Anyone who exercises often knows how important nutrition is. It supports your energy, recovery and health. One nutrient you might not immediately link to sports performance, but which definitely plays a role in the body, is omega 3. Not as a performance enhancer, but as a fatty acid your body needs every day. In this article you will read why omega 3 also fits an active lifestyle.
What exactly is omega 3?
Omega 3 is a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are important for your body. This means your body cannot produce them itself: you have to get them through food or supplements.
The three best-known forms are:
- ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) is found in plant-based sources such as flaxseed, chia seed and walnuts.
- EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) is found mainly in oily fish and algae.
- DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) also present in oily fish and algae.
Discover more in our blog: What is omega 3.
What makes omega 3 interesting for athletes?
Although there are no approved health claims about omega 3 and sports performance, muscle recovery or training results, research does show that these fatty acids are broadly involved in processes in the body.
Those who exercise a lot demand more from their body than average. Not only are muscles put under strain, the heart also has to work harder. With prolonged and regular training, the body adapts. An athlete's heart, also known as an athletic heart, becomes larger and stronger, allowing it to pump more blood with each beat. That is a healthy adaptation in itself, but it also requires sufficient support through nutrition, rest and recovery.
For athletes, it is often about the bigger picture: being able to focus well, staying fit, recovering after exertion and staying healthy in the long term. That is why a balanced diet is important, with omega 3 fatty acids as part of it. This gives your body the building blocks it needs.
Read more about this in our blog: Omega 3 for athletes.
Are you eating enough omega 3?
The Dutch Health Council advises eating oily fish once a week, such as salmon or mackerel. Yet many people do not manage that. Especially athletes who do not like fish, or who eat vegetarian or plant-based, can benefit from an additional omega 3 supplement. Arctic Blue offers high-quality fish oil and algae oil. This is an easy way to give your body what it needs every day.
Omega 3 as part of a healthy lifestyle
Whether you train intensively or mainly want to stay active: your body works best when you take good care of it. Exercise, sleep, nutrition and recovery are inextricably linked. Omega 3 fits into that overall picture as a daily essential source of fatty acids. Not to perform better, but to stay healthy.
Want to be sure you are getting enough EPA and DHA? Then take a look at our Arctic Blue omega 3 range.
