DHA, EPA, Omega 3’s and Reviews of Vegan Sources…est

July 2, 2008 at 1:15 pm (Eat to Live, Food, Product Review, Vegan)
Tags: brain, Chia, depression, DHA, EPA, fish oil, Flax, health, mood, Omega 3, V-Pure

_Nerve Cells of a healthy brain_U.S. News

I think everyone knows the necessity of Omega 3’s nowadays — it’s all over the “media.” Unfortunately, the status quo is still “fish or fish oils.” One can get DHA from plant foods which the body will convert to the needed EPA — that’s how the fish get it: they eat sea plants and their bodies convert it to EPA — and, as Bogie might say, “why doesn’t everyone just make their own?” 😉 Who wants second-hand nutrients? Not I, said she.   ~Shudder~   Walnuts; Hemp Seeds/Nuts; Flax (in moderation); and, of course that POWER-house seed that contains *the* highest of any food, the CHIA 😀 (aka “Salba”) –All raw, contain lots of DHA, ready to be converted by your incredibly resilient host. Not to mention, all leafy greens; and, if you’re getting your greens on (like you should, via Green Smoothies), you’re SO golden…or Greenen ;^) —  Purslane, being the highest leafy green source of Omega 3’s, with Mache in second place.

However, it has to be noted that oils are NOT good sources, nor are they healthful. Flax oil doesn’t convert well, according to the Flax Council of Canada, for example; and I’ve read elsewhere is only converted anywhere from 2-15%! Dr. Fuhrman is also no fan of oils, especially, flax:

“…I do not recommend the use of flaxseed oil or flaxseed oil supplements. Flaxseed oil is pure fat and virtually devoid of all or most of the nutrients (except for vitamin E) found in ground flaxseed. Also, flaxseed oil is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and there is evidence that extracted PUFA oils may suppress the immune system, and possibly increase the growth rate of certain cancers and/or tumors. If you want the benefit of flaxseed, eat the ground seeds and avoid the oil.” _ Disease Proof

And even flax SEEDS should be taken with caution:

“Flax seeds have beneficial health properties in moderate quantity.  Excess omega-3 from flax is linked to increase risk of prostate cancer and flax seeds have a cyanogenic glucoside that blocks iodine uptake.  So they could worsen and iodine deficiency if intake is borderline low.“_Dr. Fuhrman quote from his Forum.

Can Flaxseed Oil Cause Prostate Cancer? Disease Proof

“Keep in mind that the scientifically documented benefits from flax seeds come from raw, ground flax seed, not flax seed oil.”  _ Exerption, Disease-Proof Your Child

 

Chugging oil (and flaxoil, Aye…) is not healthful. In fact, even flax SEEDS should be limited 1 Tablespoon per day is enough).

I have given up flax as a daily supplement (if something I make calls for it —  unlikely — or something I eat has it, I won’t protest) and choose Chia seeds, which are superior anyway. (Chias may be eaten as desired; no cautions with those gems!)

Whole food sources are always better, but, again, it’s cautionary as to how one would do this. An excess of fat sources — even good fats like avos, walnuts, etc. — will become unhealthful amounts at some point. Now, many people have a medical need, or a physical/emotional need for more DHA; as well, a minority just don’t convert the DHA well for some reason. Then a good-quality supplement is desirable — AND, thankfully, veganically available! I’ll start with DHA PURITY, which is one of the highest-quality I know (or trust):

“This veggie derived DHA, sourced from microalgae, provides the beneficial omega–3 fatty acid of fish oil without the fish. DHA Purity now comes in an all–new, purified liquid form of very highly concentrated DHA so that it can be digested easier and hidden easily in food…”

With DHA PURITY, you get 175 mg of DHA. This will cost you about $30 for a 60-day supply — that’s a fantastic deal — about $27 if you’re a member.

