Omega-3
Algae Oil vs. Fish Oil: Which One Is Right for You?
In recent decades, we’ve begun to understand the incredible importance of nutrition, and many of us have realized that we...
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One such popular supplement is fish oil.
People have been taking fish oil for decades. It’s a source of omega-3s, which are healthy unsaturated fats, and sometimes vitamin A and vitamin D3. But is there a better option out there?
One other source of omega-3s that has been rising in popularity in recent years is algae oil. So today, we’re going to compare these two omega-3 sources and see the pros and cons of each one. Let’s get started.
Why Omega-3s?
Omega-3 fatty acids are a very important type of fat in our diet. Fats are a critical part of our diet that give us energy, help our bodies absorb various nutrients, and maintain our cell membrane health. Fats are among the three macronutrients that make up the human diet, alongside carbohydrates and proteins.
But not all fats are created equal. Saturated fats are a passable source of fat, and trans fats can raise your cholesterol level and increase your risk of heart disease. But unsaturated fats are great for your body and can improve your health in many ways.
Omega-3s are long-chain polyunsaturated fats, making them some of the best fats that you can get. There are three main omega-3s: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic
acid (EPA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). But they can be somewhat tough to find in many people’s diets.
What Foods Contain Omega-3s?
The foods containing the most omega-3s are typically fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and tuna. The oils from these fish have high amounts of omega-3s, making them a great source of protein and fat.
Plant sources of omega-3 pose a bit of a challenge, since nearly all plants considered high in omega-3 actually contain ALA, which the human body uses as a precursor to the more sought-after DHA and EPA. Even when we eat plenty of flax seeds, chia seeds, and walnuts, we still may come up short on our body's requirement for DHA and EPA.
But again, these foods don’t always find their way into our diet. These food sources just aren’t that common in the average American’s diet, so many people just don’t get enough omega-3s.
What Are the Benefits of Omega-3s?
Omega-3s do a lot for the body. For starters, they support a healthy heart. Omega-3 fats, especially EPA, may help support healthy triglyceride levels, which can benefit your heart.
Omega-3s can also help support the nervous system cell membranes, working to keep healthy nerve cells functioning. EPA and DHA may even help maintain the healthy structure and function of the brain.
Omega-3s can even have benefits for joint, bone, and muscle health. Omega-3s help your body retain healthy calcium levels, which in turn supports the health of your musculoskeletal system.
All of these benefits have a trickle-down effect on the rest of your body. Healthy core systems make for a healthier life all around.
What Is Fish Oil?
Fish oil is derived from the flesh of various fish like mackerel, salmon, and tuna. The fatty flesh of these fish contains high amounts of EPA and DHA, making them a desirable source of omega-3s.
How Is it Harvested?
To process and create fish oil, you first need fish — and a lot of them. The fish that are caught for their oil are typically caught by small- to medium-sized boats dragging large nets, which create the problem known in the fishing industry as "bycatch"--the accidental killing of other sea creatures. According to a report by Oceana, as many as 63 billion pounds of bycatch are caught each year, including sea turtles, whales, sharks, and other fish.
Even setting aside the problem of bycatch, the amount of fish needed to fulfill consumer demand for omega-3 supplements creates a problem for the oceans. As many as 1 in every 8 fish caught in the world goes to make supplements instead of food, putting a strain on the ocean's ecosystem
To break it down to a personal level, to produce enough omega-3 oil for just one customer for a year would require 110 fish.
What Is Krill Oil?
You may have spotted krill oil supplements in the omega-3 section. What is krill? If you're thinking about what whales eat, you're exactly right. Krill are very small animals in the same family as shrimp and lobsters. They're found in all of the world's oceans and are considered a keystone species in the ocean food chain: without them, the whole structure of the food chain would collapse. Krill are eaten by not only whales, but seals, penguins, and other fish.
Krill oil became popular as a supplement within the last 20 years because the omega-3 in krill's bodies is bonded to a phospholipid, making it easier for the human body to absorb and use than fish oil.
Some major natural food stores refuse to sell krill oil, though, because of the disruption to the ocean's ecosystem. To get enough krill oil to provide a year's worth of supplements for just one person, 13,600 krill would have to be taken from the ocean. If you multiply that by the number of customers buying omega-3 supplements each year, 18 million, you can see that taking that many krill (or fish) from the sea leaves a gaping hole in the food chain.
What Is Algae Oil?
