that is fine, but please take fish oil along with it to get the DHA and EPA that you need as well. Some studies have shown that it takes about 11 grams of ALA to equal 1 gram of DHA and EPA.
