I noticed in my supermarket freezer a box of frozen fish fingers labelled 'Rich in Omega-3s'. Which made me wonder about whether this fishy oil hasn't become another fad nutrient promising more than it can deliver.

In the one corner are supporters of Omega-3s as a curative of the major and the minor, from functioning as a mind-sharpener, mood enhancer, protector against learning disporders, to helping with schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, bipolar disease, cognitive decline in age, cancer prevention, and more. They tout Omega-3s as a magic fatty acid that helps act against allergies, asthma, cystic fibrosis, kidney disease - the list goes on.

In the other corner are the Omega-3 sceptics. They point to the 12,500 studies produced over several decades that suggest that a label that says 'Rich in Omega-3s' may be more a marketing ploy than a descriptive of anything with serious curative properties. Dr Lee Hooper, lead author of a study published in the British Medical Journal in 2006, didn't find evidence that they would help in the prevention or treatment of the commonly cited diseases and disorders though she acknowledged it could soothe arthritic pain and stiffness, and appeared valuable in treatment of heart attack survivors. It wouldn't, though, necessarily reduce the risk of having one.

You'll get more Omega-3s from cattle that have been allowed to graze freely on grass. But you might not be delivering your family any extra special magical health solution benefits. The cows, of course, would have had a happier healthier life themselves. And it surely makes more sense to buy fresh fish than frozen fish fingers. But perhaps Omega-3s claims aren't quite as effective in preventing or controlling health problems from cancer and serious mental diseases to cystic fibrosis as marketing promotions would like us to believe.

1 Comment

1. Elizabeth

   Cattle that have been allowed to graze freely on grass not only have more Omega-3s, but also compared with grain-fed beef, grass-fed beef is:
   
   1. Lower in total fat
   2. Higher in beta-carotene (the main dietary source of vitamin A)
   3. Higher in vitamin E (antioxidant that fights free radicals and keeps skin hydrated)
   4. Higher in the B-vitamins thiamin and riboflavin
   5. Higher in the minerals calcium, magnesium, and potassium
   6. A healthier ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids (1.65 vs 4.84)
   7. Higher in CLA (cis-9 trans-11), a potential cancer fighter
   8. Lower in the saturated fats linked with heart disease
   
   So for beef, it's not ONLY about Omega 3s - Grass Fed Beef is a LOT better for many reasons.
   Best, Elizabeth
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