Vegetarian Omega 3 DHA and EPA Source That Vegetarians and Vegans Should Know

Vegetarian omega 3 DHA and EPA sources are limited to Schizochytrium microalgae oil for the only known microalgae oil strain on the market with both DHA and EPA. No longer are vegetarian omega 3s DHA and EPA exclusive to fish oil supplements.

The vegetarian aware and vegan omega 3 consumer will now be able to afford their families the same omega-3 health benefits and opportunities previously enjoyed only from animal-oils with less desirable formulas than PURE ONE. Vegetarian dieters and vegans already have a lower the risk of heart problems and other diseases complicated by certain in-excess or deficient fatty acids in the diet.

Like most red-meat heavy diets, vegetable-based lighter diets are also low in omega 3 fats.Flax seed oil has a precursor omega-3 often called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which eventually allows your body to produce some docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaeoic acid (EPA). These fats are the three O3’s most people lack regardless of their diet.

Vegetarian Omega 3 Food Sources

Omega 3 benefits are generally associated with fish and fish oil, but those are not the only food sources rich in marine fatty acids. Unfortunately, because flax oil and milled flax seeds are the richest vegetarian omega 3 source, flax doesn’t have DHA or EPA. Neither does hemp seed omega-3 oil, or linseed oil or olive oil, which contain smaller amounts of only the precursor omega-3 nutrient. Tofu and walnuts have some omega nutrients, but are actually higher in omega 6s than 3s. Dark, leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and other vegetables such as cabbage also have these powerful nutrients and make great additions to your diet.

Vegetarian Omega 3 Fortified Foods Eggs are one food that has added omega 3 benefits because they are often naturally fortified by feeding the chickens an abundance of flax seeds. Milk producers and yogurt companies frequently add vegetarian based ALA as well. For strict vegetarian diets, however, these foods are off the list, but it doesn't mean that they can't enjoy the health benefits. Several brands of margarine and salad dressings use alternative oils such as olive or flax as their base. If you are drinking milk alternatives, consider soy drinks that include flax seed products or DHA. Yet another source of ALA for vegetarians is grain breads. The biggest rule of thumb is to read labels since different brands use different sources.

Supplements

Oils and seeds are not the only omega 3 foods from non-animal sources. One of the biggest omega 3 sources for everyone is supplements. Supplements capsules are not necessarily from a vegetable base, so vegetarians need to watch labels. All of these sources vary significantly in the actual omega 3 benefits your body receives. Fish oil, for example, requires two separate processes in order for your body to use the substance while flax oil requires three.

One of the highest vegetarian sources of omega 3 is microalgae oil, which your body can begin to use immediately with no additional processing. Microalgae oil gives you the maximum benefit of omega 3s. In addition, microalgae oil contains the proper balance of EPA and DHA making it a far superior source.

While foods and oils like flax oil and walnuts are a source of vegetarian omega 3, microalgae oil supplements are a higher benefit source being easier and more efficient for your body to use. This allows everyone to enjoy omega 3 benefits and a healthy lifestyle regardless of your culinary affiliations.

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OMEGA-3 MICROALGAE OIL AS A SAFE VEGETARIAN SOURCE OF EPA/DHA

Pure One™ is 100% vegetarian and more effective than any other plant-based Omega-3 product.

Pure One™ is derived from microalgae, one of the most DHA-rich forms of Omega-3 oil available.  Other plant-based sources of Omega-3s (flax seed, canola oil or walnuts) don’t contain either DHA or EPA. Instead, they contain ALA, an Omega-3 precursor that requires the body to go through a three step process to convert to DHA and EPA.  That conversion process makes ALA much less effective and efficient in gaining the needed fatty acids. It makes the body work harder and ends up providing much less DHA or EPA.  Omega-3 microalgae oil  provides DHA and EPA directly.

Also, our product is made with purely vegetarian AL-G^TM gelatin (carrageenan) capsules - the latest in natural encapsulation technology.  All our ingredients, not just the oil, are All-Natural, fully vegetarian, 100% Vegan.

Our Omega-3 oil is grown and refined in state-of-the-art (cGMP certified) quality controlled facilities in the United States.  Since 1997, FDA experts have granted our Omega-3 oil and our grower with a Generally Regarded as Safe designation for food supplements.

Finally, we use only conventional growing techniques.  While the Omega-3 for Pure One™ is grown in a safe, clean, controlled environment, it is also grown naturally without any genetic modification.

 See our diagram on the conversion process of ALA.

With few ALA rich plant sources for vegetarians, omega-3 supplements are an important consideration. Beyond flax, walnut and mustard seed oils, ALA supplementation is limited because stearidonic acid (STA) is poorly formed as the second product in the DHA synthesis pathway. Bypassing delta-6 desaturase at the first step with STA supplementation allows for some EPA accumulation but little DHA omega-3.Plant sources of STA Omega-3 are found most abundantly in the invasive plant species Echium and seldom used herb Borage, now available on the market with clear benefits to vegetarians and vegans seeking omega-3 DHA online.