There is a large body of scientific evidence that shows that a diet rich in omega fatty acids supports a wide range of health benefits, including inflammation in general and the heart, brain, joint, skin and eyes in particular.

It is hard to get enough of the good omegas in our diets, in the right ratios, so many of us add Omega supplements that are derived from fish or krill. While I appreciate the proper use of supplements more than most docs, I’d say, fish oil supplements in particular have been causing me some concern.

My reason for this concern is two-fold: first, there is an enormous amount of plastic in our oceans. Scientists think that the plastic pollution in an area of the Pacific Ocean called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which visible from outer space because it is so huge, is going to outweigh the fish there by 2050. (1) Second, there are many more fatty acids than just the Omega 3s present in fish oil. Omegas 5, 6, 7 and 9 are just as important for the body – in fact, they are essential!

Let’s break all of this down a little further. Plastic, as I’m sure you all know, is not biodegradable, but it does break down into tiny pieces called microplastics – and fish often mistake this microplastic for food.

“While scientists have documented the effects of large plastic flotsam in the oceans for decades — turtles trapped in fishing nets, albatrosses swallowing plastic cigarette lighters — very little research has focused on what happens when those bigger pieces break down into tiny specks, called microplastics.” (2)

Dr. Peter Ross, an ocean pollution researcher at the Vancouver Aquarium’s Marine Science Center who has been studying ocean pollution for over 30 years, says that all fish, wild-caught salmon included, “may be consuming enough microplastic to kill them,” and that “these (microplastic) particles could pose a serious risk…to the marine animals that consume them,” (3) and to us as well.

“Microplastic is actually very absorbent and picks up the chemicals it is floating in.
So it’s not just the plastic a fish is eating, but all of the contaminants in that plastic as well. That goes for us, too, if we eat a fish that’s eaten plastic particles.” (4)

To read Dr. Ross’s study, “Ingestion of Microplastics by Zooplankton in the Northeast Pacific Ocean,” published in the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, click here. More specific findings about the levels of plastics in the seafood that we eat are reported by scientists from the U.S. at the NIH and also by Canadian scientists.

Contaminated fish oil is definitely worse than no fish oil. So, while mercury is fairly easy to filter out when making fish oil supplements (and so is not present in quality supplements), the same cannot be said for microplastics and the accompanying toxins that they soak up. These contaminants are unfortunately found in even the highest quality fish oil supplements because, sadly, they are present in most fish. It seems even the wild Chinook salmon from the Puget Sound in Washington State are not safe from plastics! When I read this article, I could no longer remain in denial about the risks of eating fish. Sad, but true. I will be giving up some of my seafood, and all of my fish sourced supplements.

And then there is the issue of the all of those other essential fatty acids not found in fish oil. While Omega 3s get most of the attention, Omegas 5, 6, 7 and 9 are just as important – they are found in healthy foods like coconut oil, salmon, almonds, eggs, fruits, whole grains, seeds, avocados, olive oil and macadamia nuts.

Take Omega 5s, for example. Omega 5s are believed to be some of the most powerful antioxidants known to modern science. They decrease inflammation and increase the elasticity of your arteries. Pomegranate oil is an amazing source of Omega 5s and is also believed to be the only known plant-based source for CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid).

The Omega 6s found in plants are also known to decrease inflammation. Raspberry seed oil contains abundant amounts Omega 6s (linoleic acid) and has been shown to be moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and provide antioxidant benefits for skin. Furthermore, raspberry seed oil improves skin elasticity, softens and smoothes wrinkles and fine lines, and can even help with acne, eczema and psoriasis.

Sea buckthorn oil and avocados are great sources of Omega 7 (palmitoleic acid). Omega 7s are little known, but are great for your skin, hair and nails. They also benefit the mucous membranes in the body – including the gastric mucous membranes (the lining of your stomach and more). They can support a number of chronic dryness related disorders like dry eyes, dry mouth and vaginal dryness.

Omega 9 fats, like those found in olive oil and salmon, benefit the heart, brain and overall well-being. They may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, and can help to increase energy and decrease anger. And who wouldn’t want that?

You can see why a simple Omega 3 supplement just doesn’t cut it for me anymore. So, as a result of all of the microplastic in fish oil – and because of its lack of Omegas 5, 6, 7 and 9, I have changed my recommendations for Omega supplements.

