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Fish Oil vs. Flax Seed Oil ? The Search for the Best Source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids

By: V K Rajagopalan Click author's name for more of his/her articles

The fish oil vs. flax seed oil debate is something that has been going on for years now. Proponents of fish based oil say that it is the best health supplement and proponents of flax seed oil say that it is the best health supplement. To be fair to both these groups, I have read some very convincing articles written by people from both sides. Now, the question is ? which one is better and why? Let us take a detailed look.

The whole debate of fish oil vs. flax seed oil started when health experts around the world acknowledged the numerous health benefits of n-3 fatty acids, which are more commonly called omega 3 fatty acids. The most important omega 3 fatty acids include docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and alpha linolenic acid (ALA). What is so special about these omega 3 fatty acids? Let me tell you.

Various studies have confirmed that a regular consumption of omega 3 fatty acids can significantly reduce the risks of various health problems like coronary artery disease, cancer, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, varicose veins, depression, anxiety, varicose veins, Alzheimer?s disease, Parkinson?s disease, and more. A regular dose of these health supplements is known to improve brain health in the long term. Also, omega 3 fatty acids can boost the immune system and improve the disease resistance capacity of a person significantly.

Now let us come back to the fish oil vs. flax seed oil debate.

Fish oil ? It is rich in both DHA and EPA ? the two most important omega 3 fatty acids. So, without a doubt, it is very good for your health. To get the best results, go for fish based oil made from clean water fish like hoki which is rich in DHA. Since these types of fish are found only in very few areas in the world where there are no threats of mercury contamination and other types of sea pollution, they are clean and good for your health.

Flaxseed oil ? It is rich in ALA. When you consume flaxseed oil, the ALA present in it is converted into DHA and EPA. So, proponents of this oil, who are mostly vegetarians who do not eat fish based products for obvious reasons, claim that it is just as good as fish oil. However, there is a small problem with this theory when it comes to the fish oil vs. flax seed oil debate. Let me tell you what it is.

Like I already said, the ALA present in flax oil gets converted into DHA and EPA by the body. However, this conversion process is not very effective as the DHA molecule is a lot more complex than the ALA molecule. So, only a fraction of the ALA present in flax oil is converted into DHA. As a result, your body does not get the amount of DHA and EPA it wants. So, fish oil, which is a direct source of DHA and EPA, is a better alternative than flaxseed oil. In my opinion, that seals the fish oil vs. flax seed oil debate.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Rajagopalan has learned early in life the critical importance of omega 3 supplements to minimize health risks and maximize healthy living. There are too many fish oil supplements in the market that he has found to be very expensive, they do not deliver on results and are pure hype. To learn about the product that he has finally found to be most effective but at the same time least expensive, head over to ==> www.omega3fishoilsguide.com