In recent years scientists have discovered the benefits that algae oil has for omega-3 supplements.
This simple plant is changing the omega-3 industry.
For starters, algae provides a plant-based option for omega-3 supplements. Most plant-based sources of omega-3s only contain ALA, but algae contains ALA alongside levels of DHA and EPA that are equivalent to fish oil sources. This provides a plant-based source of omega-3s for vegans, vegetarians, and others who prefer plant-based diets.
Not only that, but the body may absorb certain forms of omega-3 from algae oil more efficiently than either krill or fish! The form of the fat makes all the difference.
As we discussed earlier, krill oil became popular because its phospholipid form was easier for the body to absorb and use than fish oil, which contains fat in the form of triglycerides.
Algae oil from nannochloropsis is unique: it produces omega-3 fat in a polar lipid form. You can think of this as making the fat both fat- and water-soluble, optimizing digestion and absorption.
How Do We Obtain Algae Oil?
Farming algae and algae oil is fairly straightforward.
When it comes to algae-based supplements, the algae can be grown in a farm outside of the ocean. To grow algae, all you need is salt water and sunlight, both of which are abundant in nature.
Many of these farms exist in arid areas, and the processing, purifying, and encapsulating happen at our locations across the U.S. and Mexico. The algae is refined and fortified with additional valuable nutrients and then packaged into a nutritional supplement. Our algae farms are set in the desert of West Texas and southern New Mexico.
Don’t get us wrong — the cultivation and ultimate encapsulation of our algae still requires multiple steps. However, the environmental benefits of algae oil as compared to fish oil still outweight the cons.
Is Algae Oil Sustainable?
One of the biggest benefits of algae oil, as opposed to fish oil, is its environmental sustainability as an industry.
Fishing is expensive and difficult, and it requires many purification steps. Not to mention, it has a direct effect on the ocean’s ecosystems by taking out so many fish.
Even more, krill are a vital contributor to our fight against climate change. There are microalgae throughout the ocean that absorb atmospheric carbon. The krill then eat these algae and excrete them at the bottom of the ocean, where they are safely deposited as sediment — a highly effective form of carbon sequestration.
Krill are an important part of a chain reaction that takes carbon out of the atmosphere, so leaving them in the ocean is crucial.
Algae, on the other hand, is incredibly sustainable. It grows relatively quickly and requires little maintenance: just sunlight, moving saltwater, and some nutrient inputs. Growing algae in farms has little ecological impact, so it works to maintain the ocean’s ecosystems by letting them be.
Not only that, but it is a far more efficient source of potent omega-3s than fish or krill — because fish and krill get their omega-3s from algae in the first place.
In addition, algae farms are incredibly efficient at producing nutrients in general. Algae farms produce more essential protein per acre and gallon of water than traditional plant or animal-based farming.
In addition, algae farms are incredibly efficient at producing nutrients in general because algae can be grown and harvested year round as opposed to other protein sources, like peas, that only produce seasonally!
How Well Does the Body Absorb Algae Oil?
Algae oil is also absorbed easier by your body than fish oil or krill oil. One study shows that EPA from algae oil is absorbed by the body almost twice as efficiently as from fish or krill oil.
This means that if you consume an equal amount of omega-3s from each source, your body would get more out of the algae oil than it would from the fish or krill oil.
That means more valuable omega-3s to support the health of your body.
Final Takeaway
If you’re looking to boost your intake of omega-3s, you have an important decision to make.
If you care about sustainable products, the environment, and getting the most efficient source of omega-3s, then algae oil seems to be a clear choice.
Here at iwi, our high-quality omega-3 supplements are algae-based and contain both EPA and DHA omega-3s alongside omega-6s, omega-7s, and omega-9s for complete support for your joints, eyes, brain, and overall health.
Sources
Importance of EPA and DHA Blood Levels in Brain Structure and Function | PubMed Central (PMC)
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fact Sheet for Consumers | National Institutes of Health
WASTED CATCH: UNSOLVED PROBLEMS IN U.S. FISHERIES | Oceana
The Science — And Environmental Hazards — Behind Fish Oil Supplements | NPR
Reviewed by Dr. Eneko Ganuza
VP of Research and Development at iwi
Best Time To Take Prenatal Vitamins During Pregnancy
Having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby is one of a soon-to-be mother’s greatest concerns. From countless doctor appointments...
