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Fish oil is widely known as a product that is exceptionally beneficial for maintaining heart health, blood vessel elasticity, and cognitive function. It is often recommended to people who have blood pressure problems, experience weakness and fatigue, have difficulty concentrating, or suffer from absent-mindedness and forgetfulness.
However, recent scientific research has shown that fish oil is far from being a «superfood» and may not even be the best source of the omega-3 fatty acids the human body needs for proper and healthy functioning.
The secret behind fish oil’s popularity
The popularization of fish oil began in the 1970s, when scientists Jørn Dyerberg and Hans Olaf Bang studied the health of the indigenous people of Greenland. They noted that, unlike most residents of Denmark, Greenlanders rarely suffered from ischemic heart disease, tachycardia, bradycardia, and other similar cardiovascular conditions.
Research showed that Greenlanders had elevated levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in their blood. The scientists suggested that these substances might be responsible for protecting the cardiovascular system.
An experiment conducted by Hussein Yassine, a researcher at the Keck School of Medicine, showed that fish oil contained in dietary supplements is not necessarily an effective source of unsaturated fatty acids and therefore may not provide the expected protection against cardiovascular disease.
Research conducted by Professor Rajesh Subbiah also showed that regularly taking fish oil in capsule form does not necessarily increase omega-3 levels in the human body.
As a result, scientists have increasingly come to believe in recent years that the health benefits of dietary supplements — including fish oil — and their effectiveness in preventing many diseases may have been significantly overestimated.
In addition, inexpensive raw materials of questionable quality are sometimes used to produce encapsulated fish oil. Prolonged and/or improper storage of dietary supplements can cause omega-3 fatty acids to oxidize, potentially making the product not only ineffective but also harmful to the body.
What to consume to replenish fatty acid levels
Some of the best sources of EPA and DHA are marine algae, particularly kelp, as well as microalgae. Flax seeds and unrefined flaxseed oil are exceptionally rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is also known as an omega-3 fatty acid. One tablespoon of flaxseed oil contains approximately 7 grams of ALA.
In the human body, ALA can be converted into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are involved in numerous metabolic processes.
Flaxseed oil and flax seeds also contain lignans — plant compounds (polyphenols) with antioxidant properties that are important for various biological processes, including hormone metabolism.
Another food rich in omega-3 fatty acids is chia seeds. A 30-gram serving can contain up to 5 grams of omega-3 fatty acids.
For comparison, an adult generally requires approximately 1 to 1.5 grams of EPA and DHA per day, depending on individual factors such as body weight and metabolism.
CraftOil flaxseed oil, flax seeds and chia seeds — natural sources of valuable fatty acids
CraftOil offers a large and constantly expanding selection of natural products. Our catalog includes certified, environmentally friendly flax seeds (brown and golden varieties) and chia seeds, all stored under optimal conditions and available to order.
At CraftOil, you can also find unrefined flaxseed and chia seed oils produced using our own equipment — branded presses with ash or caprolon barrels. We produce the oils on the day your order is placed, bottle them in practical dark-glass containers, vacuum-seal them, and ship them throughout Ukraine and worldwide.
To explore our product range in greater detail or find the product that best suits your needs, simply submit a request through our website and wait for one of our managers to get back to you.
