Omegas--pondering questions

[mochamama]

I've read up on Omega 3 and 6. It seems like the new great thing in nutritional supplement. It also seems like a bone of contention between vegs and meat eaters whether the vegetable source of Omegas is as good as the animal one.

So, if the belief that Omegas are essential and necessary for proper brain function and health--and many reputable nutritionists think so--how did people ever cope without them?

It seems like the sources for Omegas are so limited. Cold water ocean fish, flaxseed, walnuts, what else?

What did humans do evolving in Africa eat for Omegas? Not much cold water fish there.

What did human cultures do for Omegas who lived far from cold ocean waters, walnut trees or flax, or the few other food sources? Apparently they didn't just die out.

Humans are incredibly resourceful and adaptable animals. Usually when some nutrient source isn't readily available, humans use something else. What other nutrient could we be using instead, before we had all this info about Omegas, and everyone ran out to buy fish oil capsules and flax seeds?

Has anyone else noodled around with these ideas?

[alexis]

I always wondered what our ancestors did for their diet last time and why on earth no one died of malnutrition but i figured that as the years went by, humans slowly adapt to the changes in the world and the produce we have now is waaay less nutritious than what our ancestors had, there's a difference between corn that you pick right out of your garden and corn which has been tinkered with and transported over long distances to get to you...

[sarahrose]

I've heard some pro-meat people say that omega3 from vegetarian sources can not be used by your body. It is absolutely not true. It is missing some of the components that are in fish, but it does not matter because your body converts it, so you end up with the same thing in your body. Some other sources of Omegas besides Flax ( my favorite- I use the oil instead of margarine and to make salad dressing) and walnuts are hemp seeds, olive oil, canola oil, sunflower seeds and soybeans. Our ancestors probably did get their omegas- as I've heard people have eaten nuts and seeds for thousands of years. Its just that people never knew it was essential for their health, they just ate omega foods without knowing they needed it. ( Watermelon seeds also have alot of omega oils, as well as some other fruit seeds that we don't normally eat )

[JimK]

I have read from Veg friendly sources that the vegetable sources of Omega 3's (short chain types LNA, LA) may not always be converted to the longer chain types DHA and EPA that are used by the brain. Apparently, some people convert better than others. Also, the blood tests to check your levels of these are not readily available.

On advice from Dr. M. Greger (well-known vegan advocate), my wife who is pregnant, is taking a DHA supplement. We also plan on continuing this through the breastfeeding phase of childhood. Hopefully, more substantial information will become available.

[mum2sarah]

JimK,
Could you explain what a DHA supplement is? I am pregnant and nursing and I try to be sure to get my flax oil every day, but I admit I'm a bit confused by the whole conversion of omega 3's, as I am very new to veganism (and nutritional awareness, for that matter)...:confused: Is the DHA supplement vegan? What is it made from?

[JimK]

Dr. Greger gave a lecture on 25MAY2003 on "Maximizing Vegetarian Nutrition". I read a transcripted article about this in "The American Vegan" newsletter, Summer 2003 issue, and then contacted him with some questions.

Part of his recommendations, on Essential Fatty Acids is:
One to two TB of ground flax seeds daily. In addition, avoid Omega 6-rich oils (corn, safflower, sunflower, cottonseed), saturated fats and all hydrogenated oils (mostly in processed baked goods). Diabetics and pregnant/breastfeeding women should take 300mg of DHA everyday.

A good product that we use is available at the Vegan Essentials website. The product is O-Mega-Zen3. It is vegan and contains 300 mg DHA.