Myths Surrounding Fish Oil As weird as it sounds, there are some fatty acids that are essential to our diets. One of them is provided by omega-3s, which is commonly found in fish oil. Here are a few of the biggest myths surrounding fish oil.
Myth 1: The best omega-3s are found in flax and walnuts are healthier for you than fish. There is not best version of omega-3s. They can be found in flaxseeds and walnuts, but the omega-3s found in fish are just as effective, if not more so as it takes less effort for your body to recognize.
Myth 2: Omega-6s are just as important. Even though this is true, do not let it mislead you. Both omega-3s and omega-6s are important. They are found in different kinds of oils - one in fish and the other in plant-based vegetables. The problem is that we are naturally consuming a lot more vegetable oils than we are fish oils, and this should be balanced. If not, studies show it could lead to serious health problems.
Myth 3: I get enough omega-3 from fish. The myth of this is that many people are eating more fish than they should. If all fish were perfect and healthy we could all eat fish all day every day for every meal but they are not. It is recommended that we only eat fish twice a week in order to avoid consuming to many of the pollutants and possibly even poisons that fish contain. However, only eating fish twice a week will not balance your diet of omega-3s and omega-6s.
Myth 4: Supplements such as fish oil don't do anything for you. This is purely false. Studies have shown that the fish oil supplements improve cardiovascular disease, decrease triglycerides, reduce inflammation, improve immune function, improve memory, increase eye health, and much more.
Myth 5: Fish oil is only for people who are sick. Scientists have said that fish oil is the closest thing we will come to a “miracle drug” as we can in the 21st century. Not only is fish oil good for sick people, but it is 100 percent necessary to any living thing with a brain. It is called an “essential” fatty acid. However, our bodies do not produce it on our own and we must rely on what we eat to provide it for us. These days that is becoming increasingly difficult to provide in processed foods and meats from animals that are purely grain-fed as opposed to grass-fed. Our omega-3s supply is limited but doesn’t need to be. One good source of omega-3s that is recommended is wild Alaskan salmon fish oil. Not only does it help prevent diseases in the short-term but it also prevents long-term mental degradation. Studies have
shown that ancient peoples that lived near the sea and ate more sea foods progressed and developed mentally much faster than their inland counterparts that maintained the brain level of a chimpanzee for millions of years. Don’t be those inland people and use fish oil today. Photo Credit: Krappweis,