How to choose your Omega 3?

What criteria should you check before buying omega-3s as a dietary supplement? How do you know which ones are the most effective? What quality criteria should you check for in omega-3s? And you might ask: Which omega-3 is best for me and most assimilated? What should you avoid in omega-3s? We'll tell you everything here!

In short:

Which Omega 3 should I choose?

Why consume omega 3?

First of all, let's remember that the vast majority of French people have an omega 3 deficiency with their modern diet, so yes, this product is for everyone, especially if you don't eat fish 3 times a week or more.

A deficiency in omega 3 promotes heart problems, an increase in "bad" cholesterol (LDL), hypertension, blood clots, and more generally inflammation in the body as well as a risk of joint and tendon pain.

The first signs are often slower muscle recovery, joint and/or tendon pain, but also mental fatigue with a drop in concentration, memory difficulties, and even anxiety and depression.

Now let’s get back to the point: Which omega 3 to choose and how to choose your omega 3?

In your choice: Favor OMEGA 3 from fish

Omega 3s come from fish containing EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) which are best assimilated by the body.

o Known role and benefits of EPA : natural anti-inflammatories, reduced risk of cardiovascular and blood diseases, effect on mood, stress, anxiety and depression.

o Known role and benefits of DHA: brain, cognitive and ocular health .

Omega 3 from plants contains ALA (alpha-linolenic acid)

o ALA is beneficial for cardiovascular health , but less potent than EPA and DHA. So unless you have a dietary conviction or fish allergy, choose the former from marine sources.

Little-known criteria for answering the question: How to choose your omega 3? But now you have them!

The EPA/DHA ratio should not exceed 1.5 but should be close to it ! An excellent criterion for choosing your omega 3s.

You will quickly understand:

o Let's take omega 3 like those from Blackbelt which displays a ratio of 700mg of EPA for 500mg of DHA, i.e. a ratio of 700/500 = 1.4

o Now let's take another capsule made of synthetic oil (or a mixture of synthetic natural oil) which can display unbalanced ratios such as: 250 mg of EPA for 50 mg of DHA, i.e. a ratio of 250/50 = 5.

There are things that don't lie. Omega 3s are available in both forms on the market.

o Triglycerides, which are natural, are much better assimilated by the body, which is why we at Blackbelt have chosen them for our omega 3 products. Furthermore, for even greater health safety, at Blackbelt, we only use Purified Triglycerides in our omega 3s !

o Ethyl Esters, which are a synthetic form that is less well absorbed. We therefore encourage you to avoid brands that use Ethyl Esters simply because it is a less recommended raw material and it increases their profits because they "cut" their omega 3s with fish oil, which is often cheap.

Now you know that the EPA/DHA ratio is more than important and that you should always choose purified triglycerides.

At this stage you already have criteria to answer the question: How to choose your omega 3?

The EPAX® and FRIEND OF THE SEA® (FOS) labels: 2 reliable values ! A must-have in your choice of OMEGA 3

We advise you not to consume Omega 3 WITHOUT these 2 labels!

Obviously, made in France is also an important value, because France is undoubtedly the country with the most drastic standards and controls in the world, but if you don't have these two labels, you can't be sure of anything.

What are Epax label Omega 3s?

Epax®: This label is recognized and used by the biggest brands. The Epax® label is a guarantee of having high-quality and extremely pure Omega 3: highly concentrated in EPA (40%) and DHA (30%) and with an oxidation rate (TOTOX index) of 1.2 at the laboratory exit; up to 95% purer than the majority of oils available for sale. This label is based on a patented process. Epax is based in Norway, hence the origin of fish oils in the EU.

FRIEND OF THE SEA® (FOS): is undeniable proof of the responsible and sustainable origin of your product. The European Commission ranks FOS among the leading eco-labels for certifying sustainable seafood, and this organization offers an extremely thorough chain of custody to guarantee this label.

Finally, choose wild fish because farmed fish is more exposed to residues like heavy metals than wild fish . This is where these two labels are very interesting to guarantee you the highest possible traceability, quality and health safety.

So yes , at Blackbelt, our omega 3s have the EPAX® and FRIEND OF THE SEA® (FOS) labels, and our product is indeed sourced from wild fish and is always made in France, and each production is subject to bacteriological and microbiological analysis at the end of production as a complement. At Blackbelt, our capsules are made from 100% omega 3-Epax®.

A TOTOX index < 10 AT LEAST to choose a good OMEGA 3

The TOTOX index expresses the oxidation level of an oil. Anything below 10 is of very good quality, but obviously the closer the index is to 1, the more perfect it is. Thus, EPAX® produces raw material at 1.2, and the challenge of a quality manufacturing process is to keep this index as low as possible during its packaging. At Blackbelt, it is 3, which is undeniably exceptional.

Ideally, we therefore recommend that you keep your capsules refrigerated to slow down the natural oxidation of omega 3. Rest assured, the time it takes to consume your one-month bottle will cause little oxidation.

Now you no longer wonder: What is the Totox index?

When it comes to digestion and taste, how do you choose your omega 3 brand ?

So yes, the taste of fish oil is not the best taste in the world, most capsules on the market even leave an unpleasant feeling with stomach odors and a fishy smell that can be unpleasant. Rest assured, we have also optimized its digestion and taste, in particular by optimizing the low oxidation of our oils, but also by adding Rosemary known for its digestive properties.

Yes, at Blackbelt we think of everything!

To effectively and concisely answer the question: "How to choose your Omega 3?" Here is a summary table.

	Recommended	BLACKBELT OMEGA 3
EPAX® Label	Yes	Yes
Friend of the see® (FOS) label	Yes	Yes
Made in France	Recommended	Yes
EPA/EDH ration	As close as possible to 1.5 without exceeding it	1.4
Triglycerides or Ethyl Esters? (Synthetic)	Triglycerides, purified if possible	Purified triglycerides
Totox	<10 (as low as possible)	3
Fish (farmed or wild)	Savage	Savage