middle aged fat guy said:
I thought this article might be a nice light read for the guys just starting out, or for those of us who don't usually give fish oil a second thought
LINK: http://www.poliquingroup.com/ArticlesMu ... ight_.aspx
good article but i want to point out what omega 3 fatty acids are (or omega 6, etc etc) Omega 3 is an unsaturated fatty acid with three double bonds (C=C) at particular positions in the hydrocarbon chain. The chain has two ends, the beginning (carboxylic acid) is considered Alpha and the "tail" (methyl) is considered Omega, hence alpha omega - if you are familiar with greek, alpha and omega is first and last of alphabet. hence the term used for GOD in the new testament Alpha and Omega, he is beginning and end. so there we have OMEGA 3(bond#) fatty acids.
this is found in a lot of foods, but the most common people think is FISH. so that's why we get the fish oil tabs. this is similar to the banana in the fact that people say Potassium = Banana. yes banana has potassium but it is not the most potent source, banana is actually a better source for vit B6 then potassium, yet no one associates B6 with bananas, and there is more Potassium in Potatoes then Bananas, and potatoes pack a good punch with Fiber, Vit C, etc etc. Beans are also a good source of Potassium. Point being, there are plenty of very good sources for Potassium, but people have been conditioned to think Potassium = Banana. Same goes with Fish oil. Omega 3 = Fish. and this is not true. Fish are a very potent source of fatty acids, but there are plenty of other good sources as well for unsat fats, mono and poly. Eggs, Dairy, nuts, Plant Oils/seeds (chia seeds, flax seeds, etc), Beef (particularly grass fed) etc etc.
With that being said, do not get caught up in the Supp industry and think you need one particular Supplement or source, like FISH. Supps are what they are, supplementary, and they should only be Icing on the Cake, they arent the cake batter, just dont get it twisted..