For this week’s challenge, work on increasing your omega-3 intake. By now everyone has heard of the benefits of taking fish oil. Because of our current diets, we consume more omega-6s than omega-3s, which throws off the delicate ratio of necessary fatty acids in our bodies (for more information, read on here). Omega-3s are important for so many functions in our body and help with cardiovascular health, mental health, inflammation, and even lowers the risk of cancer. Furthermore, a recent meta-analysis of 21 independent studies revealed a lower incidence of breast cancer with fish oil consumption.
If you aren’t getting enough omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, you are probably at risk for an imbalance. And, while vegetarian sources of omega-3 are great, they require a great deal of conversion. Consequently you would have to eat more than you could imagine in order to meet the needs for your daily intake. Therefore, a fish oil supplement is an effective way to boost your omega-3 intake.
Some tips for taking fish oil:
- Get a high-quality product that is molecularly distilled and tested for contaminants in an independent lab. The last thing anyone wants is to get a dose of mercury with your fish oil.
- Find a product that does not contain GMOs. There are a few that are Non-GMO Project verified. There are others that just don’t have suspect ingredients.
- Take your fish oil before bed.
- Check in with a licensed health care provider before making any changes to your current supplement regimen. Fish oil supplementation may be counterindicated if you have any issues with bleeding disorders, difficulty with blood clotting, or fish allergies.
- Check your dosage. The research indicates various dosing dependent upon why you are taking the fish oil. For children’s doses click here.
