Omega-confusion: Dha, Epa, And Why Fish Oils Aren't Enough

Take every claim with a grain of salt when it comes to health supplements, even if you're on a low-sodium diet. There are only so many things a little capsule can do, but more often than not, it would be absolutely ineffective unless you pay attention to the finer details. In this article, we'll see why.

There's every reason to trust the standard, "scientific"/"Western" medicine, especially in cases of severe trauma or fatal diseases, if only because it really works. The problem lies in its time-scale: the discipline cannot afford to look too far into the future because there isn't any time to lose. Besides, specialized medicine is a very lucrative business, whereas primary care has neither glamour nor money in it.

But it is really in the long run where healthcare happens: diet, exercise, and the impossibly boring topics that nevertheless dictates the remainder of your natural existence. It is also, by design or by chance, the one field where standard medicine fails miserably. The effectiveness of drugs are measured in hours; long-term treatment regimes only show up when a chronic illness has exerted itself.

Nowadays, we have very clear expectations of "value-for-money". Over-the-counter analgesics are supposed to hit you within the hour, even though it doesn't do anything about the underlying causes. But what about long-term preventative regimes that doesn't make you feel anything for the first few weeks, months, or years? Those we take reluctantly, almost ritualistically, only because we're responsible adults who take care of ourselves.

The majority of vendors are in the health supplement market precisely because we feel that way. They don't have to sell anything that proves its mettle right away, but from this legitimate statement, they conclude that they don't have to prove anything at all. As long as they don't get sued, banned, or eviscerated by the press, they get by fine.

Fish oils are a scintillating example. Scientists (the same people who brought us modern medicine) have conclusively demonstrated the role of DHA and EPA, two fatty acids generally known as Omega-3, in the prevention of both cardiovascular and degenerative disorders. In general, they do this by acting as a natural anti-inflammatory drug.

And what do vendors do? They go on selling fish oils, which might or might not have anything to do with the active, proven components as pinpointed by researchers. The benefits of DHA are shown to be most pronounced when it is directly consumed, as opposed to being supplied by an inefficient conversion from ALA through our cellular mechanisms. ALA is the principal component in unrefined fish oils, which are simply an unholy mix of polyunsaturated fatty acids mingling with some heavy metal toxins.

So the next time you go through the motions, take a look at the bottle of whatever they're calling fish oils these days. Aim for 260mg of DHA in your daily diet, and start really take charge of your long-term health.

By: Glenn Thompson

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