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Today we are going to find out the difference between fish oil vs flaxseed oil. Fish oil contains DHA and EPA, the two most potent forms of Omega 3 fatty acids. Now ALA is the type of Omega 3 found in flaxseed, leafy greens and nuts. However it does not effect the body the same way that the other two forms of Omega 3 does.
ALA needs to be converted by our body over to DHA before our body can use it. Now this does not always happen efficiently, especially if you are elderly or in poor health. You can actually buy breakfast cereal now that contains flaxseed. The manufacturers are saying that it is a healthy breakfast cereal. But I will leave it up to you to decide whether it is healthy or not.
The brain is comprised of approximately twenty grams of DHA fatty acids. The job of that DHA is to keep us happy. However, if our DHA levels ever get low, then we shall suffer from severe periods of depression and other emotional episodes. However our brain does not use ALA fats. It would appear that fish oil vs flaxseed oil wins this round.
The heart uses DHA and EPA in so many ways to help prevent damage to our cardiovascular system, and to help prevent heart attacks. However it does not appear to use ALA fats. In fact, ALA does not appear to be used by our body in any way at all. The only way it can be used, as I have pointed out above, is by being converted over to DHA fats.
Some people prefer to use flaxseed oil over fish oil because they are vegans or vegetarians, and they will not use fish or fish oil at any cost. There is no doubt that flaxseed has some benefits, however when it comes down to general health, I think I will stick to fish oil vs flaxseed oil. Even vegans or vegetarians need to obtain Omega 3 from some source.
The fish oil vs flaxseed oil debate has been raging for years now, and both sides think that they are right. I will leave it up to you to decide which side makes more sense.
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