With all the talk about how fantastic omega-3 fatty acids are for our bodies, it’s sometimes easy to forget that not everyone likes to eat fish, which is the food that is richest in these essential nutrients for our brain and heart. Sometimes those who like fish can’t get it because they live too far inland from good fish markets. In addition, many fear contaminants found in fish such as methylmercury. And then there are vegetarians vegans who simply can’t eat fish. This can make it tough for these people to get their healthy fatty acids.   

A recent article in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association outlined that group’s belief that eating good foods is the best way to get the nutrients you want. They recommended eating two servings of seafood a week, especially of oily fish like mackerel and sardines, which would provide about 3,500 milligrams (mg) of the DHA and EPA, two of the most desirable omega 3 fatty acids, per week.  Most Americans only consume approximately 100 mg of omega-3 fats a day, or nearly 700 mg a week. Clearly, this is a problem in need of solution, and the functional food industry has responded.  

Fortunately, you no longer have to eat fish or take spoonfuls of fish oil to get your omega-3s. These days, most grocery stores carry eggs from chickens that were fed a diet high in omega-3s, and meat, breads, and even snack foods are often fortified with these essential nutrients.  To make certain you are getting enough DHA and EPA, I recommend taking a highly refined omega-3 supplement that ensures accurate dosing and purity.  

I have been recommending prescription-only supplement Animi-3 to patients who have diseases associated with deficiencies in omega-3, folic acid, and B vitamins. Each capsule contains 500 mg of omega-3, including 350 mg of DHA, 1 mg of folic acid, 12.5 mg of B6, and 12 mcg of B12. Plus, the omega-3 in Animi-3 is all natural and purified to eliminate any contaminants including those commonly found in fish.  

Bottom line: Experts agree you must consume more omega-3s in your diets. 

Age-related macular degeneration is an insidious disease that gradually diminishes a person’s sharp, central vision. It is usually treated with lasers or drugs, although the success rate is not high.

 But a new study shows that you may be able to reduce the risk of vision loss just by eating the right foods. It turns out that foods such as fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids and actually may help prevent macular degeneration, according to researchers at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

 The team of researchers conducted a comprehensive review of studies on the relationship between omeg-3 fatty acids, which are found most abundantly in oily fish, and supplements, and concluded that in most cases, the more omega-3s a person consumed, the less likely they were to develop age-related macular degeneration.  

While the researchers admit they cannot say for certain whether eating fish and taking omega-3 supplements prevent age-related macular degeneration, scientists and nutritional experts are beginning to envision a brighter future.

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Barbara S. Levine, R.D., Ph.D., has been a researcher, consultant, and teacher of nutrition at some of the most prestigious medical institutions in the country. Dr. Levine is a DHA & B Vitamin Center scientific advisory board member and director of the first NIH-funded Nutrition Information Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Weill-Cornell Medical College, The Rockefeller University, Hospital for Special Surgery, and Strang Cancer Prevention Center.