International Omega-3 Learning and Education Consortium for Health and Medicine

Omega-3 fatty acids are vital in supporting everyday health and may even be beneficial in reducing the risk of chronic diseases. With today's busy lifestyle though, it is often difficult to consume nutritious and well-balanced meals. In a previous article, we discussed the options and what to look for when dining out (Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Dining Out), but what can you do when you just cannot implement omega-3 rich fish into your diet?

There are a plethora of omega-3 fatty acid supplements on the market. Determining what is appropriate for you and your family though, can be quite frustrating. There are certain points to remember that can aid you with this process. Learning to read the supplement facts and figuring out what you are getting out of the product are vital to obtaining the right product.

In the supplement facts, you will find the serving size, and most of the time it will also include the number of capsules per serving and servings per container. Most of the calories in omega-3 fatty acid supplements will be from fat. Since omega-3 fatty acids are good fats, this is one time you will want a product with a high fat content. However, to truly understand the value of the product, you need to determine the amount and type of omega-3 fatty acids the product contains. To help you in determining this information and for more details about supplements, see Navigating the supplement aisle ... what to know when selecting an omega-3 supplement.

Other than fish and supplements, there are other ways to get your omega-3 fatty acids. Nuts, oils and fortified foods can be beneficial in increasing your omega-3 intake. As with the supplements though, you will want to pay close attention to the nutrition labels as not all fortified foods are created equal.

While oily fish are the best natural source of omega-3 fatty acids, there are other options available. If you read the labels and do a little research, you can find the best way to incorporate these vital fatty acids into the diets of you and your family.