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Having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby is one of a soon-to-be mother’s greatest concerns. From countless doctor appointments to books and classes about pregnancy, many women are doing everything possible to make sure their pregnancy is healthy and happy.
Another common health practice for pregnant women is to take prenatal vitamins. When the foods and nutrients you eat are going to your baby, you want to make sure that you’re getting enough of the important vitamins and minerals the baby needs to support their health and growth — and the nutrients you need to support your own.
But when should you take prenatal vitamins? This is a common question that women are asking, and it’s one that we hope to answer. Let’s get started.
What Are Prenatal Vitamins?
Prenatal vitamins are supplements that women take during their pregnancy to ensure that they get enough of the nutrients that are crucial for supporting a healthy pregnancy.
When you become pregnant, your daily requirements for specific nutrients increases. Your body uses much more energy, it needs more minerals to help get oxygen and energy to the baby, and the baby needs more nutrients to grow quickly and healthily.
Prenatal vitamins are a simple way to help women get to that important nutritional threshold easily. These over-the-counter supplements do not replace a balanced diet, but they’re meant to help fill in the nutritional gaps so that you and your baby can get what you need throughout the pregnancy.
When Should I Take Prenatal Vitamins?
Now for the big question! As a general rule, it’s good to take a multivitamin at all times to fill in the nutritional gaps in your regular life.
But prenatal vitamins are a little different — they place a greater emphasis on folic acid and iron, which is the main reason why your daily multivitamin should eventually be switched to a prenatal multivitamin.
Ideally, it’s good to switch to a prenatal supplement about three months before you plan on becoming pregnant, but that isn’t always possible. In that case, start taking a prenatal supplement as soon as you find out you’re pregnant.
In addition, some OB-GYNs and healthcare providers recommend that you continue taking supplements after you give birth to help your body recuperate well and make sure your baby is getting proper nutrition during breastfeeding.
As with most multivitamins, the best time of day to take prenatal supplements is in the morning. And it's best to avoid taking them on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of side effects like nausea.
Why Should I Take Them?
Prenatal vitamin supplements do more for you than just help you get proper nutrition. They work to support your baby’s health as they grow and may even protect against certain complications with pregnancy.
Baby’s Brain Health
For starters, prenatal vitamins can help to support the health of your baby’s brain and nervous system, specifically when it comes to one of the more serious birth defects, called spina bifida.
Spina bifida is a neural tube defect that can affect part of the baby’s brain and spinal cord, putting the baby at risk. However, according to the CDC, taking enough folic acid throughout the pregnancy can help to reduce the risk of spina bifida by up to 50%.
This is why you will see B9, also called folate or folic acid, on nearly every prenatal supplement on the market. It’s important for supporting the health of the baby’s brain and the mother’s health.
Blood and Oxygen
Another important aspect of prenatal vitamins is the effect they have on your and your baby’s blood oxygen levels. Oxygen levels and red blood cell levels need to be high for your baby to grow well.
By the start of the third trimester (or after about 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy), a mother’s total blood volume will have increased by about 100%, meaning you’re carrying twice as much blood as you usually do. Your body needs plenty of iron to make all the red blood cells necessary to transport oxygen to you and your baby, so pregnant women typically need to up their iron intake.
Doing this can help prevent iron deficiency, which can contribute to anemia. Supporting your health in this way may help you maintain energy levels and minimize fatigue.
Nutrition and Morning Sickness
Prenatal vitamins are especially important for women who struggle with morning sickness. Many women struggle to keep their food down, which can contribute to a lack of nutrition during pregnancy.
Nausea can also cause you not to feel hungry, and a lack of appetite leads to an even further lack of nutrition. Prenatal supplements are a great tool to fill in the gaps when maintaining a healthy diet is difficult during pregnancy.
What Ingredients Should I Look For?
When you’re in the market for a prenatal multivitamin, there are several things you should look for to get the benefits we’ve talked about. So make sure you check the nutrition label for all of these key nutrients.
Make sure you’re getting your supplements from a reliable source that guarantees transparency on their nutrition labels. Some less-than-honest companies might not live up to the standards you’d like for products that you’re taking every day, and especially during pregnancy, so make sure that you buy from a company you can trust.
Here at iwi, we prioritize transparency so that you can rest assured you are getting high-quality nutrition.
Folate
As we mentioned above, folate, also called folic acid or vitamin B9, is an incredibly important nutrient in prenatal supplements. Vitamin B9 helps your body produce red blood cells and convert carbohydrates from food into energy, and helps your baby during crucial growth periods.
