Our bodies are amazing at breaking down the food and drink we consume. In fact all beings, including human, are built for it. We take stuff in, our body breaks it apart, absorbs some, discards some, and uses all the many molecules, properties etc. to create all that we need. This is why “You are what you eat” means ” You really are exactly all the things you eat” including great nutrition, antioxidants, pesticides, food dyes, chemicals commonly found in human and pet foods (like propylene glycol, a key ingredient in antifreeze…. don’t get us started).
To the point…. One of the major ways that Omega 3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil have been marketed is that it is easiest to assimilate. Here’s the equation *** Fish and seafood are not the source of Omega 3s, the algae they eat is + Our bodies are masters at disassembling all that we consume to build what it needs in the best forms, as needed + Many other reasons = Go to the source and eat whole food that contain Omega 3s and/or take a plant based supplement made from sea vegetables.
The Many Other Reasons:
Due the profoundly negative impact of the current fish and seafood industry, experts point to a trajectory of fishless oceans by the year 2048 (not just affecting our viewing and culinary pleasure, but having dire consequences for humans, a massive impact on global oxygen levels, biodiversity, declining water quality, harmful algal blooms (not the good kind of algae), coastal flooding etc.
A large percentage of the fish we eat, those caught to feed other beings that omnivores eat, and fish used in producing Omega supplements are farmed. They are subjected to similar crammed quarters, antibiotics, pesticides, antiparasitics, antifungals and other medications as their animal agriculture counterparts. Other things found in fish, wild or farmed: Salmonella, Microbes, and Feces, saturated fat and cholesterol
If you take Omega 3s to reduce inflammation, joint pain, improve cardiovascular and cognitive health etc, here are some great ways:
- See you chiropractor regularly. Studies show that when our nervous systems are working well, our bodies heal better and feel better.
- Foods (ground flax seed, chia, walnuts, hemp seed, brussels sprouts, dark leafy veggies etc.) that contain higher amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, have been shown to be effective in reducing neck and low back pain. If you prefer to supplements, we recommend plant based Omega 3s from sea vegetables and algae for many reasons (fish/seafood toxicity, global environmental health etc).
- Reducing sugar and grains from your diet helps lessen arthritis pain. P.S. Sugar is sugar. Less processed may be slightly better, but maple syrup, coconut sugar, organic sucanat…. all sugar. Naturally occurring sugars in whole foods are…..well….. they’re whole foods.
- Optimizing your vitamin D levels
- Certain herbs, such as ginger, willow bark, curcumin and boswellia are natural alternatives to reduce inflammation and pain. We have seen so many of our patients reduce pain adding ginger and turmeric with black pepper to their daily menus, and taking Adeeva Nature’s Relief, available in our clinic.
Dr. Michael Greger:
Increased risk of diabetes: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/fish-and-diabetes/
Plant based vs. Fish oil supplements: https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/omega-3-fatty-acids/
Cognitive dysfunction: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/fish-brain-food-older-adults/
Bite Size Vegan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juePhynXh6c
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35562253
https://news.stanford.edu/news/2006/november8/ocean-110806.html
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479717311052
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100618103558.htm