Fish: Supplements versus the real deal
When you visit the supermarket, you will notice that there is abundance of fish oil supplements. But are they a worthy replacement for eating real fish?
Much has been claimed in regards to these supplements, and although fish-oil supplements have a role to play for some people, their benefits are often over-hyped. For example, giving omega-3 supplements to older children does not boost their intelligence! If you were prescribed them by your doctor for medical reasons, and you follow your doctor’s instructions on taking them, they can be helpful. However, if you have substituted real fish for fish oil supplements, without a doctor’s recommendation, you might want to read below.
Eating real fish enables your body to not just consume the omega 3’s, but also all of the other benefits that fish offers, such as other fats besides omega 3’s, vitamins, minerals, and supporting molecules. Zinc is an important one, which is involved with wound healing and cell division, and vitamin B12, which is essential for blood cell production.
Fish is also a good source of protein. The same holds true of other foods. Taking even a handful of supplements is no substitute for wealth of nutrients you get from eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. If you don’t eat fish or other seafood, and you are worried about not getting enough omega-3’s, you can get them from ground flaxseed or flaxseed oil, chia seeds, walnuts, canola oil, and soy oil. One to two servings per day can help you avoid a deficiency of omega-3s.
