Should vegans take DHA & EPA supplements?

Do vegans and vegetarians need to take a DHA supplement?
0:15 - What is DHA?
1:11 - Is DHA really an issue for vegan?
3:12 - What do the experts say?
5:32 - Are DHA supplements really so expensive?
7:07 - Do I supplement for DHA & EPA?
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References
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Recommendations for Vegetarians
veganhealth.org/articles/omega3
Do Vegans Need Supplements of Omega-3 Fats?
www.theveganrd.com/2010/11/do-...
ASK THE DIETICIAN: DO WE NEED TO EAT FISH?
www.v-lish.com/ask-the-dietici...
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[@Correctrix]

The sticking point is that people have never heard of EPA, DHA and ALA. They've just heard that omega-3s are a thing in fish oil, and that you'll die or something without it. End of story.

[@TheSecondAdam]

Correctrix Who died from not eating fish? Smh

[@Otokage007]

I have never eaten fish since I have memory... My parents said I stopped eating it like at 4 yo all of a sudden, and never wanted to eat it again, so I'm quite sure you stop needing DHA from a very young age. I have no health problems, well except for that second nose in the back of my head but I heard that's normal right?.

[@richardmoores]

I’ve read you can get all your omega 3’s from hemp seeds, flax seeds, and chia seeds. Just grind them up and put them in your smoothies

[@PuzzleMessage]

@@richardmoores lol did you even watch the video?

[@lackxluster]

I always find this arguement frustrating because it's not a vegan problem. How many non-vegans aren't eating enough fish or no fish at all?

[@MimouFirst]

Plenty and I have been one of them for many years. I didn't eat fish or flaxseed/walnuts. I should have had a major deficit :p BUT eggs have some DHA in them as well apparantly, so that could be why non vegans that don't eat fish do not have this problem as often.

[@saskia6464]

I rarely ate eggs as an omnivore and I hated fish. I did that for years. Idk if I had any health problems that were caused by that... I now don't have migraines anymore (I'm vegan now), but my migraines worsened in the first month of me being a vegan. I have always wondered if my choice to supplement DHA/EPA daily has anything to do with the disappearance of my migraines... who knows, my migraines started to disappear after the first month of me being vegan, but I made so many changes in that first month that I can't say which changes caused the migraines to stop.

[@alchemistdreams]

Mimou Apparently you have to be extremely deficient to notice any effects, so that may also be why.

[@garethbaus5471]

@@MimouFirst Eggs have like 25mg of omega 3, so although they might delay deficiency I wouldn't rely on them prevent deficiency.

[@Sundara229]

This way of looking at things won’t help anybody. I’m pescatarian, If I were to go full vegan, the lack of DHA WOULD be a problem. The argument isn’t „bad, unhealthy diet” vs “plant based vegan diet”, but “plant based vegan diet” vs “plant based pescatarian diet” and their corresponding effects on our health. Fish also solves the B12 issue, so two birds with one stone essentially.

[@nohayamigo]

I choose to supplement DHA/EPA, because some studies show that is has positive impact on brain function and depression - and also has anti-imflammatory effects. For average person this probably does not matter so much, but my family has a long manic-depression track in history and I also do thai boxing and MMA, where my head gets a lot of hits (as well as powerlifting, which just adds to the overall physical stress), so I rather be safe than sorry. Any thoughts on this?

[@annnee6818]

I'm supplementing for heart health, as that's my main family concern, you can never know if your particular supplement does what it's supposed to, but it does feel better to do it. Which doesn't mean much, I know.

[@HoneeyBee3]

So yall havent noticed any differences or felt better overall with the supplements? Mentally or physically?

