Why I Never Skip Omega-3s After 50

Fish oil isn't the flashiest supplement out there. It doesn't get the buzz it did 15 years ago. But if you asked me which basics I'd never skip after 50, it's near the top of the list.

What omega-3s are

Omega-3s are fats your body needs but can't make well on its own. The two that matter most are EPA and DHA. You get them mainly from fatty fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel and trout.

Plant foods like flax, chia and walnuts have a different omega-3 called ALA. That's good food, but your body only turns a small amount of ALA into EPA and DHA. So if you're counting on plants alone, you're probably coming up short.

Most of us don't eat enough fish

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest about 8 ounces of seafood a week. That's two servings. Most adults don't get close. Be honest with yourself: when was the last time you had salmon twice in one week?

Why it matters as we get older

EPA and DHA are part of the membranes of every cell in your body. Research on omega-3s has focused on a few areas that matter a lot after 50:

• Heart. Omega-3s support heart health and healthy triglyceride levels that are already in a normal range.
• Joints. They support joint comfort and mobility, which is what keeps you training, playing and moving.
• Brain. DHA is a major building block of the brain and supports normal brain function.

None of this is magic. Omega-3s aren't a fix for anything. They're a foundation, like protein and sleep. You won't feel them in a day. You build them up over months.

How to get enough

1. Eat fatty fish twice a week if you can. Salmon, sardines and trout are easy wins.
2. If you can't, consider a supplement. Look at the EPA and DHA numbers on the label, not just the big "fish oil" number on the front. That's what actually counts.
3. Take it with a meal that has some fat in it. It absorbs better that way.

What I use

Ours is 1500 mg of omega-3 concentrate per serving, with 800 mg EPA and 600 mg DHA. It comes from cold, deep waters off Norway and is molecularly distilled, so there's no fishy smell and no fish burps.

Super Omega-3 Fish Oil

One caution

If you take a blood thinner or have surgery coming up, talk to your doctor before starting fish oil. Omega-3s can affect clotting.

Here's to your health,
Greg

Sources: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fact Sheet; Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.