It’s a New Year and we all want to be healthy. This desire often leads to new diet and exercise resolutions, and though both of those disciplines are fantastic, there is a third major category that many tend to overlook: supplements.
The world of supplements can be rather confusing and intimidating to delve into, for sure. There are big price and quality variances, natural and synthetic versions, and so many different products and combinations all promising great benefit to our health.
Well, today I want to talk about Fish Oils and the need for Omega-3’s and Essential Fatty Acids. Even if you have never taken them before, you likely have heard these labels tossed around quite a bit in health communities.
Let me simplify it for you and explain why resolving to take fish oil this year might be a very worthwhile choice. (And be sure to check out all 15 of my Healthy Resolutions you can actually keep HERE.)
WHY OMEGA-3’s?
Essential Fatty Acids are “essential” because they are needed for proper health, but our bodies cannot produce them outside of diet and supplementation. Essential Fatty Acids can be broken down into two major groups: Omega-3’s & Omega-6’s.
Omega-3’s (DHA & EPA) are known to produce amazing health benefits toward a healthy immune response, cardiovascular health, brain power, joints/mobility, eye health, and pregnancy/lactation.
THE PROBLEM: Americans are highly deficient in Omega-3’s. In fact, this deficiency is the 8th leading cause of preventable death in the US due to diet/lifestyle factors. The American diet is reported to contain 14-25 times more Omega-6’s than 3’s. Time for some serious intervention!
WHY FISH OIL?
Ok, so now we know we need Omega-3’s. But why fish oil?
Can’t we just put flaxseeds in our muffins and smoothies and call it good?
Flaxseeds contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which does break down partially into DHA & EPA, however research shows the conversion percentages to be much lower than marine sources. Just 1% of ALA converts to DHA, and approximately 5% converts to EPA, under optimal conditions. Fish oil has a much higher conversion rate of 12% to DHA & 18% to EPA. Cod liver oil also converts at higher rates, 14% to DHA and 9% EPA.
Can’t we just eat fish instead of taking a supplement?
Omega-3’s can certainly be taken in by eating fish, but there is some concern over mercury levels and toxins in some species. The pro of taking a responsibly sourced and produced fish oil supplement (like Nordic Naturals) is complete benefit of DHA & EPA without the risk of toxicity.
Why I trust Nordic Naturals
I am thankful to have been introduced to Nordic Naturals from the beginning of my Fish Oil & supplement journey. When I first began taking them, I was ignorant to how important their values & measures taken to produce a pure & sustainable product were.
Fish Oil was fish oil, as far as I was concerned, whether it came from Costco, Whole Foods, or someplace online. That is… until I encountered a cheaper, synthetic version. I was pre-heating the oven at my friend’s house, unaware that she had dropped one of her fish oil capsules into a stove burner. As the oven heated a horrible fishy smell overtook the kitchen. Ugh! This got me wondering why my Nordic Naturals fish oil didn’t smell or taste fishy at all.
Enter: research. I learned and concluded that fish oils are NOT all created equally, and that my family had found a premium product.
Here are a few reasons why I trust Nordic Naturals:
- They meet every purity standard and no detectable heavy metals, dioxins, or PCBS can be found in Nordic Naturals when tested by third parties at very strict standards
- They use an oxygen-free processing method to ensure there will be no fishy smell, taste, or aftertaste
- Their products are processed without chemicals or excessive heat
- Nordic Naturals practice sustainable & responsible sourcing which includes:
- exclusively using four low-toxin, high omega-3 fish, wild caught from clean seas
- they use appropriate fishing equipment to avoid accidental bycatch, damage to the sea floor or eco system, and minimize pollution.
- Consumers get optimal absorption (70% more!) due to Nordic Naturals’ triglyceride form, as opposed to most concentrated fish oils that are in ethyl ester molecular form
- Freshness is maintained with added Vitamin E and Rosemary, so that other preservatives can be avoided
- When it comes to Cod Liver, they offer the only 100% Arctic Cod Liver Oil on the market, with no fish body oils or synthetic vitamins added
Learn More:
There are pages of amazing information and resources on the Nordic Naturals website that I encourage you to check out. My basic overview only scratches the surface of the incredible benefits of pure fish oils!
You can also shop on their website (which offers killer discounts on shipping and buying multiple bottles) or pick up a few things on Amazon Prime, though it generally is a little more expensive there.
Be sure to also check Nordic Naturals out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!
CLICK HERE to pin the image!
Enter to Win a Nordic Naturals Family Pack
I love Nordic Naturals enough that I wanted to share them with you! I contacted their company asking them to sponsor this giveaway nd they have been AMAZING to offer an incredible family pack! This giveaway includes: Omega Boost Junior, Ultimate Omega-D3, Vitamin D3 Gummies, Children’s DHA, a Nordic Naturals frisbee, t-shirt and swag bag.
No purchase necessary. Participants of sweepstakes must be US residents and 18+ years of age. Entries will be accepted until 11:59pm PST on Thurs, Jan 21. Winner will be contacted the following day by email. Nordic Naturals is responsible for fulfilling prizes directly to winner. Information in this post has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to prevent, treat, or cure disease.
Leave a Reply