[@nohayamigo]

@@HoneeyBee3 well, I've had some minor health issues, or let's say concens these past few years - had some blood pressure spikes, mostly because abusing too much caffeine at work and sleeping shitty - and what I've noticed, when I started being strict with the supplements, it got a bit better (after a month or two, the effect is not instant). Other than that, I don't really know. As I've said - I was practicing a lot of boxing and MMA (not now), and all the punches to the head could also contribute to some of my issues (had some ear ringing with the pressure thing). Now it's better, pressure is OK and ear ringing got to minimum, it comes back mostly when I drink shit ton of caffeine. So overall, if you have mental health risks, make sure you take supplements, but first of ALL, get enough sleep and strength exercise. It makes hell of a difference.

[@cheria9399]

Ive been supplementing with vit D3, flaxseed omega 3, b12 for a short while and saw some improvement but not much until i used hormones and melatonin. If you want to prevent the degradation of your brain health, sleep is of utmost importance. Hormone therapy helped me more than traditional antidepressants. Even my gut health seems to have significantly improved. Really strange and curious. Probiotics didn't even help this much.

[@Magnulus76]

@@annnee6818 Omega 3 supplementation doesn't seem to do alot for heart health.

[@airborn195]

I recently began taking a DHA supplement and my acne has started to visibly clear up.

[@KayleJudicator]

2 tbs of ground flax seed everyday produce the same result for most people. But if you were not used to eat ALA daily, then it may explained the benefit.

[@kelseynewton4683]

Love your videos! You answer the important questions and you talk about things that might be hard for us to find clear information about elsewhere on the internet. Thank you! Hope your little family is doing well! Xoxo

[@malene3986]

It was a big concern for me, before I found the algae supplement. The reason why I think many people are discussing it is because a lot of vegans/vegetarians/people who want's to go vegan don't know about algae supplements, and maybe don't know if it's as good as the fish oils. That is my experience at least from discussing omega-3's online and IRL (wow, I haven't used that abbreviation since forever. Feeling retro). To me, it's probably the supplement I've worried about the most before I found out that you could supplement with algaes. For **** sake, it's the development and conservation of the brain we're discussing. And for a long time I thought you could only get it from fish. Luckily, that wasn't true. So keep spreading the message. I will too.

[@aliciaclark5571]

I just found your channel, and I want to let you know that I appreciate your sane and logical approach to veganism. Thanks, we need more people like you!

[@regansmith6034]

I can always count on you to put out high quality content. Thank you!

[@xvipergaming2760]

I'm a 11 and I have to take B-12 and Omega-3 supplements. I don't really mind them my dad forces me to take them or I can't have my phone.

[@Ali-zx8lz]

U vegan?

[@nathanho233]

Probably had his phone taken.

[@Ali-zx8lz]

Nathan Ho xD, fogot to take his suppuments

[@nyanator8110]

Please reply when you get your phone back

[@angeldream1]

Please let us know you got your phone

[@patty-cf7jj]

This isn't an issue just for vegans. I was reading Dr. Andrew Weil's books on nutrition before I became vegan and he was discussing the dangers of trans fats and the importance of Omega 3s long before the mainstream media and suggested everyone eat salmon or sardines twice a week. (I don't eat fish, my point is just to say this isn't just a vegan issue.)

[@user-rm3iy4ye2l]

I was really looking forward to this video!!! But... WHEN IS THAT SEITAN RECIPE VIDEO COMING?!?!?!? 😂😂

[@myrest3334]

"you can get b12 from the air". okay there's no way he said that... Please someone tell me he didn't... Holly guacamole.

[@zidapplip]

Myrest You can get it from air!... if you smoke feces lel 😂

[@ansh0133]

Yum! Guacamole

[@hoolachic8734]

Thank you for such an informative video! This is literally what I've been wondering about for the past couple of days, what a great timing lol

[@aineg2259]

I'm surprised you didn't mention omega 6:3 ratios as it's generally thought the ratio affects the conversion of ALA. great video though :)

[@UnnaturalVegan]

"In summary, it appears that 3.7 grams of ALA per day is needed for vegetarians to see an effect in blood DHA percentages in the short-term. But, there isn't any research in which participants were asked to cut their LA intake at the same time that they increased ALA intake. So we don't really know if doing that would boost DHA levels in the blood or other tissues." veganhealth.org/articles/omega3#tradrem

[@jamiey5779]

+Unnatural Vegan I found a brand called Opti-3, their not cheap but they always have a 3 for 2 offer permanently on going. With 60 in tub you get 180 for around £30 ish (everything in the UK is overpriced) Each tablet contains 250mg of DHA, 150mg of EPA and 200IU of vegan D3. The Deva 90 DHA pack cost close to £30 with shipping on this side of the Atlantic.

