Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for our health, and a vegan diet can be low in these vital nutrients. Fortunately, there are many vegan omega 3 supplement on the market that can help vegans meet their daily needs. In this article, we’ll look at the best vegan omega 3 supplements available and explain how they can benefit your health.
Why Omega 3s Are Important
There are two main types of omega 3 fats, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These fats are found in fish, but also in some plant foods such as walnuts, chia seeds and flaxseeds. As humans cannot make EPA and DHA from scratch, we must get them from our diet or supplements.
Omega 3s are important because they keep our cells healthy and play an essential role in heart health, brain function and development. They also have anti-inflammatory properties which help to reduce inflammation throughout the body. Vegans may be at risk of not getting enough omega 3s as fish is a major source of these essential fats. Therefore it’s important to supplement with a vegan omega 3 supplement if you’re following a plant-based diet.
The Best Vegan Omega 3 Supplements
Fortunately there are several great vegan omega 3 supplements on the market that can help vegans meet their daily needs for EPA and DHA without consuming animal products. Here are some of the best options:
• Algae Oil – Algae is a rich source of DHA which is why many vegan omega 3 supplements use algae oil as their primary source of this essential fat. Algae oil is made by extracting oil from microalgae species such as Schizochytrium sp., Crypthecodinium cohnii or Thraustochytrium sp.. It’s an excellent choice for vegans who want to get their omegas without consuming animal products.
• Flaxseed Oil -Flaxseed oil is another popular plant-based source of omega-3s that is often used in vegan supplements. It contains alpha linolenic acid (ALA), which must be converted by the body into EPA or DHA before it can be used by cells. Unfortunately this conversion process isn’t very efficient so vegans may need to consume more ALA than non-vegans to get adequate amounts of EPA and DHA from flaxseed oil alone.
• Hemp Seed Oil – Hemp seed oil is high in both ALA and gamma linolenic acid (GLA). GLA has been shown to reduce inflammation throughout the body although research on its effects on heart health has been inconclusive so far .Hemp seed oil can also provide other benefits such as improved skin health due to its high concentration of vitamins A, E, B1, B2 & B6 as well as minerals like potassium, calcium magnesium & zinc .
Conclusion: All three sources of vegan omegas offer good sources of essential fatty acids that can improve your overall health while still adhering to a plant-based lifestyle! Be sure to read food labels carefully when selecting any type of supplement so you know what you’re getting—and always check with your healthcare provider before taking any new supplement! That being said, adding any one of these sources into your daily routine will ensure you’re getting all the essential fatty acids your body needs while following a plant-based lifestyle!
