Omega 3 Greens for Vegans

Here is a look at the omega 3 greens for those that are vegans. For the rest of us, fish oil has always been and continues to be the best source. If you are concerned about mercury contamination, research indicates that you needn't be.

The best manufacturers have each batch of oils tested for contaminants, anyway. You might want to avoid cheap supplements that come from China and a few other parts of Asia, because the mercury content in their water and fish is particularly high. The presence of other kinds of contaminants has been found in Chinese supplements, too.

But, as long as you choose a good brand, fish oil is a safe choice. It is also the only significant source of both Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and, more importantly, Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA.

For the most part, vegetarian diets are healthy, but research indicates that vegans should take certain dietary supplements. If no fish oil, then the next best choice is a certain kind of marine algae.

Brown algae and certain kinds of kelp are sources of EPA or Eicosapentaenoic acid. Most omega 3 greens and vegetable oils contain only ALA or alpha-linolenic acid.

The conversion of ALA to EPA and then to DHA is something that occurs within the body, when a person exists on a strict vegetarian diet. But, it is not an efficient process. Only a very small amount will end up as DHA.

DHA is essential for building new brain cells and for normal brain development in the fetus. It is needed to replenish the lining inside of the eyes, as well and for the eyes to develop normally. Our bodies don't just stop creating new cells once we stop growing. Some cells are continuously replaced throughout our lives. That's how the body repairs damage and heals injuries.

If you are looking for omega 3 greens to eat, you would not be able to eat enough brown algae to get a significant amount of EPA. That's why there are concentrated supplements.

DHA is found on in fish, seafood and certain kinds of microalgae. Some supplement manufacturers grow the microalgae in bioreactors. This is the only vegan source of DHA.

It is not necessary for vegans to take an ALA supplement. It is present in vegetable oils. The vegetable oils with good omega-6 to 3 ratios include canola and olive. Grape seed and peanut oils contain little or no ALA. Corn oil contains far too many omega-6s to be considered a healthy source of dietary fat.

Too many omega-6s in the diet is one of the causes of chronic inflammation, a major health problem. That's one of the reasons that you might be looking for omega 3 greens.

Researchers first began studying the health benefits of fish oil when they found that native Eskimos had a very low incidence of heart disease, even though their diets were very high in fat. They believe that it was the type of fat that they ate, which made the difference. Seal, whale and fish were big parts of their diets. All contain high quantities of omega-3s.

Now, you have a little more information about omega 3 greens. Hope it helps.

Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily.

Visit her site http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.