Weekly Q&A - Vegan Omega-3 Sources

Question:

I have heard so much about the benefits of omega-3 fats but have been told that fish is the only source. Is there a way to consume enough omega-3 on a plant-based diet? Should everyone, regardless of diet, take an omega-3 supplement?


Answer:

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that most of us don't consume enough of. We have no problem getting enough omega-6 since it is so abundant in most vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and processed foods; we are actually getting too much omega-6 in our diets.

Consuming too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3 increases inflammation in the body. The ideal ratio of omega-6:omega-3 we should aim for is about 2:1, however most of us (omnivores and vegans) get a ratio of 20:1.

In addition to reducing our consumption of omega-6, it is really important to get enough omega-3. We can reduce our intake of omega-6 by limiting our intake of the low-quality vegetable oils (that are usually rancid/oxidized anyways) like canola oil, corn oil, soy oil, safflower oil, "vegetable" oil, cottonseed oil, and sunflower oil.

Omega-3 fatty acids include the shorter-chain ALA, and the longer-chain EPA/DHA. EPA/DHA are considered the active forms of omega-3 that are responsible for the many health benefits. Our body can convert the ALA form into the active forms of EPA/DHA, but the conversion rate is quite low, especially if there are any health issues present. 

Algae oil supplements, however, do contain the already converted forms EPA/DHA. Fish are also a source of EPA/DHA, which is why they are said to be better sources than flax and chia. 

If we eat a wide variety of plant-foods and make sure to include algae, seaweed, flax, chia, hemp, walnuts, camelina, sacha inchi, and purslane, we will be able to consume lots of ALA omega-3, and a small amount of  this will be converted into EPA/DHA. 

Whether or not these ALA-sources alone will provide enough EPA/DHA will depend on the individual (i.e. their level of inflammation, any health issues they have, how much omega-6 they consume, how well their body converts ALA to EPA/DHA). 

For these reasons I do recommend that a algae-based EPA/DHA supplement is taken in addition to consuming a variety of food sources of ALA. These supplements are available in liquid and capsule form.

If you are not sure if you would benefit from taking an EPA/DHA supplement please book a Complimentary 15 Min Discovery Call.

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