In addition, folate can help to support the health of your baby’s nervous system as it develops. So you should take at least 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid per day while pregnant.
Iron
Iron is a crucial component in red blood cells. It’s what allows your red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body and the baby’s body.
It can also help you with energy and focus, help support your gastrointestinal health, and support your immune system. It’s one of the most important prenatal supplements to get.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A, specifically beta carotene, is a very important vitamin for prenatal health. This powerful nutrient helps support eye health and immune system function.
Not to mention, it helps with reproductive health, working to make your pregnancy sustainable for your body.
B Vitamins
Folic acid isn’t the only B vitamin that’s important for pregnancy. The entire vitamin B complex has a role to play.
In particular, vitamin B12 works to support the health of the nerve cells, and it also contributes to the production of DNA. Vitamin B6 helps to produce important neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine, supporting the wellness of the central nervous system.
Vitamin C
You might know that vitamin C helps support the immune system. But it does more than just that.
Vitamin C also plays a role in collagen formation, and it works to support muscle development, the formation of blood vessels, and much more.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is one of the fat-soluble vitamins, and it is an important antioxidant that helps to protect cells from free radicals. In addition, vitamin E helps to maintain healthy skin for you and your baby.
Calcium
One incredibly important mineral for you and your baby is calcium. For starters, calcium is important for the growth and strength of healthy bones. The nerve cells, muscles, and heart also need calcium to function, so a healthy amount of calcium is important for all-around body function.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D serves many purposes throughout the body. For starters, it helps to maintain healthy function in the eyes, skin, bones, and teeth. The reason it does this is that your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium. Without enough vitamin D, much of the calcium you take in would go to waste.
Specifically, it’s good to look for vitamin D3 to support your bone health and calcium absorption.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3s are an important nutrient to get both during and after pregnancy.
Omega-3s like EPA and ALA are helpful, but the most important one is DHA. DHA is crucial during pregnancy, as it is utilized in the growth of the central nervous system.
After pregnancy, DHA is still important, specifically during breastfeeding. DHA is a crucial component of breast milk, and it is also included in baby formula. So making sure your body gets enough of this omega-3 will help keep your baby properly nourished.
Plant-Powered Prenatals From iwi
A quality prenatal multivitamin is an important nutritional ally that can help to make your pregnancy better. Not only does it help to support your health and quality of life, but it can also support the development of the baby.
If you’re looking to support your pregnancy wellness and happiness with a prenatal vitamin, our plant-powered Prenatal Multivitamin can help. With crucial ingredients like omega-3s, iron, folate, and calcium, iwi’s Prenatal supplement can provide you the support you need for your overall wellness.
Sources
The Importance of Prenatal Vitamins | Dignity Health
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fact Sheet for Consumers | National Institutes of Health
Prenatal vitamins: What's best for you? | Conditions, Treatments & Specialty | Geisinger
Reviewed by Dr. Eneko Ganuza
VP of Research and Development at iwi
5 Algae Omega-3 Benefits for Better Living
You may be wondering how it’s even possible to get health benefits from algae. Isn’t that just the slimy stuff...
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You may be wondering how it’s even possible to get health benefits from algae. Isn’t that just the slimy stuff you find in lakes, ponds, and oceans? You may be surprised to learn that there are many different health benefits you can get from algae oil.
This marine organism is so nourishing, in fact, that it is farmed or grown in laboratories to create supplements rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
At iwi, we know you care about your wellness goals, and we are here to help you achieve them. It may sound strange that algae oil contains fatty acids, many of which are linked to different health benefits.
We believe in the power of algae omega-3 supplements, and you should, too!
That’s why we’ve compiled a guide on some information you need on algae oil, omega-3s, and why they are important for you and your health.
We hope you can learn about the importance of algal omega-3 supplements so you can make better-informed decisions for yourself and your health.
What Are Omega-3s?
Omega-3s are essential fatty acids with plenty of health benefits. They are critical to the structure and function of the cell membranes in your body, and they can also support heart health, a strong immune system, and proper brain function.
Your body cannot make Omega-3s on its own, so it is crucial to get adequate amounts of Omega-3s from your diet or supplements.
There are three main types of Omega-3s:
- EPA
- DHA
- Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
Since ALA is a parent fatty acid, your body can make EPA and DHA from this compound. This is a slow process, and you can only get a very small amount in the end, so it is still best to get these fats from your diet through foods or supplements.
