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omega-3 benefits

Behold The Alpha Omegas!

Omega-3 really doesn’t get the credit it deserves.

These little gold capsules pack a lot of punch, and can help us with everything from muscular recovery, to hypertrophy, and even fat loss.

Sadly, we live in a world where people would rather waste all their cash on unproven pre-workouts and ineffective fat burners, and most only ever buy Omega-3 when looking to drive their Myprotein cart over the $100 marker for free delivery.

That’s gonna change today…

Bodybuilder lifting weights

There are many health benefits to Omega-3, but I’d like to focus on those which involve improving body composition, seeing as that’s why we’re using it.

There are three main things here.

  • Muscle growth

Omega-3 doesn’t play a role in the muscle building process, but it helps your body to retain the lean muscle tissue it’s already carrying.

By reducing the amount of muscle breakdown which is occurring, this can lead to significantly faster results for you in the gym.

Also, most of us know that the benefits of fish oil begin to stack up as we get older, but did you know it can be just as useful for youngsters? A study from Washington University School of Medicine discovered that adolescents who supplemented with Omega-3 (4g/day) saw an improved rate of muscle protein synthesis, had larger muscle cells, and a greater anabolic response to insulin. (1, 2)

  • Fat loss

The DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) found in Omega-3 are involved in switching on genes which are responsible for starting the fat burning process, as well as switching off genes which slow it down. (4)

By making sure your diet is high in Omega-3, you maximize your potential for greater fat loss results.

  • Performance

We all train better when we feel good, so it’s worth knowing that Omega-3 can lead to significant improvements in both muscle soreness and your overall mood. (4, 6)

It can also have a positive impact on cognitive function (particularly memory), and even improve the protection of your body’s cells as you age.

Research indicates that having low levels of DHA and EPA are heavily linked to long-term DNA damage, which can speed up the physical signs of aging and in some cases even lead to neurological disease.

Interestingly, a 2020 study from Brazil found that people with higher levels of DHA and EPA (which are both found in Omega-3) have lower DNA damage. (3)

Omega-3 benefits

Most supplement companies offer a range of fish oil supplements, like this:

  • Omega-3
  • Omega-6
  • Omega-9
  • Omega-3-6-9

People automatically assume that a higher number means a better product, but that’s not the case here.

As mentioned earlier, standard Omega-3 is packed with the all-important DHA and EPA we need to unlock the range of benefits it offers, and this makes it your #1 choice!

Meanwhile, Omega-6 offers some useful anti-inflammatory benefits (but you can also get those by eating vegetables), and the lesser-known Omega-9 is the weak link of the fish oil family because a) your body can create it by itself, and b) it’s already used in stuff like olive oil, so we don’t need a supplement for it.

The only way we can get the DHA and EPA our body needs is through an Omega-3 supplement, so don’t waste your time on any other form of fish oil supplement.

Fish oil supplements

This is a must-have supplement.

It offers us so many health-related benefits that it baffles me why so many people skimp on things like this. Very few people eat fatty fish often enough to obtain these crucial nutrients, so it makes perfect sense to grab a supplement for it.

NOTE: Avoid the stuff you see on the shelves of your local supermarket. They may seem like good value for money at surface level, but they contain so very little DHA and EPA that you’d end up needing a giant serving to see any benefits! I also recommend steering clear of needlessly overpriced ones. Go for one which does the job and doesn’t make any silly promises it can’t keep, like this.

russhowepti.com
omega-3 benefits

Further Reading:

If you enjoyed this blog, then you’ll probably also like reading these.

>> Russ’ Guide To Supplements
>> Why Eating Fat Won’t Make You Fat
>> Creatine: Your Best Pal For Building Muscle!

References:

  1. Smith G. I., et al. Dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation increases the rate of muscle protein synthesis in older adults: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr (2011).
  2. Smith G. I., et al. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids augment the muscle protein anabolic response to hyperinsulinaemia–hyperaminoacidaemia in healthy young and middle-aged men and women. Clin Sci (2011).
  3. de Barros T. T, et al. DNA damage is inversely associated to blood levels of DHA and EPA fatty acids in Brazilian children and adolescents. Food Funct (2020).
  4. Yu Y-H., et al. The function of porcine PPARγ and dietary fish oil effect on the expression of lipid and glucose metabolism related genes. J Nutr Biochem (2011).
  5. Muldoon M. F., et al. Serum phospholipid docosahexaenonic acid is associated with cognitive functioning during middle adulthood. J Nutr (2010).
  6. Kris-Etherton P. M., et al. Fish consumption, fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, and cardiovascular disease. Circulation (2002).

1 thought on “Behold The Alpha Omegas!”

  1. Great information shared.. really enjoyed reading this post thank you author for sharing this post .. appreciated

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