Growing up in Nara, Japan, my daily diet included staples like fish, soy and seaweed. These foods are all sources of omega-3 fatty acids, an essential fat your body can't make on its own and must get from food.
Omega-3s come in three key forms — DHA, EPA and ALA — and each supports your health in a different way. As a nutritionist who now lives in the U.S., I've found that many of my clients aren't consuming enough omega-3s.
I tell them to prioritize foods first, and then use supplements as a back-up. By doing so, you also gain the benefits of all the other proteins, vitamins and minerals. But before you make any changes to your diet, it's important to check in with your doctor first.
Here's why omega-3s are so important, and how you can incorporate them into your diet.
Omega-3 DHA provides crucial support for our brains. It helps create a hormone called neuroprotectin that defends the brain and our retinas from stress and inflammation.