[@jannujokunen2701]

"Decreasing the intake of LA increased the proportion of dietary ALA that was converted into EPA. On the other hand, increasing ALA intake increased the absolute amount of DHA synthesized." So eat as little LA as possible, and lots of ALA. This is why i don't eat tofu or soy, it has huge amounts of omega6.

[@celinak5062]

jannu jokunen +

[@crayolaupyournose]

+Jam Iey Thanks for the tip about Opti-3! I had just ordered a different brand, saw this comment, then immediately cancelled that order! Opti-3 works out cheaper with that 3 for 2 deal and has vitamin D - how can you go wrong?!

[@yourjoywillturntoashesinyo3844]

I can ALWAYS count on all of your videos to mention Kroger, Ginny Messina and Jack Norris 😉😂

[@daniell6816]

Echo chamber.

[@TMSreptiles]

Unfortunately, the good sources of information are especially limited for those following restrictive diets, such as that which follows from veganism. Echo chambers are sometimes a sufferable evil.

[@IMatchoNation]

Daniel L Provide credible alternatives if you mind that much.

[@daniell6816]

Matthias Joseph Thomas van Trigt who said I minded. Im just saying that UV lives in an echo chamber. No mind.

[@IMatchoNation]

Daniel L Alright.

[@bakedvegan6379]

Thanks so much for this video! I eat flax/chia/canola oil everyday, but take a dha/EPA supplement every few days just to be safe lol. I got the Amala vegan brand on Amazon for $21.95.

[@tarquinbristow492]

I've only ever heard trash about you and your channel and now that I've had a look for myself, I find your style very straightforward and your information well looked into. I think the thing I liked most though is how you did the subscribe thing.. brilliant.

[@nickmeale1957]

Thanks for explaining that in such a normal way! Its rare to find that on yt, let me tell you!

[@meanderthalensis]

I'd recommend people look at Michael Gregor's videos on the topic, he actually reviews the studies on this topic. Relying on ALA from walnuts and canola oil is terrible advice

[@michellefilby]

Great video! What about meat eaters that never eat fish? How did anyone discover that we needed to take supplements for DHA? I understand the B12 requirements but without proper data I can't understand why people are even worrying about this.

[@MrOoglebog]

Omega 3s are important for brain health (once believed that it helped heart health as well but there in increasing evidence to support it has little to no effect on heart health). Yeah, meat eater may also be insufficient in omega 3s which is probably contributing to the increasing rates of Alzheimer's. From my understanding our brains are mostly made from omega 3s. :)

[@michellefilby]

MrOoglebog I eat walnuts, flax and chia seeds etc so I'm assuming I get enough of those. My understanding is that the body should produce enough DHA as long as you are not overdosing on omega 6. But I'm not a doctor so correct me if I'm wrong :)

[@john0094]

Because dha is present in small amount in eggs(60-100 mg/2 eggs),meat etc.

[@Nizotik]

@@michellefilby honey we need omega 3 from fish not just seeds

[@chloro8306]

@@Nizotik No evidence to support this claim

[@DF-ho8bt]

thank you so much for this! I hope you start finding enjoyment in making videos, hopefully soon :)

[@KKinTheZone]

It would be really cool if you had a short intro/channel jingle for all your videos (like other KZbinrs have). I mean, do what you want it's your channel lol, just thought I'd throw that out there. :)

[@SnowdropWood]

Anecdotal-only report here, but personally, taking a DHA/EPA supplement made my almost-constant headaches disappear. :)

[@theothergirls4817]

Bee it could be a placebo

[@chloro8306]

@@theothergirls4817 Yeah sounds like bull to me

[@chopsueykungfu]

Do you wash them down with water? That alone might be doing the trick!!

