Does your body need fish oil capsules?

Here’s what to have instead

Anuradha Seth, PhD
ILLUMINATION
2 min readOct 7, 2023

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Popping fish oil capsules is seen as a common practice among vegetarians in a bid to provide continual sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are vital nutrients that are critical in the development of brain and heart function, and absorption of various fat-soluble vitamins.

Photo by Leohoho on Unsplash

Research suggests that dryness of the hair, scalp, and eyes, as well as loss of memory, are key warning signs of low omega-3 levels in the body. In addition, depression has been seen as a common consequence of consuming a diet deficient in omega-3s.

Who are maximally susceptible to omega-3 deficiency?

People who eliminate all kinds of fats from their diet, including olive oil, coconut oil, sesame oil, and groundnut oil, and/or do not consume peanut butter, dairy products, nuts, and seeds on a regular basis are most likely to fall deficient in omega-3-fatty acids.

Is fish oil the only source of omega-3s?

Of course not!

Two robust sources of omega-3s

-Flaxseeds
-Walnuts

Fun fact: Most plant-based omega-3 supplements are flaxseed-based.

Two ways to include omega-3s in your diet WITHOUT relying on supplements:

-Having three soaked walnuts a day
-Having ground, roasted flaxseeds in water

Here’s a great recipe for flaxseed tea.

So, the next time somebody presses you to buy fish oil capsules, send them back to their lab!

Thank you for reading!

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Anuradha Seth, PhD
ILLUMINATION

PhD in Immunology, researcher at University of Florida and part-time health blogger. Thanks for reading!