Omega-3 is a polyunsaturated fatty acid.
2 Many people believe that eating foods that contain fat is bad for you, but actually, a small amount of ‘good’ fat is important for your health. Fat helps your body to stay warm, have energy, make hormones and absorb certain vitamins.
3
However, you might be surprised to learn that there are many other benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acids like
omega-3s. For example, they may help reduce pain and inflammation associated with joint disorders.
4 They can also contribute to proper absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, such as
vitamin D,
vitamin E and
vitamin K in the body, which is essential for
bone health.
5
There are no official government recommendations as to how much omega-3 you should have each day, but if you want to take it in supplement form, the British Heart Foundation recommends aiming for around 450mg per day.
6 There are a few different forms of
omega-3 supplements to choose from, including
capsules,
soft gels,
gummies and
oils.
You can also get omega-3 through the foods you eat, but more on that later.7