*****

Next, the V-PURE from Water4Life is also excellent

This is a good product. UK sourced, it’s now available in the United States (see links below). At first, I was not trusting, because when I contacted them via email, they could not or would not explain to me HOW it could contain EPA, when that is something that must be converted by a being, whether it’s a fish or other animal. They were being curiously evasive in answering directly. What’s the big secret? Am I going to run off and steal their “secret formulation”??! Gimme a break! That’s the impression I got, though — that it was some sort of secret . So I was skeptical…however, in my continuous thirst-search for knowledge (), I was reading all I could about Spirulina (which I consume, by the way) and something I was reading about the spirulina struck me and it made sense: [spirulina is a living “being” of sorts (kinda)] That IT actively consumes and converts DHA to EPA, therefore, containing EPA just like fish do. So, a much-less yucky *and clean* pre-converted form of EPA than a fish or other poor soul. So, this is most-likely the source of the Water4Life’s EPA, or other algae like phytoplankton or somethin.’ Or, perhaps, they’ve found a way to “feed” DHA to the spirulina so it makes the EPA, etc. Only my guess, of course; but, since they source it as coming from algae, and claim it’s EPA, then what other conclusion is there? So I’m on their bandwagon (…until I learn something to the contrary): I’ve been using it — and it’s actually a higher dosage than I’m used to with DHA Purity — and it’s fabulous! I have gone through 4 bottles. I got it a long time ago because I’m one of those persons who “has to” try stuff! How else to know? 😉 Anyway, like I mentioned previously, I don’t like to order one thing from a site — too expensive and a waste — so I usually wait till I need a few things, then order. I was out of DHA Purity, but didn’t want to just order it alone, so decided to finish off my V-Pure (still  had plenty of time according to the expiry), which tasted fresh as when I first received it. Good to know that it’s reliable and fresh when refrigerated. Then, reordered. Now, one of the things that had me leaning toward this product from the git (even though I was dismayed at their lack of candidness) was the taste — Never had fish oil, however, it IS notorious for tasty disgusting and that’s why it’s in capsules. Bad news, those capsules. It’s easy to miss if it’s stinky-rotten fishy which would mean it’s RANCID and TOXIC! So, basically, you’re doing yourself more harm than good. There are very few sources from which to get very clean fish oils, and even then, you are not getting the best.                Back to the V-Pure — I cracked open one of those babies, and, yep, drank its contents– Very good, actually.  It had almost no flavor at all, which is great. I like the lemon-grass flavor of DHA Purity, but there are some sensitive people who find this mild flavor too off-putting, and some children don’t like it;  So, for them, I’d say go with the V-Pure. It’s in a cap so you won’t taste it anyway, but rest assured you won’t be burping up fish flavors or any flavor, for that matter. And you can always crack open a cap and taste to test. V-Pure provides 89mg of EPA and 270mg of DHA — that’s pretty damn good! It’s not inexpensive: For a 30-day supply (90 vegan-capsules) it runs about $30 at this site. (Also available here at the same price).

*****

Not sure about: NuTru’s O-Mega-Zen3:

I can’t really say it’s NOT good — didn’t take it for any length of time to conclusion — however, the taste was not “clean”; so, while not awful, it wasn’t a pleasant or non-issue experience such as with the DHA PURITY and the V-Pure. So, if desperate, I’d take it! With O-Mega Zen3 — available in liquid or vegan capsules — you get 300 mg DHA for 1 serving  (liquid); I’m not sure the dosage on the caps, but you get 40 capsules per container. Capsules will cost you about $19; the liquid, about $28. Available online as well as in some stores.

*****

DEVA also offers a vegan DHA; I’ve not tried it. It’s available at various vegan store sites as well as in some markets. A 30-day supply at 1 vegan capsule per day will cost you a mere $14.95 for 200 mg DHA; a 90-day supply, $34.95

*****

Another new-comer — Chia oil. Now, again, oils are seed extracts, stripped of the majority of their benefits. You also need more of it than algae oil; so you’re basically getting a lot of fat, which may or may not be enough or even utilized. So, if I were on a desert island and a chia oil tree grew there, I’d take this over fish or any other source that might be around (while taking full advantage of the leaves, of course 😛 ). It’s flavor is not bad, more neutral, if anything. But I’d not say completely flavorless. In larger doses, it gives off a definite flavor; however, in medicinal amounts, it’s negligible.  The link above takes you to a site where excellent chia seeds are offered; and they are now WIDELY available, even in stores. (Read more about chias here). But if for some reason you need chia oil, then it is available at Nature’s Emporium (you must request it in a bottle; the capsules are made of animal gelatin); or HERE or this site has it.

Bottom line –Go with the seeds over their oils; but adding a vegan DHA in addition to the consumption of healthful foods, containing DHA — seeds, leafy greens, nuts — for insurance/assurance.

*****

Personally, I’m all about quality over quantity, especially for my health! I don’t compromise or shortcut when it comes to nutrition and health; so, I don’t mind paying more for Dr. Fuhrman’s DHA Purity, or for the Water4Life’s, V-Pure –same for organic produce. AND, I faithfully get in LOADS of greens (which are FULL OF EFA’s)– whole leaves, blended AND greens, juiced — via my Green Juicie, Green Smoothies! Plus good fats every day in the form in whole foods, preferably — avocado, unsalted, raw, organic olives (FABUlous!!); various nuts and seeds 😉 . So, methinks I’m doing a-okay on the Omega front :D. I also know that my mood; concentration; level of anxiety; deliberation; calmness; and contentment (bigtime) — all improved with the addition of healthy fats, in general, and moreso, DHA, in particular. It is often DHA which is prescribed for depression, as well (usually as fish by unaware M.D.’s) so that makes sense, even if not depressed, as I wasn’t! The purity, cleanliness, and lack of mercury, PCG’s, dioxins, other toxins and rancidity — all of which are readily in the majority of fish oils — make an EPA-DHA plant-based supplement the optimal choice.

We all want a healthy brain:

The Human Brain_National Geographic

SO EAT YOUR GREENS, TAKE YOUR DHA, EXERCISE, SLEEP, REDUCE STRESS, AND CULTIVATE LOVING RELATIONSHIPS!

Whew! I’m thinking Green Juicie Green smoothies need their own page… Will get to it sometime!

_Pox