What’s the Right Daily Dosage for Omega 3?

If you are thinking about starting an Omega 3 supplement, it is important to understand the recommended daily dosing for Omega 3. First, Omega 3 needs to be the right combination of DHA and EPA to work correctly. Second, studies show that you need to take 1,000mg to 3,000mg of both DHA and EPA to get the most benefits.

When looking at the daily dosage recommendations, you discuss this with your doctor and make sure you don’t take any higher dose than 3,000mg a day without your doctor carefully monitoring you. There can be a few side-effects and drug interactions over 3,000mg daily, especially if you are on blood thinning medications.

Omega 3 is generally a very safe supplement to take and getting the right dosage can help improve your health in many ways. From cardiac health to improved memory, it is an essential nutrient that is nearly missing from our diets today.

Omega 3 and Various Dosages

Omega 3 is available in gel capsules that range from 150 mg to 300 mg per capsule. On average, capsules contain about 400 mg EPA and 200 mg DHA, but can be lower or higher. Manufacturers usually specify the amount of gel caps that need to be taken to get the daily amount listed on the label.

For the best value and results, try to find a manufacturer that provides the highest dose in the least amount of gel caps daily. This will not only help you save money, it can also help your body absorb the nutrients better than when taken in divided doses.

The Omega 3 And Omega 6 Balance

We are hearing a lot about Omega 3 these days and for good reason. This essential fatty acid is important for good health. The issue here is that there is another fatty acid, Omega 6 that has to be in balance with Omega 3. Our diets today tend to contain more Omega 6 than Omega 3 and this is where we run into problems. If we eat more Omega 6 than Omega 3, it can weaken the good benefits or even cancel them out. We need to be eating more Omega 3 fatty acids than Omega 6.

We also need to have just the right balance of DHA and EPA to get the full benefits of Omega 3. There is a small amount of EPA that converts to DHA, but the conversion process is very slow. Since EPA takes a long time to convert to DHA, you are actually absorbing less EPA than DHA. Always shop for a supplement that contains more EPA than DHA. When this combination has the proper balance, you will experience more of the good health benefits from Omega 3 supplements.

Plant based sources of Omega 3 have another component, ALA. Your body can convert ALA to EPA and DHA, however the amount absorbed by the body is lower than a non-vegetarian source. If you are vegetarian and use an ALA supplement, consider a marine algae type Omega 3 that already contains in it EPA and DHA . Note that marine algae does have more DHA than EPA. While this is a good source of all the components for vegetarians or people with allergies, remember the delicate balance Omega 3 components need for maximum absorption.

Conclusion

The daily dosage for Omega 3 is quite easy, once you understand the balance of Omega 3 to Omega 6 and the balance of DHA and EPA. Vegetarians need to look at sources that will provide them the most EPA and DHA. The more you balance the different assets of Omega 3 the better the health benefits to your body.