Algae Oil - the vegan DHA alternative

The miracle from the sea

When I think of the omega-3 supply, especially the supply of DHA, I immediately think of salmon oil. Or even krill oil. But for some time now, algae oil has become more popular.

​But what is DHA and why is it needed?

DHA stands for docosahexaenoic acid. DHA is an unsaturated fatty acid and belongs to the omega-3 fatty acids. It is produced by marine microalgae and is transported via the natural food chain from the algae to the crab and fish. 

Omega-3 fatty acids

It is no longer a secret that omega-3 fatty acids are important for the human organism. 
DHA is usually associated with EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), which is mainly found in oily sea fish. EPA is very rarely found in plants - the microalgae Schizochytrium is an exception. 

Another omega-3 fatty acid is alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which the human organism can partially convert into EPA and DHA. ALA is usually more accessible to people from rural regions, as it is found in animal fats, linseed oil, rapeseed oil and other vegetable oils. However, the conversion rate to EPA and DHA varies from person to person. Therefore a supplement might be advisable, if necessary..

​What does the body need omega-3 fatty acids for?

There are several scientific studies on the various fatty acids. Many come to the conclusion that omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation of many kinds in the body. They therefore act as an antagonist to omega-6 fatty acids, which can promote inflammation in some cases.

EPA is also said to be helpful for depression, which can be improved with the additional intake of EPA. 

DHA, on the other hand, can have a positive effect on blood pressure and the heart, among other things. Researchers have also found that it plays a role in brain function and vision and that DHA can generally have a positive effect on the recovery process of some illnesses.

Why algae oil?

A well-known source of DHA and EPA is salmon oil or cod liver oil. It is produced from leftovers from fishing, among other things. The raw material is boiled or pressed and the oil is then processed further. Without additives, such as vitamin E, the oil is often not very stable and becomes rancid relatively quickly after opening (especially if stored incorrectly). For this reason, it is often offered for human consumption as closed capsules. However, the fish itself usually comes from salmon farms off the coast of Norway or Chile. It can be observed that escaped farmed animals displace the wild salmon so that they no longer return to the natural spawning grounds in the same numbers. As a result, farmed salmon not only endanger one species of wild salmon (e.g. the Atlantic salmon) itself, but also bears, sea lions and other animals that feed on wild salmon. In recent years, the first genetically modified salmon have also been approved for human consumption in the USA, which grow faster.

Krill oil is also a good source of DHA. Krill are small crustaceans up to 7 cm long, which are mainly found off the Antarctic. The DHA concentration in krill is significantly higher than in salmon. However, a large quantity of crustaceans is required for production and the supply chain is very long.

However, algae oil itself can be produced in a much smaller space. The oil is much more concentrated and naturally contains more DHA than other omega-3 oils. In addition, algae oil can be used to avoid the strong smell and taste of fish and seafood.

So you are not only doing something for your health, but also for global environmental and species protection.

​Algae oil we offer

As algae oil is still relatively new on the market, there are only a handful of products in the EU Union list that have to fulfill specific properties in order to be used as food. 

We are therefore pleased to be able to offer you products that meet these regulations.

Our Products

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact us at any time.


Disclaimer​

For legal reasons, we would like to point out that some of the above statements require further research and studies to prove them scientifically. Therefore, not all statements can currently be recognized by conventional medicine.

Sources
in News
Veganuary
Vegan through January