Can you take fish oil and chia seeds together

There is something to be said about Omega-3 fatty acids and rapid hair and nail growth. And amazing pancakes. You’re about to learn of THEE BEST secret ingredient to pancakes that are soft, chewy, and taste like a giant cookie.

Whenever I take even a days worth of Omega-3 fatty acids, I find that when I wake up, my nails are longer, and I have new eyebrow hair growth. Weird and funny, but true.

But not all Omega-3 fatty acids are made the same, and when it comes to what you prefer – fish oil (or some variation) or chia seeds (or maybe flax) its good to do your homework. So when I started to consider which was a better option after blindly  following advice that taking fish oil was a good idea (and not doing the research on what kind, the manufacture, and other minute but important details), I realized it was kind of like throwing my money down the toilet and flushing it because ‘people told me to’.

So I fully expect that after this blog, you will do your due diligence too and figure out whats the best route for you.

First things first, lets get the fatty (see what I did there? It’s the opposite of saying ‘lets get the skinny on blah blah blah) on Omega-3 fatty acids – their function in our health, and importance. 

The human body is pretty incredible when it comes to producing what it needs to regulate and promote healing. However, the human body cannot produce Omega-3 fatty acids on its own, it (we) need to consume it ourselves, therefor making it essential fatty acids (heard that before right?).

Omega 3 fatty acids are found in fish, nuts, seeds, oils, and some leafy vegetables. Omega-3 fatty acids are key when it comes to brain function (did you know the brain is 70% fat?), memory, and behavioral function. Omega-3 fatty acids are shown to help inflammation like RA, arthritis, heart disease and cancer. 

There are 3 main sources of Omega-3 fatty acids the body benefits from; DHA, EPA, and ALA.

Most DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids come from fish like salmon, krill, tuna and halibut. ALA comes from nuts, seeds, and oils like flax, walnuts and chia seeds.

I’m NOT a big fan of flax seed that I have to grind myself and then use in 24 hours for it to be active, I’ve wasted too much money and time that way. Flax seeds can become rancid quite easily if not stored properly, or used quickly. 

So WHY Chia? Well for starters, chia seeds are a ‘ “whole grain” food, are usually grown organically, are non-GMO and naturally free of gluten. Bottom Line: Despite their tiny size, chia seeds are among the most nutritious foods on the planet. They are loaded with fiber, protein, Omega-3 fatty acids and various micronutrients.”

But also how cool is this next piece of factorial history; the Aztecs and other Native Americans consumed chia seeds before going on 20-30 mile runs and thought of them as a mystical superfood. Unfortunately Spanish conquistadors band and burned chia seed fields because of this ‘religious conflict’ — cue major eye roll. Until recently, maybe the last 5-10 years did chia seeds make their comeback in the new trendy food to consume (kinda like how kale and bacon got their claim to fame). 

Chia seeds are considered a whole food, therefor an excellent source of omega-3s, fiber, and is one of the few plant sources that is a complete protein. However, I do NOT recommend grinding them up or soaking them whole as the best method to absorb the nutritional benefit they offer. The chia I recommend towards the end of this post is the best of the best you can get. Whether you toss it in with your oatmeal, make chia pudding, or add it to your baking (like protein pancakes), its a more integrated and dynamic option to get your omega-3 fatty acids. 

Chia seeds are the richest source of fiber therefor slowing down the absorption process in your digestive tract. Hello satiation, less starvation, and fuller tummies for longer! Let my friend, fellow nutrition junkie, and mentor explain chia seeds. 

And while the Huffington Post is no science journal, I do have to agree with their final verdict… “Flax is a seed worth eating, but chia has the upper hand here thanks to its higher numbers for fibre, calcium, and phosphorus, as well as because it’s a complete protein. But all seeds have antioxidants — and different ones — so it’s great to get a mix of them in your diet.”

But for all you scientific, nutrition freaks out there (like me) you’ll be happy to see that Dr. Axe put chia ahead of flax in his top 15 list! https://draxe.com/omega-3-foods/

So what about fish oil and chia seeds? Is one better than the other? Yes and no. Yes because fish oil is very tricky nowadays with oxidation and expired fish oil on the market, and no because they are both different forms of omega-3 fatty acids. DHA and EPA is found in fish oil, whereas chia seeds are an ALA form of omega-3 fatty acids. While I think its important to alternate between the two, what brand of fish oil and chia seeds you get will be very important.

Here are some of my favorite go to fish oil brands, and my chia seed go to.

Amazing chia seed/Lupus testimony:

Lupus Testimony from kristinleedy on Vimeo.

SO WHY MILA?

Mila is a blend of chia seeds grown 27 degrees of the equator in high elevations. Our chia seeds are opened using a special machine that my product partner uses to ‘micro slice’ the seed and make the seed immediately bio-available, aka INSTANT absorption into the body. This is different than buying whole seeds which your body cannot absorb, and different than buying ground up chia seeds which will ball up from the oils naturally released. BUT if you buy a bag of chia that has been ground up and its not balled up (you’ve seen how chia creates a gelatin right?) then the oil has been sifted out, buh bye nutritional density. Our chia seeds are cleaned in multiples stages, with independent laboratories so that they are the best of the best without mold, salmonella, under-germinated seeds or over germinated seeds.

Fish Oil: So why THIS fish oil? Here’s a few reasons I selected this one over the others. Cod Liver Oil has the highest content of omega-3 fatty acids in DHA and EPA, along with vitamin A&D. The waters around Norway are virtually free of pollution and standards for cod liver oil extraction and production are also exceedingly high in Norway. This ensures that Norwegian cod liver oil product is of the highest quality. Or you can try THIS one if you prefer liquid form.  TIP: Choose a dark bottle to slow the breakdown of the oil from light.

Do you include chia seeds in your diet? If so, how? Are you getting the quality chia seeds like Mila or are yours dried up? Do you take fish oil pills? If so, which ones?

If  you enjoyed this post, comment below! Say hi so I can say back 😉 OR you can visit this link on my blog about how to become a product partner (like me) with a supplement company that focuses on whole health using pure, potent and practical ingredients that are highly sought after, thoroughly inspected and researched, and finally, the key to unlocking healing.

I LOVE sharing this kind of info, and I hope its helped! <3 Ready to get your hands on some Mila? If so, contact me

XO

Abs