By Toni Gam
Omega-3 fatty acids are vital for optimal health and have been touted as an elixir for everything from brain health, anxiety and depression, to eye health, cardiovascular health, and more. But there's one vegan source you may not have heard about yet.
Omega-3 101: How to thrive on a plant-based diet
While a plant-based diet promotes a clear head, improved digestion and reduced risk of disease, it’s important to plan your diet to ensure an adequate intake of essential nutrients such as vitamin B12 and omega-3.
Omega-3 long chain fatty acids are found in fish and krill, but actually originate in oceanic plants - seaweed and algae. Omega-3 is essential for all age groups, offering benefits for healthy ageing and foetal development, cardiovascular health, eye health, and a stronger immune system. Studies indicate it may even have an effect on cognitive function, reducing the incidence of mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. Consuming omega-3 may also help reduce inflammation, assisting in weight management and metabolic syndrome.
Vegan omega-3 vs fish oil
While we’ve been told to eat fatty fish for our omega-3s, there are legitimate concerns over pollution and microplastics in our oceans! Luckily, there are a number of plant-based alternatives available, including hemp seeds, chia seeds and flax seeds. These plant-based sources of omega-3 contain alpha-linoleic acid (ALA), which must be converted into lipid-bound sources of omega-3 to gain its benefits. Lipid-bound sources exist in the form of Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) – try saying that ten times fast! The conversion process from ALA to EPA and DHA may be as low as 5%, and can be affected by a number of factors including genetics, age and diet. Basically, consuming a few chia puddings isn’t going to cut it! This is particularly pertinent to those who have an increased need for omega-3, including pregnant and lactating women, as well as those who have compromised conversion abilities, such as metabolic syndrome, hypertension and the elderly.
EPA and DHA are essential nutrients which means we need to consume them in our diet. While we have previously looked to our oceans to provide fish and krill for omega-3, fishing is no longer a sustainable option. The krill fishing industry has also been exposed for its environmental impacts in some of the world’s most pristine regions. But what about the original source of omega-3s? The food of the krill! The reason krill oil is rich in omega-3 is because krill actually feed on small microalgae, also known as marine phytoplankton.
Marine phytoplankton as a sustainable alternative to fish and krill oil
Marine phytoplankton form the base of the oceanic food chain and are a primary food source for hundreds of species of krill, helping life in the ocean to flourish. Just imagine what it can do for our own health. It is bursting with nano-sized nutrients that are easily absorbed and bioavailable at a cellular level.
Unlike fish, krill, or algal oil, the omega-3s in phytoplankton don’t need to go through an extraction process. This is important, as omega-3 is highly sensitive to oxidisation, and any extraction may cause rancidity. ULTANA Phytoplankton’s omega-3s are naturally enclosed in a cellulose cell wall, delivering these nutrients in a wholefood, unprocessed form. Grown in a controlled production environment, the final product is of high consistency and high purity, and with a microscopic cell size of just 2-3 microns (smaller than a blood cell, and thinner than a hair molecule), they may bypass the liver for direct cell nutrition.
ULTANA Phytoplankton is vegan, sustainable and safe to consume, containing over 60mg of combined EPA and DHA per 1g serve. Aside from the great source of omega-3, ULTANA contains over 75 essential nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and more!
What is your favourite plant-based source of omega-3?
0 comments