[@KayleJudicator]

Were you eating 2 tbs of flax seeds everyday ? Most people doing that didn't get any benefit from Dha supplements, flax seeds were doing the job.

[@ezra9020]

I don't live in the USA and algae supplements are considerably more expensive here. Would you have any advice for those of us abroad? I have a tbsp of flax a day and eat a lot of walnuts and I just hope that's enough.

[@frank1847]

@Ezra I have gone down the flaxseed and nuts road. According to Dr. Mcgregor, that's fine.

[@GilBarOn]

Thank you!! This video really helped me! By the way, I almost fell for the Nordic Omega 3 too but the 120 capsules are actually only 60 Servings so it's actually more expensive.. Also they also sell Fish oil products so I wouldn't trust them so much... Keep up the great work! :-)

[@toridanielle333]

Thanks for this! I was just the other day looking at prices for these supplements on amazon, but didn't buy them cause I thought they were a bit pricey. Not that I know I can space them out a bit more I feel better about buying them lol

[@conceptKitty]

What will you do for your child when he's eating solid food? I was hoping you'd go into that more as well.

[@ro-ck-yo5295]

Or just eat freaking flax, hemp, and chia seeds! DHA is produced through your Omega-3/Omega-6 intake. You need a 1/4 Omega-3/Omega-6 ratio. 2 tbsps of ground Flax per day is often all you need. But you should also eat some hemp, chia seeds, and walnuts.

[@chiki3002]

you should make a video about the vegetarian myth interview. have you seen it? talking about long term 20+ years vegans.

[@ldjt6184]

that would be great!

[@Morfeusm]

Camila Méndez that would be awesome

[@backspace7124]

In her words, she "binged on dairy and eggs every chance I got". I believe that's an exact quote (going from memory here). Yep, not a vegan in the slightest.

[@chiki3002]

and why is the conversation about being vegan or not? besides the book is about vegetarianism. I think a video about that will be great.

[@artichokeflower]

Nori (seaweed) contains DHA and EPA.Vegan should eat seaweed.

[@stickdip]

You're my go-to person for nutrition info

[@jessepinkman6164]

Hey ! Could you tell your thoughts on regular vegan capsules for DHA & EPA vs delayed release capsules? is one more effective than the other?

[@hannahspeegle4902]

This video is great and provides so much information-- You should revamp it to address the whole Raw Alignment situation.

[@Sara-kd4se]

loved the video!!

[@ronaldheflen7629]

You all right on everything..love your truth..just just Ron again..thanks. ..you ready know your stuff. .

[@herbivarsawus4359]

I take Flaxceed (6.49 in H&B) But try to get plenty of walnuts in my diet. There's B12 in my multivitamins & iron tablets but there's also B12 in lots of things, though being a Marmite addict helps :)

[@veganlifeofnoah2131]

What kind of supplement does Swayze take? I’ve seen this video before and I can’t remember if she mentions what supplement(s) she takes. I know she probably takes the best of the best. I recently ran out of the brand I used before and I want to get a different one

[@suzykaragosian6453]

Grew up vegetarian, been vegan for a couple years now, I've never had problems with DHA and EPA levels (never brought up once by any doctor I've ever had). I have no clue why this is such a huge deal now a days.

[@patty-cf7jj]

Suzy VanderGheynst-Karagosian did you doctor ever even test your levels? Mine doesn't. I don't believe this is done in a standard blood test.

[@MimouFirst]

Actually vitamin D is officially recommended during winter in multiple countries and for a good reason. During winter there just isn't enough suntime to get your vitamin D over there. It's not all a scam :p

[@nunativs]

Great video, thank you!

