Source Omega LLC
Source Omega
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Phone: 919-360-5275
Email info@source-omega.com
SOURCE OIL ALGAE OMEGA-3
SOURCE OIL Water Extracted Chromista Oil
Water Extracted Algae Oil Capsules

DHA & EPA IMPORTANCE

 What really are EPA and DHA?                                   

EPA and DHA are essential fatty acids that the human body is unable to easily get on its own or through foods.  Marine omega-3 oils contains both EPA and DHA fatty acids.  Our bodies need certain fats to carry fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, and K and to make steriod hormones, keep skin healthy and to perform other biochemical chores.Much of our essential fatty acids must be consumed through food or supplements to provide the body what it needs.    This vital nutrient is equally important for keeping metabolism regulated and by maintaining blood fats called triglycerides.  Your liver controls and recycles your triglycerides and cholesterol as it works to maintain your body's health.  When you eat too much, or eat the wrong foods, the liver and other organs get overworked and overloaded. 

Omega-3 fatty acids are most notably the bioactive lipids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Certain fish and microalgae contain high levels of the essential bioactive omega-3 products EPA and DHA. Plants also make various levels of omega-3 fatty acid precursors. Other dietary long chain fatty acids are the omega-6 fatty acids. Linoleic acid (LA) is the main omega-6 precursor in plant and vegetable oils. The omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA) is bioactive and found in red meat.

The balance of omega fatty acids is important to consider. The so-called omega-3 : omega-6 ratio has become a model for gauging the proper balance of these fats in oils and the diet. Diets with greater than a 1:10 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 are not recommended, whereas a 1:1 ratio is considered perfect. Very unhealthy ratios can result with regular consumption of 'fast-food', high amounts of fried food, and low intake of fresh whole foods. Thus, 'Eating to live and not living to eat' becomes an important consideration with increases in modern, convenient, non-functional food choices.

 

The fatty acids of major interest in the diet are named so n-3 indicates omega-3 and n-6 indicates omega-6. Notably, EPA n-3 and AA n-6 are the same length with 20 carbons each. However, EPA is unsaturated at the n-3 position providing signaling and metabolic specificity between AA and EPA. AA is converted into inflammatory compounds, but the unique n-3 bond means EPA is converted into dramatically different bioactive products. In addition, EPA may compete directly with AA for many of the same enzymes during the inflammatory process.

 

The other important omega-3, DHA n-3, has 22 carbons, is unsaturated at n-3.  DHA is also incorporated into membrane phospholipids in the brain and eye and DHA is concentrated at neuron terminals.

Kids omega-3 and children's omega-3s in food and supplements should be mainly DHA omega-3, suggested for children.