Omega 3

[scoobysoo]

I've noticed that a lot of products seem to contain Omega 3 at the moment. I know this is something that comes naturally in fish, but why is it being added to bread, milk and marg? Has the Government announced something about it being a vital part of a healthy diet, and I totally missed it?

[Amara]

Omega 3 is an essential part of a healthy diet - it helps your skin, nails and hair and most importantly brain function. It is found naturally in oily fish and flax and linseed oil. It is given to children with ADHD and associated disorders to assist with concentration skills. The strange thing is that we eat so much refined food these days and they are now adding nutrients back in, it seems a bit ridiculous to me, why don't they just produce food which is as natural as it can be and leave it at that.

[nickmo]

The amount of Omega 3 in some products is patheticaly small - claiming it is a health benefit and 'will assist children in getting better brains' has been banned by the ASA as false as you need to have something like 50 pints to get a real benefit.

There have been a lot of studies into the benfits of omega 3 and omega 6 (the other type required). The food industry is trying to get a more balanced diet into the consumer as the human body can not make these essential nutrients, but there are a lot of doubts as to the real and claimed benefits - can they really prevent cancers, or help body functions, as opposed to just being necessary for healthy body function....?

Plus organic milk is one organic product where than have been studies that prove that there are significant benefits to the organic production method compared to the normal processes. Upto 71% more omega 3 found in organic milk than in regular milk in the summer, after natural grass fed cattle milked......

Bit of other info here from the Soil Association if interested.