Believe it or not, the term "healthy fats" is not an oxymoron – they actually exist! And when it comes to healthy fats, perhaps none are better known (or loved) than Omega-3 fatty acids. But the question is - do you need to eat fish to obtain enough of them in your diet? Let’s take a look…

What Exactly Are Omega-3 Fatty Acids?

Omega-3 fatty acids are classed as a group of polyunsaturated fats (they’re the healthy kind of fats that you always hear about) and they act as building blocks for our bodies.

There are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids that are arguably the most important for your health, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

What Does Omega-3 Do For Your Body?

Omega-3 fatty acids can help improve brain performance throughout our lives, fight inflammation in the body, encourage proper foetal development, protect our joints and promote brain health during pregnancy.

Omega-3s are also crucial for cardiovascular health, thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties. Studies also suggest that omega-3 fats may help reduce the "bad" type of cholesterol and increase "good" cholesterol levels.

What Foods Provide Omega-3?

Out of the 3 types of omega-3s, ALA is referred to as an essential fatty acid because our bodies are unable to produce it, and therefore we need to source it from our foods. ALA is mainly found in plant oils, such as flaxseed and soybean oil, as well as chia seeds and hemp seeds.

When it comes to EPA and DHA, you can find rich amounts of these fatty acids in oily fish and aquatic plants, known as algae.

Fun fact: Your body can convert between 2-5% of ALA to EPA and DHA (the real nutritional powerhouses). The body ends up using the rest as it would other fats – either for energy or storage.

Algae Oil Vs Fish Oil

Algal oil, or algae Omega-3, is an oil derived from marine algae. Algae is a natural source of Omega-3 fatty acids, and it’s the reason why fish contain Omega-3s in the first place. Fish can’t actually produce Omega-3s, they actually obtain them from algae directly and then store it within their own cells — so why not go directly to the source?

Our Vegan Omega-3 soft gels are packed with DHA and EPA sourced directly from marine algae. It’s a great option for those looking to boost their Omega-3 intake, particularly vegans and vegetarians, as it’s strictly plant-based (say goodbye to those fishy burps!).

Riya Lakhani ANutr is a registered nutritionist and health writer with a special interest in plant-based nutrition. She has completed a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Human Nutrition, and has developed a passion for writing about all things plant-based.