Omega-3 is one of the few nutrients you might want to supplement with supplements, for instance if you don't eat much fish or have a completely vegan diet. Luckily, we have a great, sustainable tip: Arctic Blue. This brand offers high-quality omega-3 supplements made from sustainably certified fish or - for those who eat plant-based food - an algae-based vegan version. Arctic Blue was developed by Dutch fish oil expert Ludo van de Wiel. His motto: ‘Crazy about Omega-3, serious about the sea’.
What is omega-3?
In collaboration with Arctic Blue
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that play an important role in your body, including as building blocks for your brain, your eyes and they are good for your heart, according to the Nutrition Centre. But what exactly are they? Just a little lesson in chemistry, which you may forget afterwards. Omega-3 fatty acids belong to the polyunsaturated fatty acids and are also called n-3 fatty acids. The three best known are:
- Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA): this is mainly found in linseed oil, but also in smaller amounts in rapeseed oil, soybean oil, walnuts, vegetable (diet) margarines, meat and green leafy vegetables.
- Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA): these are known as the ‘fish fatty acids’ and are mainly found in oily fish such as salmon, herring and mackerel.
Your body can partially convert ALA into EPA and DHA, but this process is not very efficient. Therefore, it is recommended to get omega-3 directly from food or supplements. Want to be sure you are getting enough? Then you can test this with a self-test that Arctic Blue also offers.
More sustainable fish oil from Arctic Blue
If you want to get omega-3 from fish, you obviously want a clean and sustainable product. Ocean pollution and overfishing are major concerns. Arctic Blue therefore uses fresh Arctic wild cod from the Barents Sea, one of the cleanest waters in the world. The fishery is MSC-certified, which means that the fish is caught responsibly, without overfishing.
What makes Arctic Blue's fish oil different is that it is extracted entirely from fillet-cut offal of wild cod. So no fish is specially caught for it. This is not only more sustainable, but this also better preserves the nutritional value of the fish oil. Anchovies and sardines are often caught especially for fish oil, for which entire fish are ground - a method known as ‘reduction fisheries’. These fisheries adversely affect the food chain of dolphins, seabirds and whales. Arctic Blue shows that things can be done differently: responsible fish oil from trimmings.
Illustration of how fish oil is usually obtained (not sustainably) and how it can be done in a better way.
Vegan omega-3 from algae
Do you prefer plant-based Omega-3? Then omega-3 from algae is an excellent alternative - and Arctic Blue offers just that. So good news for vegans! Algae are microscopic plants that produce their own omega-3 fatty acids and can be grown in controlled conditions on land, with no fish involved. Arctic Blue already offers seven different types of algae oil. All Arctic Blue's plant-based products carry the VEGAN label, which guarantees that they do not contain fish oil. So you choose a fully plant-based and sustainable source of omega-3.
Arctic Blue omega-3 supplements are based on fish oil and algae oil and thus come in different forms: liquid, capsules and gummies.
Fish oil versus algal oil: which is better?
‘Although algal oil is an excellent plant-based alternative, fish oil still has some health benefits. This is because the natural oil from cod contains a so-called ‘full spectrum’ fatty acid profile. This means that the oil is a mix of up to 40 different fatty acids, exactly as they occur in fish in the wild. Of many of these fatty acids, such as Omega 5,7,9 and 11, we don't even know yet what their exact effect is, but it is suspected that this variation may provide additional health benefits. Algal oil contains mainly EPA and DHA and lacks this broader profile.’
Source: Arctic Blue
Want to know more about Arctic Blue?
Arctic Blue is our sustainable tip for anyone looking to supplement omega-3s. Whether you choose MSC-certified fish oil or a plant-based algae variant, you're guaranteed a healthy responsible choice. In addition to liquid oil in glass bottles and capsules, Arctic Blue also has gummies - ideal for children or those looking for an easy way to get their daily omega-3 intake. Discover here full range From Arctic Blue!
More health tips
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Photo credits: Lianne Huizing for Arctic Blue.