What Is Algae Oil?
So what exactly is algae oil? It’s exactly as it sounds – oil that is created by algae. We may not think of plants as being rich in essential fatty acids like omega-3, but in fact, algae are the original source… krill and fish only borrow omega-3 by eating algae, the ocean’s power plant!
Most plant sources of “omega-3” are ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) which needs to be converted by the human body into the forms of true omega-3 we need for brain, heart, and joint health: DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
Algae is called a “power plant” because it produces true DHA and EPA — no conversion needed for your body to utilize the essential fats.
Just like farmers who grow vegetables and use agricultural science to produce the best, most nutritious crops, scientists can adjust the amount of omega-3 produced by algae by increasing their exposure to sunlight, oxygen, minerals in the water, and temperature. Science + nature = more nourishment for you and your family.
Algae oil is extracted, purified, and used in various ways. Besides being used for supplements, it’s also used to feed animals, poultry, and fish.
So, if you ever go to the grocery store and pick up some eggs, chicken, or farmed salmon that’s enhanced with Omega-3s, it’s most likely that these fats come from algae oil.
Getting small servings of omega-3s from the foods we eat is a great way to get more of this essential fat, but most people will require supplements as well to achieve their nutritional goals.
What Are the Benefits of Algae Omega-3?
Why should you take algae Omega-3 supplements? There are benefits for you, your whole family, and if you’re pregnant - your baby as well!
Keep reading to learn more about the different research that shows those with higher levels of Omega-3 fats have a lower risk of certain health conditions.
1. Helping Your Heart
Research shows that omega-3 supplements may help support healthy blood pressure and maintain proper blood vessel function.
Research also shows that omega-3 supplements can support a healthy cardiovascular system and promote optimal wellness.
Omega-3, like the kind made by algae, also can support healthy levels of blood fats called triglycerides and good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein). Taking algae Omega-3 can support a healthy cardiovascular system overall.
2. Keeping Your Vision Clear
Have you increased your screen time in the past few years? Most of us have, and many people find that working remotely and having more screen time means drier eyes.
Your body’s highest concentration of DHA is found in your eyes, so it’s no surprise that iwi customers report relief from some annoying symptoms of “computer eyes” when they supplement with iwi algae oil.
Research is mixed, but some studies show that omega-3s may provide eye health benefits by supporting the health of the retinas.
3. Helping With Your Mood
We know you have a lot on your plate. Help your body and mind with key nutrients that give you what you need to be ready for the day ahead.
One study found that low levels of EPA and DHA may lead to low mood and difficult emotions. Since most Americans don’t get enough EPA and DHA from dietary sources, supplements may be the best choice to get the daily requirement of these important fats which support a healthy and positive mood.
If you’re pregnant, your doctor may recommend that you take supplements with DHA and EPA levels to help with your mood later on in your pregnancy and postpartum.
4. Keeping Your Baby Healthy
Taking algae Omega-3 supplements can be helpful for your baby in their development. DHA is often associated with your baby’s brain development.
There are many benefits for both you and your baby when you supplement with algae omega-3. DHA taken during pregnancy has been shown to help in these ways:
- May support a healthy birth weight of your baby
- May support your healthy mood postpartum
- Critical to the development of your baby’s brain
- Might help support your baby’s motor functions
5. Helping Your Sleep Quantity and Quality
Research shows that higher levels of DHA are significantly associated with better sleep, including less difficulty falling asleep and fewer sleep disturbances.
Low levels of DHA cause melatonin deficiency, which is a hormone that helps to regulate our sleep-wake cycles.
Taking algae omega-3 supplements while pregnant can be extremely beneficial if you’re suffering from poor sleep.
Where Can You Get Omega-3 Fatty Acids?
Although it’s possible to get enough omega-3 fatty acids from what you eat, many people find it beneficial to get support from dietary supplements.
DHA and EPA
EPA and DHA are found in fish which eat algae, or which eat other fish which eat algae! Herring, salmon, anchovies, sardines, and other oily fish are the foods most commonly associated with high content of DHA and EPA. All of these fish obtain their true omega-3 from algae.
ALA
ALA, the precursor fat to DHA and EPA, is found in plant foods like flax seeds, chia seeds, and walnuts. Because the human body does not convert ALA into DHA and EPA very effectively (studies show about 17% of ALA gets converted into true omega-3), these foods are typically not a reliable way for most people to obtain the needed amounts of critical omega-3.
