We all wonder why several nutritionists and doctors insist on omegas as an essential ingredient for our bodies. What is the big deal with them?
Well, let’s break it down for you…
Omegas are essential fatty acids; as the name suggests, they’re ‘essential‘ for human functioning. Unfortunately, our bodies cannot manufacture them independently, so we rely on our diet to obtain them. Many look for food sources such as hemp, fish, nuts, etc., to get their omega fatty acids.
But wait, here’s the problem. Surprisingly, ‘fis’ oil‘ ha‘ has become a synonym for omegas. Let’s be. We’re all culprits, or we know of people who have fish oil tablets stored in their cabinets, and naturally, we assume it to be the optimal source for our omega intake.
But is it? As always, to challenge that belief and reveal some truths that may change your mind.
Omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 (essential fatty acids or EFAs) are all important dietary fats. Interestingly, each one has several health benefits. They are crucial for the proper functioning of the brain and lungs and vital for good skin and healthy blood.
Omega-3 fatty acids are a vital family of polyunsaturated fats. It’s important to get the right balance of omega-3, -6, and -9 fatty acids in your diet, as they are necessary for proper mental and physical health.
But beware, because an imbalance can lead to several chronic diseases.
An average human requires a 3:1 ratio of essential fatty acids for optimal health. But when an imbalance occurs, where you have too much of one omega and too little of another, it can result in chronic health issues like inflammation and obesity. Unfortunately, an average human’s prehuman diet comprises mainly too much omega-6 and too little omega-3, which leads to problems like high blood pressure and blood clots that can cause heart attack and stroke, weight gain, etc.
So, keeping in mind how important the 3:1 ratio is for our body (it’s an in-depth topic for a different day), let’s examine how effective fish oil supplements are in helping us attain that balance.
What is Fish Oil?
Fish oil is obtained from the tissue of “oily” fish” such“ as sardines, salmon, tuna, and anchovies and contains omega-3 fatty acids. Interestingly, fish do not naturally manufacture omega-3 fatty acids but rather accumulate them in their tissues by eating other fish that have stored them in their bodies.
Unfortunately, fish oil doesn’t condense a perfect balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids for the body in a balanced ratio of 3:1.
This is where the problem lies. The source we rely on for our optimal omega intake is imbalanced in its natural form.
So, how reliably and effectively is that for your health, or is it even reliable?
Now, leaving aside the balance of omegas we need, let’s look at healthy fish oil supplements.
Fish oil is extracted from the liver and skin of the fish, which means that it’s possible to ingest plastics and other toxins that the liver is processing. The fish also contains toxic substances due to biomagnification, and the concentration of pollutants can easily pass from one food chain link to another. Mercury, chlordane, dioxin, and PCBs are harmful, severe toxins that can be potentially ingested by people who consume fish oil. Fish oil also produces peroxides that can cause severe gastrointestinal irritation.
So consuming fish and fish liver oils poses more of a risk to us than improving our health.
Apart from that, a few more points to take into consideration are:
1. Consuming high levels of oily fish also increases the chance of poisoning from pollutants in the ocean.
2. Omega-3 supplements affect blood clotting and interfere with drugs that target blood clotting conditions.
3. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, 70% of the world’s fisworld’sow exploited to such an extent that all the fish fished for food are predicted to be depleted in the next 30 years.
4. A trigger of side effects may cause minor gastrointestinal problems, such as belching, indigestion, or diarrhea.
5. Those with a shellfish or fish allergy may be at risk if they consume fish oil supplements.
CONVERSELY, LET’S TALK, LET’S HEMP NOW…
To begin with, what is Hemp Seed Oil?
Hemp is a highly versatile plant that can be linked to Ayurveda for its many benefits, such as its dynamic nutritional composition and medicinal properties.
Hemp Seed Oil, in particular, is harvested and extracted by cold-pressing the seeds with wood to preserve the natural benefits in its raw form.
But what really sets hemp apart is that it is the only food that has Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in the ideal ratio our body needs (3:1).
Well, that’s a gathat’sger in itself.
Hemp seeds are also composed of nearly 85 percent essential fatty acids (EFAs).
Hemp also offers the richest, most balanced natural source of EFAs. In fact, the amount of alpha-linolenic and linolenic acid in 15 ml (one tablespoon) of Hemp Seed Oil provides more than the daily EFA requirement. In addition, hemp seed oil is lower in saturated fatty acids than other comparable oils, making it easily digestible. It also alleviates symptoms of atopic dermatitis (eczema) and even psoriasis.
Another point is that Hemp Seed Oil is also a more sustainable environmental choice.
Consuming fish or fish oil supplements hurts the earth’s fraearth’sosystem, as overfishing plagues our oceans.
Hemp seed oil is more sustainable than fish oil because it does not upset the ocean’s eco ocean. In contrast, fish oil reduces the sizable fish populations necessary to support fish living in the upper areas of the food chain. In addition, hemp plants are pest—and disease-resistant and help reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
In conclusion, which is better? Hemp Seed Oil or Fish Oil?
Hemp seed oil is plant-based, cold-pressed, packaged, and stored appropriately, as it does not oxidize or spoil as quickly. Moreover, Fish Oil is perishable & can spoil very quickly due to its unstable nature of highly unsaturated DHA and EPA. Many of the fish oil capsules in the market are rancid. Unfortunately, the less saturated the oil is, the more unstable it is and the faster it degrades.
Various cultures have used Hemp seed oil for thousands of years for its traditional medicinal properties. It has the perfect balance of Omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid and Omega-6 linoleic acid and is more than 90% unsaturated. No single food has them all, but the hemp seed has all eight amino acids, and the oil pressed from the hemp seed is one of the best-known sources of the two essential fatty acids we cannot live without.
Therefore, its hemp seed oil is a better and more sustainable option for our health and the environment. It helps reduce greenhouse gases and doesn’t destroy the ecosystem. It also doesn’t contain harmful toxins and, in turn, provides more nutritional benefits than fish oil.
So, the choice remains yours to make!
Disclaimer: This article is originally published on https://www.indiahemporganics.com/
