Omega 3 and Sports, the Benefits

Omega 3 and Sports, the Benefits

We all want to work on a fit and healthy body. Of course, this also includes a healthy diet. A healthy diet consists of a good distribution between proteins, carbohydrates and fats. In this article we discuss some of the benefits of Omega 3 and how it can help with your sports performance. Are you reading along?

Omega 3 and sports

As an athlete, you undoubtedly pay the necessary attention to your diet. To have enough energy, to keep your concentration and stamina up, to support your heart and to maintain the condition of muscles, joints and bones. Taking sufficient Omega-3 fatty acids will support you in this.

There are 3 types of omega-3 fatty acids

  • Alpha-linolenic acid, ALA (Alpha-linolenic acid)
  • Eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid)
  • Docosahexaenoic acid, DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) 

ALA is found in vegetable oils, especially in linseed oil. Furthermore, ALA is found to a lesser extent in meat and green leafy vegetables. EPA and DHA are mainly found in fish, crustaceans, shellfish and algae. Examples of fatty fish that contain omega 3 are salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel, tuna, trout and eel.

Less muscle pain and better recovery

Recover quickly and if possible with as little muscle pain as possible, that's what every athlete wants. The faster you recover, the faster you can get back on track. Omega 3 appears to play an important role in this. Some onderzoeken claim that omega-3 fatty acids can reduce muscle soreness and that it has a positive effect on your recovery. Whether you are a top athlete or a recreational athlete, in both cases you would benefit from a pure, highly concentrated omega 3 supplement.

According to some studies, Omega 3 also improves strength training by stimulating blood flow to the muscles, with the result that the muscles break down or acidify less quickly. Omega 3 would also contribute to the faster recovery of your muscles and it works against inflammation. How nice is that!

However, these health claims have not (yet) been officially accepted and approved. Further research will be needed to definitively prove this.

Omega 3 stimulates fat loss

Yep, you read it right. Omega 3 appears to promote the loss of body fat according to some studies. It would activate the so-called fat burning genes. This allows your body to use your fat reserves. Omega 3 would also help to increase your metabolism. And this plays an important role in maintaining a healthy weight and losing weight. Omega 3 also prevents too much fat from being stored in your cells. Look at the bottom of the article for the source of the various studies that have shown this.

Unfortunately, in this case too, further research is needed to definitively demonstrate whether this can be substantiated as a health claim.

Other health benefits

Fish oil has even more health benefits for athletes and non-athletes alike. The main benefits of Omega 3 are:
  • EPA stimulates blood flow to the brain
  • Contributes to healthy heart and blood vessels
  • Promotes eye health
  • Promotes brain health and development

Also see the following article for a more detailed explanation: What is omega 3 good for?

Ekopura's Omega-3 products

It is clear that omega-3 is very important for your health and well-being! That's why we offer Ekopura pure nature omega 3 supplements with a high concentration of omega 3. Like all our products, these are also produced with respect for humans, animals and nature.

There are many abuses in the conventional Omega 3 industry and we want to bring about a positive change here. A quarter of the worldwide fish catch is used for Omega 3 and causes our oceans to become overfished. In addition, people often work under appalling conditions.

No oceans are fished for our Omega 3 and production takes place in Europe. Look at here our omega 3 products.

Sources:

Tartibian B, Maleki BH, Abbasi A. The effects of ingestion of omega-3 fatty acids on perceived pain and external symptoms of delayed onset muscle soreness in untrained men. Clin J Sports Med 2009; 19(2):115-9

Couet C, Delarue J, Ritz P, Antoine JM, Lamisse F. Effect of dietary fish oil on body fat mass and basal fat oxidation in healthy adults. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1997 Aug; 21(8):637-43 Hill A., Buckley J., Murphy K., Howe P. Combining fish oil supplementation with regular aerobic exercise improves body composition and cardiovascular risk factors. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2007;85:1267–1274.

Mori T, Kondo H, Hase T, Tokimitsu I, Murase T. Dietary fish oil upregulates intestinal lipid metabolism and reduces body weight gain in C57BL/6J mice. J Nutr. 2007 Dec; 137(12):2629-34.

Thorsdottir I., Tomasson H., Gunnarsdottir I., Gisladottir E., Kiely M., Parra M., Bandarra N., Schaafsma G., Martine J. Randomized trial of weight-loss-diets for young adults varying in fish and fish oil content. int. J. Obes. 2007;31:1560–1566.

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