Omega 3 Dosage - Discussion

What omega 3 dosage should we be taking on a daily basis? How much omega 3 fatty acids should we consume?

The omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA have been well-researched and known to have many positive health effects on the body. They cannot be synthesized by the human body, and must be taken as part of one's diet. The health benefits of another omega 3 fatty acid, ALA, is less well-known, although the body is able to convert ALA into DHA and EPA, albeit on a limited basis. ALA, too, must be consumed as part of the diet.

There is no clear indication of what DHA or EPA omega 3 dosage should be taken for disease prevention or optimal health and wellbeing. Much research which has looked into the health benefits of DHA and EPA has used at least 3 grams (total per day) of these omega 3 fatty acids.

DHA and EPA are richly found in fatty or oily fish, and persons who eat such foods several times a week should presumably be able to get their fix of these essential fatty acids. There is, however, the problem of contamination - most fish today contain undesirable levels of toxins and heavy metals, in particular mercury.

When taking plant or vegetarian sources of omega 3 fatty acids, such as flax seed oil (which is an excellent oil, by the way), varying omega 3 dosages have also been quoted by different sources, ranging from 1 tablespoon per day (15ml) to a lot more.

One thing which you must note - if you are choosing to use cod liver oil to fulfill your omega 3 fatty acid needs, please exercise extreme caution. This is because cod liver oil is also rich in vitamin A. While this vitamin is critical for good health, taking it directly in supplemental form can lead to overdose, which would be very dangerous. Taking too much vitamin A also has adverse effects on the body's ability to use vitamin D.

In general, when taking omega 3 supplements, you could just follow the dosage instructions given with the product. If you need to go higher or take omega 3's for therapeutic purposes to treat certain health conditions, it may be a good idea to consult with a suitable natural health care practitioner. Usually, for such treatment purposes, relatively high omega 3 dosages are used. As with anything, no matter how healthful, you can certainly take too much omega 3, and caution should be exercised if you need or wish to take very high doses.

In any case, as with taking any supplements or herbs, it is a good idea to start small and slowly work your way up, taking note of how your body responds to it. This commonsensical approach can go a long way in helping to prevent undesirable or adverse reactions.