(BPT) - Are you getting everything your body needs to feel and function at its best? Many Americans assume their diet covers the basics, but research shows that more than 80% aren't getting enough omega-3s — vital nutrients that play a critical role in whole-body health.† Now, it's easy for everyone to get high-quality omega-3 support with premium Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega Minis available at Costco stores nationwide.
What are omega-3s and why do they matter so much? Here's what to know, and a new, simple, value-add way to get more of them in your daily routine to support your health and wellness goals.*
What are omega-3s and why are they so important?
Omega-3 fatty acids are key nutrients that support overall health. The omega-3s EPA and DHA are among the few nutrients that support every single cell in the body. And, essentially, whatever your body does or doesn't do well greatly depends on the health of your cells, making omega-3s critical to your heart health, brain function, immune system and overall everyday well-being.* Basically, they show up everywhere in your body, doing important work.
Unfortunately, current research shows that more than 80% of Americans aren't getting enough omega-3s through their diet.† Americans simply aren't consuming enough omega-3-rich foods. For example, you would need to eat at least 3 ounces of salmon every single day or 76,000 chia seeds each day to get a common daily serving of 1,000 mg of EPA and DHA, which are the most critical omega-3s bodies need. But you have to rely on your diet because the human body can't efficiently make EPA and DHA on its own. Omega-3s EPA and DHA are primarily found in cold-water fatty fish (e.g., salmon, sardines, mackerel) and algae — foods that typically aren't an abundant part of the everyday American diet.
How can you get more omega-3s?
Meeting your daily omega-3 needs is vital to reaping the full benefits of your other healthy lifestyle efforts. Eating foods rich in the omega-3s EPA and DHA is a great place to start. This can include cold-water fatty fish like salmon, anchovies and sardines. But, as studies have shown, it's incredibly difficult to get enough omega-3s through food sources alone.
This is why adding a high-quality omega-3 supplement to your daily routine can help ensure you're meeting your omega-3 needs to get all of those whole-body benefits.
What should you look for in an omega-3 supplement?
Not all omega-3 supplements are created equal. Quality, freshness and absorption are all important factors to consider. A trusted brand like Nordic Naturals — the No. 1 selling omega-3 company in the U.S.‡ — sets high standards for purity, strength and freshness.
"Every Nordic Naturals fish oil product is rigorously tested for purity, strength and freshness to confirm virtually undetectable levels of environmental contaminants such as PCBs and heavy metals; that active ingredient amounts always match what's shown on the label; and that oxidation values are well below international standards to ensure great taste with no fishy aftertaste," said Kate Turner, MA, RD, CPT, nutrition specialist at Nordic Naturals.
As part of Nordic Naturals' commitment to transparency, the brand offers a Certificate of Analysis (COA) for every product, which you can access by scanning a QR code on the box, so you can see exactly what you're getting.
If you've avoided fish oil in the past due to a fishy taste, smell or "fishy burps," it simply means the fish oil you took was exposed to oxygen, making it go rancid and creating that awful experience. Nordic Naturals addresses this by carefully purifying and concentrating its fish oils in an oxygen-controlled environment, helping ensure exceptional freshness and a clean taste.
As with starting any new supplement, it's important to speak to your healthcare provider first.
*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.
†Murphy RA, et al. BMJ Open. 2021.11
‡Based on Stackline, Nielsen and SPINS annual sales data in the U.S.