Supplements
More and more people are finding it challenging to get enough omega-3 from dietary sources alone.
Between concerns around overfishing, mercury in fish, and microplastics in seafood, many shoppers are looking for other ways to ensure their families get safe, clean omega-3.
Even with eating plenty of nuts and seeds, because ALA is so poorly converted in the body into EPA and DHA, most plant sources are not a good solution.
One way to ensure that you’re getting what your body needs is to supplement your diet with algae omega-3: the benefits you need, and none of the worries.
Recommended Dosage
If you’re taking algae Omega-3 supplements, how much do you need?
Doctors recommend having at least 200 to 1,000 milligrams of combined EPA and DHA daily.
Because it is difficult to meet those needs through diet alone, algae supplements may be the best way to get the right amount of DHA and EPA each day. Always talk to your doctor before introducing any new supplement, especially if you’re taking medications or have any medical conditions.
What Are the Benefits of Algae Oil vs. Fish Oil?
Of course, the big fish in the room is… fish! Fish oil has been the most popular supplement for omega-3 for decades. What if we cut out the middle fish?
That’s right! Krill and fish, the two sea creatures most famous for their omega-3 benefits, actually do not make omega-3 themselves. They get it from the original source: algae. The polar lipid form of algae present in our supplements even works to maximize your body’s ability to absorb nutrients for even better results.
Keep reading to learn more about why algae is the future of omega-3:
The Form of Fat Matters
Let's take a little deep dive into the science of fatty acids. You've heard that "you are what you eat," but the truth is, you are what you absorb. If you've ever had a vinaigrette dressing, you know that oil and water don't mix. That means that your fish oil or krill oil supplements aren't mixing very easily in your digestive system, which is a watery environment.
This is where iwi algae oil is different. Only iwi's AlmegaPL delivers omega-3 in a polar lipid form, which loves both water and fat. It mixes instantly in both fat and water, leading to 50% higher absorption than any other form of omega-3...even other forms of algae oil!
That means that you get more out of every milligram of iwi.
Perfect for Everyone
At iwi, everyone is included… vegans, vegetarians, or keto dieters, and all. No matter what your diet looks like, iwi works for you to provide true, clean omega-3.
No More Fishy Taste
Perhaps you've tried fish oil or krill oil supplements in the past, but gave up because of the dreaded "fish burps"... hope is here!
Our algae omega-3 supplements can be a great way to get the critical nutrients you need without worrying about the taste "repeating" for you later.
If you don't love seafood, or avoid it because of concerns around marine contaminants, then algae oil can be a great alternative.
The staff at health food stores across the country know: the biggest complaint from customers in the omega-3 aisle is the fishy aftertaste.
Because of the neutral flavor of algae oil, and its superior absorption, iwi omega-3 is easier to tolerate and easier to digest than fish or krill oil.
Avoiding Harmful Toxins
We're encouraged to get more omega-3 for brain health, but seafood poses the risk of mercury contamination...which is bad for brain health!
At iwi, we care about you and the planet.
We farm our special strain of algae, nannochloropsis, in pond beds in the desert with salty water from underground aquifers, free from marine contaminants.
Sustainable Methods With Algae
At iwi, we care about the planet and sustainability — and we are the only photoautotrophy source of algal omega-3.
Our sustainability starts with our farming practices and making sure that the products we make are safe for you and the planet.
Perhaps the best benefit of algae oil is that we grow it in our environmentally-friendly farms on land that was thought to be unusable as farmland. Not only does this mean that we avoid contributing to overfishing or taking key species out of the food chain in the ocean, we are helping produce more oxygen. That’s right! Algae produce up to 75% of the oxygen in our atmosphere, so iwi’s open-air beds breathe more life-giving oxygen into the air.
The production of algae oil is a lot more sustainable than fish oil because algae can grow quickly, and it’s better for our planet in the long run.
Skip the middle fish and go directly to the source — most fish ultimately get their omega-3 from algae.
Why Choose Algae Omega-3 Supplements?
We think the reasons why algae omega-3 supplements are essential are clear. They’re great for your health, the health of your family, and a growing baby. Even more than that, they’re great for the health of the planet.
There aren’t many risks when it comes to taking Omega-3 supplements, especially when it’s plant-based and made from algae oil. Omega-3 is recognized as safe to take orally and is the most widely-recommended supplement by doctors.
