The Difference Between Fish Oil and Omega 3

We have heard of fish oil and omega 3 countless times. Much too often, we believe that these two are one and the same. In fact we refer to them interchangeably like both mean the same thing. While fish oil and omega 3 may be alike in some aspects, they are totally two different things. There is often confusion about the difference between fish oil and omega 3, so let’s shed light on this topic once and for all. To start off, fish oil is oil while omega 3 is a fatty acid. They may often refer to the same thing however, both are different in terms of structure and components. Omega 3 fatty acid is a fat that is particularly polyunsaturated type. These fatty acids have three forms, namely ALA, EPA, and DHA. DHA and EPA can be found in fish such as cods, sardines, etc. ALA, on the other hand can be derived from vegetable oils such as canola or soybean oil and can be likewise obtained from walnuts and flaxseeds.

Now for fish oil, as the name implies, it is oil itself. This particularly healthy oil is generally produced from the fish’s fats and tissues. However, it only has the two main forms of polyunsaturated fats, DHA and EPA and does not contain ALA. Let’s cut right to the chase, did you know that fish actually are not producers of omega 3? Yes, that’s right. These fish only acquire it by eating those prey fish and microalgae that contains the essential omega 3 fatty acids.

So, in essence omega 3 is a fatty acid while fish oil is an oil. To further conclude and cap the topic off, omega 3 has three forms such as ALA, EPA, and DHA while fish oil contains only two of the three forms of omega 3 fatty acids which are EPA and DHA. DHA and EPA are marine omega 3, which goes without saying that they are mainly found in fish. ALA, on the other hand is a vegetable source of omega 3 and is present in walnuts, vegetable oils like canola and soybean oils, and flaxseeds. Generally, the various benefits of Omega 3s to our health come from the long-chain EPA and DHA. However, our body cannot readily produce EPA and DHA, as the body’s ability to manufacture these fats is very limited, thus it is important to obtain them from our diet. Both fish oil and omega 3 are beneficial to humans. That is one point where their differences don’t matter. Omega 3 and fish oil have lots of benefits to everyone, especially to those looking to improve their heart health. Fish oil and omega 3 lowers blood cholesterol thus preventing atherosclerosis. It also lowers hypertension, reduces triglycerides and lowers the risks of stroke and heart attack. Overall, fish oil and omega 3 are undeniably essential to our health, so it is important to ensure we obtain appropriate amount to help us in our health and wellness goals.