Best Source of Omega-3? Flax or Seal Oil?

Flax seed oil is a great source of omega-3 and outside of marine animal sources, it has one of the best ratios of omega-3 to omega-6 available in the natural world.

Omega-6 to Omega-3 Ratio:

Flax Oil: 1:3.5

Seal Oil: 1:7.5

Therefore, for every mg of omega-6, flax oil contains 3.5x more omega-3. For seal oil, it’s 7.5x more. Flax is still a very good source of Omega-3, since, people in North America tend to consume a ratio of Omega-6:Omega-3 which is far too high - on average 15:1, and for some as high as 50:1. But there are other ways in which Seal Oil is superior to flaxseed oil.

ALA vs. EPA & DHA (indirect vs. direct benefits)

Flax oil’s omega-3 comes from its ALA or alpha-Linolenic acid, which is a plant-based source of omega-3. But in order to be beneficial to the human body, ALA must be converted to EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid). During conversion, the body only receives the benefit of about 10-15% of the initial amount. So if the bottle of flax oil states there are 2.5g per teaspoon, your body will, in fact, only benefit from 250mg. Plus, it’s a less-direct source of the two fatty acids. To read more about this, visit the article published by Harvard University: https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/why-not-flaxseed-oil

Where’s the DPA?

Another downside to flax seed oil vs. seal oil is that flax oil does not contain any DPA or Docosapentaenoic acid, another essential fatty acid. DPA is, however, contained in marine animal sources, including in seal oil. According to the National Institutes of Health ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4467567/#__sec4title), seal oil contains one of the highest sources of DPA in the natural world. It is a highly recommended nutrient. As mentioned, it is unfortunately absent from flax oil.

Conclusion:

Overall seal oil is a one-of-a-kind source of omega-3. You really need to dig a little deeper and get into the nitty-gritty to see why it is a better source than flax oil. If you have any questions, please contact me. Please visit www.TerraNovaSealOil.com or www.plantology.ca to order your seal oil today.