What Is Omega-3?
Healthy Fats
Omega-3s are healthy fats that you can only get through your diet.
3 Main Types Of Omega-3
ALA, DHA, and EPA
DHA & EPA
Plant-based foods may be rich in ALA but most are low in, if not absent of, DHA and EPA
Algae Oil
Algae oil is a vital source of Omega-3’s for vegans since it is one of the few plant-based foods that contains all 3 fatty acids
Support Body Functions
Omega-3s support various bodily functions such as immunity, cognition, and cardiovascular health
Our Omega-3 Is Sourced Sustainably
Omega-3s can be sustainably sourced from plant-based ingredients which do not require the extraction and disturbance of marine life
Omega-3s are fatty acids which are essentially healthy fats you can only get through your diet. They play various important roles in your body and provide many holistic health benefits. For example, Omega-3s are critical components of the membrane that surrounds every cell in your body and support brain, immune, and cardiovascular health.
There are three main types of Omega-3 Fatty Acids: ALA, DHA, and EPA. While different foods have varying amounts of each of these acids, most plant-based foods are low in, if not absent of, DHA and EPA. However, certain plant based foods such as flaxseed, walnuts, hemp seed, algae oil, brussel sprouts, and chia seeds are great sources of ALA that can meet daily ALA requirements.
What Is The Recommended Daily Amount of Omega-3?
Vegans are recommended to supplement with 200-300 DHA/EPA per day.While Omega-3s offer various health benefits, it’s important to stick to the recommended dosage, especially if consuming a fish-based Omega-3 supplement. Taking too much fish oil can lead to serious side effects such as high blood sugar and an increased risk of bleeding. Additionally, if over-consumed, Omega-3s’ strong anti-inflammatory properties can interact with the body’s ability to produce an immune response in the presence of a viral or bacterial infection.
Benefits of Omega-3
Mood-Booster
Believe it or not, Omega-3s have been shown to help boost your mood. Their ability to interact with mood-boosting molecules in the brain combined with their anti-inflammatory properties make them a natural mood stabilizer.Supports Cognitive Function
Omega-3s have the ability to support cognitive function and overall brain health. Because Omega-3s support optimal blood flow to the brain, they help to maximize performance, enhance memory, and boost cognition. DHA and EPA in particular are critical for normal brain functioning, supporting brain structure and communication.Good For Heart Health
Omega-3s are incredibly supportive for heart health, helping to reduce triglycerides levels in your bloodstream and prevent the buildup of plaque in your arteries. By keeping the internal pathways to your heart clear, Omega-3s optimize blood flow and reduce the risks associated with an irregular heart rhythm.
Where Do Non-Vegans Get Their Omega-3s?
ALA is the only Omega-3 fatty acid found in most plant-foods whereas DHA and EPA mainly come from fish and eggs. Cold-water dwelling fish with high fat content are a predominant source of Omega-3s on the market. Typically, non-vegan consumers turn to mackerel, salmon, seabass, oysters and shrimp for their Omega-3 requirements.
What Vegan Foods Are Rich In Omega-3s?
While DHA and EPA predominantly come from animal products, there are various vegan sources rich in ALA. Plant-based sources include flaxseed, walnuts, hemp seed, algae oil, brussel sprouts, and chia seeds - to name a few. Algae oil in particular is a vital source of omega-3 for vegans since it is one of the few plant-based foods that contains ALA, DHA and EPA.
Why Vegans May Need To Supplement Their Omega-3s Intake
The inability to get Omega-3 DHA/EPA from most plant-based food sources combined with the poor conversion of ALA to DHA and EPA makes the supplementation of Omega-3 DHA/EPA strongly recommended for those who follow a plant-based diet. Although there are many plant-based foods rich in ALA, ALA must be converted to DHA and EPA - which is often an inefficient process. In fact, research shows that those who embrace a plant-based diet may have up to a 50% lower concentration of EPA and DHA in their bloodstream than omnivores.To maintain a balanced diet that centers plant-based foods, it’s important to find ways to incorporate these key nutrients. Because few plant-based food sources provide adequate DHA/EPA content, the regular consumption of Omega-3 supplements is strongly recommended.
Why Is It Important To Know Where Omega-3s Come From?
It’s important to understand where your Omega-3s come from considering that many products on the market (particularly animal-based products) are produced in ways that are harmful to the environment. If you’ve chosen to be a vegan for the environment, it’s important to align your supplement choices with your diet and values. Many products on the market consist of Omega-3 sourced from different forms of marine life. Consuming animal based Omega-3s that were harvested in unethical, inefficient and damaging ways goes against the very idea of a planet-friendly diet.
Considering that 50% of all supplement products contain at least one animal-derived ingredient, it’s important to dig deep into where your Omega-3 supplements come from. By gaining a deeper understanding of the origin of your Omega-3s, you can make more informed purchasing decisions and choose the type of production practices you want to support.
How Do We Source Omega-3s Sustainably?
At Terraseed we are committed to sourcing Omega-3s for our Vegan Multivitamin from sustainable sources. People and the planet are at the heart of our formulation which is why every ingredient is chosen with intention. We believe in the power of plant-based ingredients and have found ways to create a sustainable omega 3 supplement by utilizing algae oil.Our sustainably sourced microalgae is grown indoors so that no marine life is harmed to keep you healthy. The methods for harvesting fish oils result in detrimental effects on marine environments; when massive amounts of fish are extracted, this disrupts food chains and throws off the ecosystem’s balance. In addition to being destructive, the use of fish to derive Omega-3s is incredibly inefficient and wasteful. The average number of fish that is needed to make one bottle of fish-derived Omega-3 is roughly 100 fish. In contrast, growing algae requires significantly less resources, time, and physical space, can be done without disturbing nature and often produces more concentrated Omega-3 content. Talk about efficiency! Additionally, because our algae is grown indoors, our suppliers have better control over growing conditions which means the algae is free of the various toxins that often end up in fish and fish oils. By only utilizing plant-based sources for our vegan omega-3 supplement, we can promise that our planet and its people stay protected.
Discover Our Vegan Multivitamin's Other Ingredients
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Vitamin D3
Why Vitamin D3?Increases natural collagen production, while boosting your musculoskeletal system health and clearing skin.
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Iron
Why Iron?Enhances red blood cell production and oxygen flow and is known to promote athletic endurance.
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Magnesium
Why Magnesium?Helps your body absorb the other minerals in our formula for optimal effects.
