SAVE THE FISH: Using Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements from Hemp Oil
Omega-3 fatty acids are a popular item in the supplement aisle with benefits influencing many different tissues and organ systems. The human body is unable to synthesize long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on its own and needs to consume the critical omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are commonly derived from fatty fish oil, krill oil, and algae oils.
Omega-3 fatty acids are recommended by multiple government health organizations at about 250-500mg per day, although daily servings of up to 4,000mg have been indicated in people with progressing cardiovascular, cognitive, and metabolic disorders. Research supports the use of omega-3 fatty acids to benefit cardiovascular diseases, cognitive/mental disorders like Alzheimer’s, anxiety/depression, reducing inflammation, reducing cancer risks, preventing and treating autoimmune conditions, infant and child development, supporting healthy joint and bone health, improved sleep quality, and anti-aging for skin and hair.
Due to the increased utilization of fish oils, environmental experts have warned that the world’s fish supply is being caught and consumed at significantly higher rates than initially reported. These abundant catches are utilized by sushi restaurants and other eating establishments but are also used by supplement manufacturers for fish oil supplements. In order to reduce the burden on the world’s declining fish resources, alternative sources of Omega-3 fatty acids from hemp and other plant nutrients are becoming more widely used for dietary supplementation. Additionally, new research is being conducted to identify benefits of hemp seeds and hemp-based nutrients in feeding livestock animals, and the subsequent increased fatty acid profile and cannabinoid profiles that are passed along when those meats, eggs, and animal food products are consumed by humans.
Oils from hemp provide a nutrient-dense omega-3 fatty acid profile that could be a solution to over-eating fish. Oils derived from the industrial hemp plant contain essential vitamins such as Vitamins A, C, & E and B vitamins like (B1) riboflavin, (B2) thiamine, and (B3) niacin. Hemp oil extracts also contain minerals for the human diet such as zinc, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, iron, and magnesium. Unlike many plant proteins, hemp contains all 20 amino acids the body needs, including the 9 essential amino acids that the body cannot produce on its own and must be eaten in the diet. Hemp oil also contains a healthy form of omega-6 fatty acids, specifically gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), that typically is consumed at an excessive ratio of 25:1, omega-6 to omega-3, in the standard American diet.
In addition to providing essential fatty acids, full spectrum hemp oil contains all of the naturally occurring cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabidiol (CBD), other cannabinoids, terpenes, bioflavonoids, fibers, and other plant-based molecules that synergize in the human body to cause an “entourage effect”, increasing the effectiveness of hemp oil to modulate homeostasis in the human endocannabinoid system.
To learn more about how you can begin to incorporate hemp oil supplements into your daily nutrition routine, please visit our website at www.n8hemp.com
This article is not meant to diagnose, treat, or mitigate any sort of disease, conditions, cancer or pathology. Please consult with your physician if you have questions about hemp oil, omega-3 fatty acids, and your overall health goals.