Did You Know?: Omega-3's

Did you know that there are three main types of Omega-3 fatty acids? ALA, DHA, and EPA.

Guess which kind is least useful in our bodies? ALA

Guess which kind is overwhelmingly present in most supplements? Yep, ALA.

Our bodies can convert ALA to DHA and EPA, but very inefficiently (at about a rate of 5-10%).

The only source of DHA and EPA is algae. Fish is rich in these fatty acids because they eat algae and it builds up in their system. This is why fish oil is the best omega-3 supplement you can find.

I've heard of (but not seen) vegan DHA/EPA supplements that are made from algae colonies. If you can find these, great, but don't think just because your food or supplement says "omega 3" that you're getting full benefits. It probably just has flaxseed in it (which is all ALA).