Marine Phytoplankton

As a nutritional element, Omega 3 can be found in the fish we eat, but Omega 3 can also be found in marine phytoplankton. The next logical question is, which one may be will be “better” for us. To determine that, we can consider a side-by-side comparison of the health benefits of each.

Nutrient Composition with Essential Fatty Acids

There are a couple of kinds of Omega-3 essential fatty acids which benefit our health:

Alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA, is fatty acid we find in flax, hemp, chia, and other such seeds (as well as in walnuts). Eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, is fatty acid we find in coldwater oceanic fish and fish oil. And docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, is found in fish, such as cod, salmon, herring, and mackerel, as well.

But what we find in marine phytoplankton (microalgae) is both the long-chain omega 3’s EPA.

Nutrient Amounts

Marine phytoplankton is regarded as a whole food, providing several necessary nutrients (a broad range or spectrum, in fact) and requiring ingestion of only a small amount—which will go a long way.

Phytoplankton is the fish’s primary food source, so… whereas fish oil undergoes a harsh extraction process, phytoplankton is natural

Omega 3 Bioavailability

Whereas fish oil is not as easy to digest for everyone, marine phytoplankton, or micro-algae in nano form, bypasses the digestive system by moving directly into the bloodstream.

And moreover, just as are the Omega 3 fatty acids found in flax and other seeds comprised of Alpha-linolenic (Omega 3) acid that must be broken down, so is the Omega 3 fats complex in fish oil, one which the body must process in a number of phases before it can be of benefit. In contrast, marine phytoplankton contains phospholipids which assist the oils in reaching the brain, for example, for more brain power.

The Bottom Line about Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids

Experts will assert that an estimated 85% or more of people (in the Western world) are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids. Indeed, researchers, clinicians, and even doctors in some spheres have identified a connection between the omega-3 deficit and illness, disorder, and ailment: for example, there is some evidence that ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) is associated with fatty acid deficiency and/or imbalance. Depressive disorders (aside from the depression associated with ADHD) have been studied for their lack of essential fatty acids, too, with one study finding that in mice on low-omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids (AGPO-3) diets, there was a noticeable lowering within their AGPO-3 brain levels—which the researchers identified as connected to mood levels (and hence contributors to depression in the case of deficit).

Along with psychological health, physical health depends upon the essential fatty acids such as those found in marine phytoplankton: it is evident that omega-3 can positively impact everything from rheumatoid arthritis, to lupus, to heart disease. And, as we get more savvy about our nutrition, more benefits will likely come to light.

Related articles

• Omega 3 from Marine Phytoplankton (marinealgaes.com)
• Fish oil compound stops leukemia in mice (biosingularity.com)