Simon Bandy, General Manager of vegan-friendly nutritional supplements company, Veganicity, talks about the importance of Omega-3 in our diets:
Vegan on Female First
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. They are necessary for human health and must be consumed as we are unable to produce them in the body. They play a crucial role towards good brain function, blood pressure and vision, as well as normal growth and development and cardiovascular heart health.
Research has shown that omega-3, especially DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid), can help to reduce inflammation and therefore may lower the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, arthritis and may also even help maintain a healthy blood sugar level in diabetics. This anti-inflammatory action has also been shown to maintain intestinal health in cases of IBS and even Crohn's disease.
Omega-3 fatty acids, predominately DHA, are found in high concentration in the brain and seem to be important for cognitive and behavioural functions such as ADHD, including fatigue, poor memory, mood swings and depression.
Omega-3, in reasonable daily quantities, can be quite difficult for someone on a vegan diet to obtain. Although it is found in some nuts and seeds including flaxseed, these also contain high levels of omega-6 which can inhibit the conversion of omega 3 into vital DHA and EPA. The modern Western diet has become very focused on fatty acids for their health giving properties, but seem to favour the use of Omega-6 from sources such as olive oil or sunflower oil, which can lead to a fatty acid imbalance.
It is important to have the proper ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 in the diet. Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation, and most omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation. Humans evolved with a rough omega-6 to omega-3 ration of 2:1, but the western diet now seems to be more along the lines of 15:1, leaving us deficient in omega-3, so it is important for our health that we try to readdress this balance.
Veganicity's new Omega-3 DHA:EPA supplements are made from a special type of algae called schizochytrium sp - offering vegans an easy way to obtain Omega 3 in their diets, specifically concentrating on both DHA and EPA for maximum effectiveness. Containing 125mg of DHA and 75mg per 500mg vegan capsule, with a total omega-3 content of 275mg per capsule, being made up of other fatty acid such as ALA (alpha-linolenic acid).
Veganicity Omega-3 DHA:EPA 500mg capsules are available from www.veganicity.com priced at £14.45 for 60 tablets.