While algae omega-3 supplements can provide you with many benefits, you should still consult your doctor before starting to use any new supplements. Your doctor can work with you to determine whether the supplement is safe for you specifically and may recommend a dosage.
It’s also considered safe and recommended to take algae Omega-3 supplements if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. Your DHA levels can increase in your breastmilk and give your baby nutrients as well.
Keeping Healthy With iwi Life Algae Omega-3 Supplements
At iwi, we believe in your health goals and the health goals of our global community. On a larger scale, we care about our planet and keeping it safe through sustainable farming practices.
Our algae supplements can give you a wide range of benefits you’re looking for without having to worry about upending your dietary habits and keeping the planet safe.
If you’re looking for a better supplement for yourself and the planet, choose our algae Omega-3 supplements — made with you in mind.
Sources:
Omega-3 Supplements and Cardiovascular Diseases | PMC
Triglycerides: Why do they matter? | Mayo Clinic
The role of omega-3 fatty acids in mood disorders | NCBI
Reviewed by Dr. Eneko Ganuza
VP of Research and Development at iwi
All Things Algae
An interview with iwi’s Director of Agronomy, Jakob Nalley, PhD Q: Hey, Jake! Thanks for taking us through the ABCs...
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An interview with iwi’s Director of Agronomy, Jakob Nalley, PhD
Q: Hey, Jake! Thanks for taking us through the ABCs of algae. First things first: what is agronomy, for those who may not know?
Jake: “Agronomy is the field of using science and technology to turn plants into food (for humans), feed (for animals), and fuel. Agronomists are “crop doctors!” Our core responsibility is to promote the health and well-being of a crop. For algae, this means managing water and harvesting for optimal growth — and protection from predators and competitors.”
Q: With algae being the most direct source of Omega-3 (cutting out the middle fish), can you explain why fish oil has dominated the market until now?
Jake: “It all comes down to access. Fish are the ultimate concentrators of Omega-3. They accumulate it by consuming organisms that have concentrated Omega-3 from algae. Fish have been abundant, and removing Omega-3 content from them was easier. But, there are two main benefits to algae-based Omegas: our iwi oil is not only preserving our ocean habitat from overfishing, but also providing a more potent and healthy Omega-3 straight from algae.
One of the largest challenges to cutting out the middle fish and going right to algae has always been growing enough algae. But this is one of the largest successes of iwi! We not only grow tons of algae annually at an industrial scale, we also have developed a process to remove the oil in a way that produces a highly absorbable and potent Omega-3.”
Q: What has contributed to that success?
Jake: “Our number one “fertilizer” is sunlight, and that single ingredient is the key to iwi. Our algae grow outside in open ponds where the algae collect sunlight and turn that into energy (photosynthesis!). Chloroplasts grab the sunlight, and it is within these chloroplasts that our potent Omega-3, EPA, is produced. There are other algae omegas on the market, but the algae are grown in closed metal vats where they are fed sugar rather than sunlight. The oil from these algae are packaged very differently than the iwi oil, and it is that packaging that makes iwi oil more absorbable and potent.”
Q: What makes iwi products so nutrient-dense?
Jake: “Our algae is a “superfood” that naturally produces two extremely nutritious products: a highly absorbable form of Omega-3 (EPA) and a complete protein that is packed with all the essential amino acids! Our protein also has more total amino acids and branched chain amino acids compared to egg and whey protein. All of this is to say that our algae-based protein is unlike anything currently on the market!”
Q: Lastly, what does the future of algae-based supplementation look like?
Jake: “Algae is already a part of our daily life, and we didn’t even notice it. From thickening agents in toothpaste to micronutrient enrichment in smoothies, algae is everywhere. But in the next five years, algae products are going to truly make a contribution to our overall food system. We see our iwi protein product making a large impact on the current protein market as we can offer a complete, nutritious and extremely concentrated protein that can be used as a meal replacement shake or added to spaghetti sauce to offer a protein dense meal without meat.
Bigger picture, we are seeing companies enrich their aqua- and animal feeds with algae to offer a natural form of Omega-3s. Companies are working with unwanted algae blooms to create foams and plastics. And we cannot forget the seaweed industry that is continuing to grow and produce tons of different edible seaweeds for various food ingredients and additives.”
Thanks, Jake!
We hope you enjoyed the interview and learned something new about algae. Got questions for Jake? Send them here at info@iwilife.com, and keep the conversation going.
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