Getting The Most Out Of Your Omega 3
Virtually every healthcare professional including nutritionists and dietician will tell you this. The best way to get omega-3 fatty acids is by including fish regularly in your diet. Sounds simple enough, but it's not easy. Most people opt for the easier, quicker route; taking omega-3 supplements. But it can be tricky here too.
You see, there are different forms of omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs). Also, there are animal sources and plant sources of these fats. While vegans and vegetarians typically opt for plant sources, they can lose out on one or two very important forms of EFAs. Back to this in a moment.
It's no secret that dietary supplements are popular today than ever. The trend is expected to continue to grow and even big pharmaceutical companies are beginning to cash in on it. One of the most common questions people ask is, what supplements should I take? Another question is, how much?
As with almost anything else, there is no one answer fits all when it comes to dietary needs. Lifestyles differ, and so do body types. Ironically, communities in some so-called poor countries tend to need supplements less those in the first world, especially The West. Why?
Read more on What Supplements Should I Take, And How Much?...
Dietary supplements are natural and therefore safe, right? Some guys and gals from the University of Oregon Pharmacy Department (faculty?) posted a video on this very subject. They offer some brief but useful tips about what to look for when deciding what to buy.
The one thing I don't quite agree on is the part about asking your pharmacist about supplements. Why?
Well, many brand-name pharmacies today have today carry their own brand of dietary supplements, especially things like vitamins and minerals, nutrition bars, and fish oil. While some are good quality, not all are. The pharmacist, being an employee of the company could push the store brand which may be inferior in quality. Also, some high quality supplements are not even sold in stores.
The decision as to what supplements to buy can be a tough one, even for the experienced. There are multitudes of them and different brands, all promising to do all sorts of good things for you. So, how do you go about finding the best supplements?
Herbal health supplements: Safe?
Since perhaps the beginning of modern medicine, doctors have had a love-hate relationship with herbal health supplements. Part of it may just be plain bias, but it may also have to do with unproven, sometimes outlandish claims some herbal marketers make about their products. Another reason is safety.
You see, there is always the risk of some people by-passing their doctor and taking things that will do nothing for them at best, or do harm to them at worse. The presumption that herbal supplements are safe simply because they are natural is just that; a presumption not based on facts.
Read more on Are Herbal Health Supplements Safe? Some Products Your Doctor Hates...