I now recommend that all my patients, friends and family switch to a plant-based alternative called Omega Blend, made from organic, non-GMO algae and cold-pressed oils from five seeds and berries — pomegranate seeds, sea buckthorn berries, raspberry seeds, tomato seeds and safflower seeds — in which omega fatty acids naturally occur.

Each capsule of Omega Blend contains a broad array of omega fatty acids – Omega 3s (both EPA and DHA) as well as the beneficial Omegas 5, 6, 7 and 9 – not found in most other omega supplements.

In addition to containing a variety of Omegas, the Omega Blend is gluten-free, 100% non-GMO, contains no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or added starch and is NSF-certified and kosher (NSF is an independent lab that tests products for purity and potency.)

The oils are encapsulated in a vegetarian capsule made from tapioca. Using a new, state-of-the-art encapsulation process that uses no heat, the two halves of each capsule are fused together. The typical fish oil capsule is heat sealed, and that can heat the oils and turn them rancid. There is no risk of damage to these delicate oils with this new and unique technology, using vegan tapioca as the capsule. In fact, the oils and the capsule are both so tasty, you can chew them, then swallow the pleasant-tasting oils and spit out the shell of tapioca, if you prefer.

Most of you know how much I value Juice Plus+ Orchard, Garden and Vineyard Blends — whole food concentrates in a capsule. The Juice Plus+ Company is dedicated to quality and scientific research, and always provides the peace of mind of NSF certification, meaning that all products are independently verified to be free of all contaminants.

The newly-developed Juice Plus+ Omega Blend is a wonderful complement to the Orchard, Garden and Vineyard Blend capsules, to the Complete protein powders and to growing food on a Tower Garden!

I hope you’ll consider switching your fish oil supplement to the Juice Plus+ Omega Blend. I love that they have “cut out the middle fish” and taken the Omega 3s from the original algal source that the fish eat, rather than taking them from the contaminated fish. This assures us of a much more pure, sustainable source of Omega 3s. Adding that to the family of Omegas from other superfoods creates a balanced Omega supplement that would benefit all.

Please click here to order Omega Blend, or contact the office to order or if you have any questions.

Q: What is the Juice Plus+ Omegas Blend?
A: The Juice Plus+ Omega blend is a 100% plant-based omega capsule product made from a naturally balanced blend of omega 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 fatty acids.The Omega Blend is the perfect complement to the Juice Plus+ Orchard, Garden, and Vineyard Blends, working together to bridge the nutritional gaps between what you should eat and what you actually eat while helping fuel a healthy lifestyle.

Q: Why Do You Use Algal Oil Rather than Fish Oil, Like Many Other Omega 3 Products?
A:  Many people don’t know that fish actually get their omega 3’s from algae. By harvesting omegas from the original algae source instead of fish, we’ve ensured the Omega Blend delivers a pure and sustainable source of omegas, including the all-important DHA and EPA omega fatty acids. We like to say that we’re just cutting out the middle fish and going to the original plant source.

Q: Why Does the Omega Blend Contain Omegas 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9?
A: We believe in providing whole food nutrition, in nature’s proportions, and the Omega Blend is no exception. The omegas 6 and 9 come naturally from many of the plant-based oils in our Omega Blend, especially the raspberry and tomato seed oils. The omegas 5 and 7 are extracted from the pomegranate seeds and sea buckthorn berries. Since we aren’t changing the ratios of the omegas as they are found in fruits and algae, we are taking advantage of nature’s balance to ensure optimum benefits.

Q: How are the Oils in the Omega Blend Processed?
A: As with all Juice Plus+ products, we do our best to ensure minimal processing. For the Omega Blend, we start by cold-pressing the seed oils from pomegranate, raspberry, tomato and safflower. This process is similar to the way high-quality olive oil is made, and allows us to extract the oils without using harsh chemicals. The algal oil and sea buckthorn berry oils are processed differently because they aren’t seeds (so they can’t be pressed the same way), but those processes too are at low temperature to ensure that the nutrients remain and no contaminants are added.

• Omega-3: salmon (particularly wild salmon), tuna, mackerel, cod, walnuts, flaxseed and other seeds, seaweed
• Omega-5: pomegranate seed oil, full-fat grass-fed dairy products, coconut oil, salmon
• Omega-6: almonds, eggs, poultry, whole grains, seeds
• Omega-7: macadamia nuts, grass-fed meat and dairy, avocado, sea buckthorn oil, salmon
• Omega-9: olive oil, macadamia nuts, seeds, salmon
• Omega 3, 5, 6, 7, 9:  Juice Plus+ Omega Blend!