Flax is very high in the omega-3 fat ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). This is the "essential" omega-3 fat because our bodies need it to be healthy. However, because our bodies don't produce it, we must consume it from other sources, like flax. Other omega-3 fats, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), found in fatty fish, are vital for health, but not "essential," because our bodies can make them from ALA.

Omega-3 fatty acids are important components of cellular and membrane lipids (the chief structural constituents of living cells) that are essential for life and health. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are two groups of essential fatty acids (EFAs) that cannot be synthesized by the human body and therefore must be ingested in the foods we eat.

All fats, good and bad, are equally fattening and calorie-dense and should be limited in the diet. Fortunately, the essential fatty acids which include omega-3s and omega-6s are only needed in small amounts (2 to 3 percent of total calories per day) and can be naturally obtained from a varied plant-based diet. Fish and shellfish can contain unsafe levels of contaminants and are often high in mercury and other environmental toxins that have no place in a healthy diet.

We've all heard that fish is considered "brain food". In fact, the most polyunsaturated of the Omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, makes up the majority constituent of the gray matter of the brain. The fat in your brain, as well as your retinas, makes up the type of fat that forms cell membranes. Neurons in the brain, the cells that transmit chemical messages, are also rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Actually, there is more DHA in our neurons than in our red blood cells.

Omega-3 fatty acids are made only in plants. Vertebrate animals either never evolved the ability to synthesize Omega-3s or lost that ability somewhere along the evolutionary path. The largest source of Omega-3 fatty acids in the ocean and freshwater bodies of water are algae (phytoplankton), single celled plants that use the energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into complex bio-chemicals, including the Omega-3 fatty acids.

The majority of U.S. diets no longer contain the amount of omega-3 fatty acids needed for overall health and wellness. Omega-3 fatty acids correct imbalances in modern diets that lead to health problems. Today, Americans are consuming more than 10 times as many omega-6 fatty acids (another essential fatty acid family which is required by the body in moderate, not excessive, amounts) as they are omega-3 fatty acids thanks to the increase of fatty, highly processed foods in today's diet.

PCRM does not recommend eating any fish or shellfish because they can contain unsafe levels of contaminants and are often high in mercury and other environmental toxins that have no place in a healthy diet. Fish also contain no fiber and are high in animal protein, and often, in saturated fat and cholesterol. The most nutritious sources of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are plant-based foods, including green leafy vegetables, legumes, wheat germ, soybeans, and ground flaxseeds.

None. Coconut oil is not a source of Omega 3 fatty acids. These need to be supplemented in the diet from elsewhere (such as our Cod Liver Oil). The primary benefits of coconut oil are the nutritive value of medium chain fatty acids.

ALA found in flax oil is the parent fatty acid in the omega-3 family. A portion of ALA may be converted to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which are longer chain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. On its own, ALA appears to have unique physiologic benefits apart from its conversion to EPA and DHA. ALA is especially useful to support heart health and the immune system.

There are countless reasons why you need to supplement Omega-3 EFAs, and Dr. Madsen's Omega-3 MD? Phytoplankton-Fish Oil Supplement is the best available anywhere. Some of the top reasons for taking are some of the following: Omega-3 EFAs are the main components of brain and nerve tissue, including the retinas of the eyes, and essential constituents of every cell membrane in the body.

Dr. Madsen recommends that children as young as possible begin taking one capsule per meal. If necessary, parents can snap the gelcap in two and allow the fish oil itself to pour into a beverage that the child enjoys the taste of. This will allow the youngsters to get their vital fish oil to help further develop their brains, eyes, nervous system in general, and all of the body's trillions of cell membranes.

Omega-3 EFAs survive in the bloodstream about 4-6 hours before they begin to breakdown. The body cannot make or store these Omega-3 EFAs, and that is why they are referred to "essential" fatty acids. However, the body can make and store enormous amounts of saturated fat, and some monounsaturated fat (from the excess carbohydrates, proteins, and fat that you eat every day).

Omega-3 fatty acids are the unsaturated fatty acids so important for the health of the cardiovascular system. Many studies have shown that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids slows arteriosclerosis.

The Omega-3's EPA and DHA are recognized for their health benefits in all life stages. They are important building blocks for every cell in your body, which requires these crucial components to grow, develop and maintain health.* These fatty acids are an integral part of cell membranes and are precursors of several important cellular messengers.* Studies have demonstrated that EPA is important for optimal brain function and contributes to the reduction of cellular inflammation.