Nothing Fishy algae supplements!
We all hear how we need omega 3 for our skin, hair, eyes and brain health. But in fact, you don’t need fish to get these essential fatty acids, that’s just marketing from certain brands (not taking fish oil supplements also means you are helping to avoid over-fishing, by-catch that kills other creatures like whales and sea turtles – and you also are not getting mercury toxins in with the fish). For this reason, it’s best to get your polyunsaturated fats from plants. Omega 6 is found in oil and nuts, so it’s unlikely you’re deficient. Always ask your doctor before taking supplements if pregnant, nursing or on medication.
However as most people don’t eat fish in England (they don’t, meat is more popular) it’s likely many are deficient, unless they are eating walnuts, rapeseed oil (locally-grown but most people use sunflower or olive oil), chia seeds (not for children or swallowing difficulties) or seaweed (not for thyroid issues). Omega 3 is also found in (small) amounts in green leafy veggies (not for some medications due to vitamin K interaction) and beans.
A main reason for taking omega 3 is to ‘reduce bad cholesterol’ for your heart. But if you don’t eat animal foods, you don’t eat cholesterol anyway (broccoli has no liver!) Your body makes enough ‘good cholesterol’ of its own. NHS website says there is ‘evidence oily fish is better’ than veggie options, but lists no evidence to back it up. But the other side of the pond, PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine) says that there is evidence that vegans have more short-chain fatty acids than fish-eaters. And without saturated fat or cholesterol.
The government has issued warnings for pregnant/breastfeeding women (plus girls and those hoping to conceive at some point) to limit oily fish intake, due to concerns over mercury and dioxins. Then tells other people to eat it! As one young vegan man wrote ‘If it’s not good enough for pregnant women, then it’s not good enough for me’. The other issue is that once you cook omega 3 acids (like fish) they start to break down anyway. No wonder people are confused.
Nothing Fishy is a wonderful brand of omega 3 supplements, created by a sea-loving bunch of people, made with pure and sustainable coastal algae (from monitored pools of salt water away from the oceans). No aftertaste or fishy burps! Go straight to source and get your omega 3 from where the fish get it. Always ask your doctor before taking supplements if pregnant, nursing or on medication.
You order on subscription every month or two, the first order contains a glass jar then get cheaper refill packs after that, sent in sealed post-box-friendly eco packaging. Most users say the notice the benefits in mood and reduced inflammation in a month or two.
Short chain omega 3 fatty acids can be obtained from walnuts, chia seeds or flaxseeds, which our bodies convert into long-chain omega 3 acids. If you want to ensure you have ready-made long-chain omega 3 fatty acids on a plant-based diet, consider an algae oil supplements, these are the purest form on the planet. It means you can help heart health without having to eat fish (with the heavy metals, plastics and dioxins within them, difficult to avoid even when choosing wild-caught fish). Dr Gemma Newman (Irish vegan doctor)
omega-3 friendly vegan recipes!
Flax eggs (Crowded Kitchen) are made by mixing 1 tablespoon of freshly-ground flaxseeds (linseeds) with 3 tablespoons of water to use in baked goods. Keep the following recipes away from pets, due to toxic ingredients.
This banana chia pudding (Crowded Kitchen) is a great way to use up a ripening banana. All you need is plant milk and chia seeds and a few (optional) ingredients to make a super-simple dessert with omega 3 added in at the same time.
Try these coffee walnut cake (Domestic Gothess). Or to go without the caffeine, these carrot cupcakes (Rainbow Nourishments) only need a few ingredients, and contain chopped walnut pieces.
