The role of a dietary supplement is to provide essential nutrients your body either cannot produce and/or your diet is unable to provide enough of.

While supplements may have become synonymous with top-level athletics or bodybuilding, the reality is that the average person needs supplementation just to stay healthy in the modern world.

This is why fish oil is so important: it’s a supplement that provides some of the most important nutrients that you probably don’t get enough of in your diet.

Fighting deficiency is key for health, so the supplements covered in this article are generally essential for maintaining good health.

What are Omega-3 Fats?

Omega-3 fats are a type of fatty acid that your body uses in a variety of processes – from the brain to the muscles and joints – that your body can’t produce. This means that you need to get it from your diet – which is why we call it an essential fat.

This is a compound that you would usually get from sources such as salmon and other fatty fish. However, the challenge is that you’d have to eat fatty fish all the time – something that you can avoid with a concentrated fish oil supplement.

These simple, soft gel capsules can be taken 1-2 times a day, instead of eating multiple portions of fish a day! Whether you dislike the taste of fish or just don’t fancy eating the same meals all the time, supplementation is a convenient alternative solution.

Omega-3 Supplement Benefits

Omega-3 fats are essential at any age.

During youth, they are used to build and develop your body. Later in adulthood, they can even slow the progression of some of the most common problems associated with aging.  

For example, Omega-3 fats are linked to reducing the risk of degenerative brain disease. When you eat these fatty acids, your body produces a chemical that protects brain cells and synapses from degeneration.

It’s not just brain disease, however: the neurological effects of Omega-3 fats also regulate mood and may protect you from depression and anxiety. The association of healthy fats with a healthy mood is well-noted and one of the best reasons to take your daily fish oil.

These benefits are compounded by the huge anti-inflammatory effect of a diet that is rich in these essential fatty acids. This provides benefits all over: inflammation is linked to diabetes, brain diseases, and more.

Reducing excessive, chronic inflammation is a huge boost to your overall wellness and reducing the overall wear-and-tear of life. This pairs well with reductions in heart disease risks such as blood pressure and even improves the health of arteries.

Finally, two of the three types of Omega-3 fats (EPA and DHA) are crucial in joint mobility and play a role in repairing joint tissues. This is crucial since muscle loss and cartilage changes can be problematic as we continue to age. Thus Omega-3 supplementation is crucial in reducing risk and supporting overall health.  

Interestingly, certain ethnic populations that are considered to be among the healthiest in the world, usually end to have Omega-3 rich diets.

What to look for in an Omega-3 supplement

When choosing an Omega-3 supplement, there are a few things to consider:

Concentration is a crucial factor. You want to get an effective dose of EPA and DHA – the most important kind of Omega-3 fats. A higher concentration also means you need to supplement less often, which is far more convenient! Nu-Health offers a variety of fish oil to meet your health needs, including well-balanced Omega-3,6,9.

Sustainability is one of the more common concerns – environmentally-friendly sourcing is far better than fish-farming practices. A supplement that uses a deep-sea source is a better way to provide yourself with the nutrients you need, without destroying habitats. Nu-Health fish oil is responsibly sourced and derived from wild deep sea fish such as mackerel, herring, anchovies and sardines.

Purity is about protecting your health. Many low-quality supplements contain large amounts of trace metals – a concern for your liver and kidney health. Reducing toxins such as PCBs and dioxins is crucial to keeping yourself safe and healthy. Nu-Health fish oil products are tested several times throughout the manufacturing process to ensure safe consumption.

Final Thoughts

Everyone should be supplementing Omega-3 fish oils – the type that fits you best is going to depend on your lifestyle and needs. Even those who consider themselves to be “healthy eaters” still may not be getting all of the healthy nutrients and benefits Omega-3’s have to offer through diet alone.

Great health starts with the fundamentals, for your health now and into the future, Omega-3 supplementation is the place to start.

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About the author: Liam Rodgers is a health, fitness and sports science expert from the United Kingdom