Finding the Best Supplement for You
You hit a wall – either halfway through your day or mid-workout – and you just can’t seem to push through it. Then, it might be time to take a closer look at your nutrition. From brain fog to weak workouts, these setbacks can often be linked to a deficiency in your essential fatty acid intake.
Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are crucial components of a balanced diet, fueling you through workouts and supporting your overall health. While EFAs contribute to energy production alongside non-essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, and phosphocreatine during physical activity, they also serve diverse functions such as inflammation regulation, hormone production, and cell membrane structure.
But unlike other nutrients, your body can't produce EFAs on its own, so it's crucial to get them from your diet.
Natural Sources: Where to Find Them
First, your diet should always be your primary source of nutrient intake. Fortunately, there's no shortage of natural and delicious sources of EFAs to incorporate into your meals:
> Fatty fish: Salmon, mackerel, trout, and sardines all include a hefty dose of omega-3 fatty acids.
> Flaxseeds: Bursting with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), flaxseeds can easily be
sprinkled onto your cereal or blended into a morning smoothie for a plant-based
omega-3 boost.
> Chia seeds: A versatile addition to any diet, add chia seeds to your yogurt,
oatmeal, or salad for a boost of omega-3s, fiber, and protein.
> Walnuts: Packed with ALA omega-3s, walnuts are an easy way to add extra
healthy fats to your diet. Grab a handful for a quick snack.
> Avocado: Rich in omega-6 fatty acids, avocados can be spread on toast, mashed into guacamole, or sliced onto salads for a nourishing boost.
Optimizing Athletic Performance
EFAs elevate your performance by reducing inflammation, aiding muscle recovery, and boosting endurance. Omega-3 EFAs, in particular, possess anti-inflammatory properties. They play a crucial role in balancing the body's inflammatory response, vital for managing chronic inflammation associated with conditions like arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers.
Everyday Benefits for Everyone
EFAs aren't just for elite athletes. They play a crucial role in everyday health and wellness. Benefits of taking an EFA supplement include:
Brain Health: Omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), are crucial for brain function, memory, and mood regulation. Adequate omega-3 intake has been associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Heart
Heart Health: EFAs have been shown to lower blood pressure and inflammation,
improve cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Cellular Integrity: EFAs are integral components of cell membranes, helping to
maintain their structure and fluidity. This is essential for cellular communication,
nutrient uptake, and waste removal.
Hormone Production: EFAs serve as building blocks for hormones that regulate
immune response, blood clotting, and reproductive function.
Skin Health: Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids maintain skin hydration,
elasticity, and barrier function, protecting against dryness, acne, and eczema.
Eye Health: DHA is concentrated in the retina and is essential for optimal vision
and eye health, supporting vision and reducing the risk of age-related eye
diseases.
Immune Support: EFAs modulate inflammation, enhance immune function, and
defend against infections and illnesses.
From keeping your heart strong to sharpening your mind, these healthy fats are vital for daily vitality. Incorporating EFAs into your daily routine can help you feel your best and perform at your peak, day in and day out.
Fish Oil vs. Krill Oil Supplements
Our bodies view dietary fat as building blocks that carry out different functions during digestion. The three primary forms of fat, triglycerides, phospholipids, and sterols, each play a unique role. Triglycerides, the most common type found in food and in our bodies, consist of three fatty acids and serve as a major energy source with excess triglycerides stored in fat tissue.
Phospholipids, on the other hand, make up the cell membrane, act as a barrier to
protect the cell, and regulate cellular processes.
If you’re struggling to get a healthy amount of EFAs through your diet alone, you have multiple supplement options. Fish oil and krill oil are two popular choices, each with their own unique benefits.
Fish Oil
Fish oil, typically in the form of triglycerides, has long been the go-to supplement choice, and for good reason. Packed with omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, fish oil offers a myriad of benefits for your body and mind. Health benefits of fish oil include:
- Supports heart health: EPA and DHA in fish oil help maintain healthy cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Fights inflammation: Fish oil's anti-inflammatory properties can alleviate joint pain and stiffness, making it a popular choice for athletes and those with arthritis.
- Boosts brain function: DHA, in particular, is crucial for brain health, supporting cognitive function, memory, and mood regulation.
However, due to its compromised bioavailability, fish oil currently on the market can fall short of your body’s needs. Also, it's hard to tell if your supplement is utilizing the omega-3s, especially considering most fish oils currently available only have 1000mg of fish oil, and in some cases, only 600mg of actual omega-3s.
Krill Oil
Derived from tiny crustaceans known as krill, this EFA source boasts a unique
composition that sets it apart from fish oil. Krill oil contains phospholipid-bound omega-3s and antioxidants, offering additional benefits for heart health and inflammation, including:
- Enhanced absorption: The phospholipid-bound omega-3s in krill oil are more readily absorbed by the body, maximizing their benefits.
- Antioxidant protection: Astaxanthin, found exclusively in krill oil, neutralizes free radicals and reduces oxidative damage, supporting overall health and longevity.
- Improved joint health: Krill oil's unique combination of omega-3s and astaxanthin may help reduce joint pain and inflammation, promoting greater mobility and comfort.
A World Class Formula
The truth is, both fish oil and krill oil are excellent options for supplementing your EFA intake. Each offers unique benefits and can play a valuable role in supporting your health and performance. That's why we formulated Jocko Fish Oil; packed with 2500mg of concentrated fish oil, 2000mg of omega-3 fatty acids, and 6 mg of astaxanthin to double down on inflammation reduction and overall health support.
By incorporating Jocko’s Fish Oil into your supplement regimen, you can enjoy a
comprehensive array of EFAs and antioxidants to get through your day with confidence.