VEGAN OMEGA

Because you want all the benefits the Omega’s have to offer without any of the fish! Omega 3 isn’t synthesized by the body and must be obtained from dietary sources, but many vegetarians and vegans are lacking in these Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) because the primary useable source of these good fats is fish.  

Omegas are essential nutrients required for the proper structure and functioning of every cell in the body. In fact, there are over 60 conditions that have been shown to benefit from their use. Furthermore, due to their extensive role, they are critical for optimal health and nearly everyone can benefit from improving their Omega 3 intake. These good fats do it all from helping with the absorption of vitamins and minerals, improving heart and brain health, promoting proper nerve function, helping with hormone production, nourishing the hair, skin and nails, as well as treating and preventing a number of diseases. Your brain is about 60% fat, so it’s no wonder that supplementing with lots of good, healthy fats is a no-brainer for most people! Not only have researchers seen benefits for memory but they’ve also seen improvements in mood and emotional balance. 

When it comes to these essential fatty acids (EFAs) things can get a little confusing, so let’s break it down. There are two main classes of unsaturated EFA’s: Omega 6’s and Omega 3’s (there are also Omega 9’s, but these are not considered essential). Each EFA starts with a parent compound and converts into longer chain derivatives in the body. For Omega 3’s, we see Alpha Linoleic Acid (ALA) being converted into Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and then later Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). For Omega 6’s, Linoleic Acid (LA) gets converted to Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA) then later to Arachidonic Acid (AA). And while we agree that all these big words are confusing, the important take home message is that Omega 3’s and Omega 6’s follow two different metabolic pathways with end products that have quite different biological actions. 

Seeds, nuts and leafy greens are all good plant-based sources of Alpha Linoleic Acid (ALA), but, because the body isn’t great at converting the plant-based omegas into usable Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (only 5-10% gets converted), those following a plant-based diet, or those who prefer not to consume fish, can become deficient in this essential nutrient.