[@TheEventHorizon8]

You mentioned that we can get ALA (and from the digestion process, DHA and EPA) from foods like walnuts, seeds. I was curious the serving amount needed per day? I'm new to measuring things in gram amounts because most nutrition labels I see are in percentages. Any other foods that have ALA that I missed would be greatly appreciated! I'm all for variety :)

[@jnada101]

i take Deva's multi-vitamin do i really need to take a separate B12 and DHA?... :/

[@elenapacas_]

I have been vegan for 7 years, and I want to supplement myself with omega 3, but I live in a really little latin american country (El Salvador) and here is really hard to find that supplement vegan, and economy is like shit. I'm really considering taking a non-vegan supplement. I already take a multivitamin and protein which are in fact vegan, but sadly there are not omega 3 option for me and buying it online is to expensive in my situation. What do you think about it?

[@falsul96]

It costs me 10 euro a month for a high quality, produced under pharmaceutical standards, vegan DHA+EPA+D3 from vegetology.

[@ebtsoby]

contains carageenan

[@ilona2423]

Chris Kresser wrote a good article on this subject too, it was titled something like "why vegans need to supplement dha"....

[@TheInspirefly]

My doctor says that algae sources cannot contain EPA, only DHA, even though I see algae supplements with both EPA and DHA all the time - why would she think that? I am confused.

[@LocaBaybeex]

What are your thoughts on Ahiflower? Supposedly, the conversion of ALA to EPA is greater than flaxseed.

[@MrMimlet]

Its a good idea to take a vegan omega 3 supplement, when I went vegan at first I felt great, and I was taking 4 tablespoons of ground flax every day for my omega 3, but several months down the road I had severe stress and depression, so I bought vegan omega 3, and as soon as I took the dose within hours my stress and depression went away, and I was feeling mentally great, some people just cant convert ALA to DHA., even young people like me, at 22.

[@Pierluigi996]

thanks for the time stamps

[@tanodamorire]

Thank you for the video! I've been vegan 10 years and never worried about DHAs...

[@NoExitLoveNow]

To maximize your ALA to DHA/EPA conversion you should not get too much Omega-6 - as Omega-6 fats compete with ALA for conversion to DHA. DHA/EPA supplements (even from algae) are not that expensive, as you pointed out. P.S. Have you tried Extra Virgin Olive Oil on popcorn? I think it is pretty good; however, I'm now a whole foods guy so don't eat it anymore.

[@robin2604]

I know this is a long time ago, but algae dha epa supplements are kinda expensive though...

[@potato5959]

I consume 2 tbsp of chia, 2 tbsp hemp seeds, and 1 tbsp of flax seeds everyday, well 5-6 days per week is that enough?

[@A_A828]

I take a 330mg DHA/EPA supplement daily. I use the Opti3 Omega-3 brand, which seems pretty good. Seems to have greatly improved my skin! Of course this is anecdotal, but I wonder if the anti-inflammatory effects of omega 3 are responsible for this. I agree that it's best to err on the side of caution here and just keep your levels at similar levels to omnivores, until we know more. It's also good to note that men don't convert ALA into EPA as well as women.

[@kamwolf3960]

Clinical depression ( requiring psychiatric meds ) is far less prevalent in peeps who eat whole plant foods WITH SEAFOOD.

[@thepanda9782]

I take a liquid b12 and omega 3 500mg dha+epa supplement, it's expensive but very convenient and I dont have to worry about malabsorption or swallowing a bunch of pills. Im really bad about eating things like flaxseeds and fortified b12 foods, so for me it's important that I supplement my omega 3 every few days and b12 everyday (and honestly maybe it's placebo but I do notice a difference in brain functioning when I forget). My omega 3 supplement tastes like oranges and strawberries so I take it in a fruity tea (not too hot), and my b12 spray tastes like raspberries. It really doesn't have to be hard or gross.

[@MisterProducts]

I eat like 10-15 grams of ALA a day, you think that's safe? Through nuts and seeds.

[@juanamorim9113]

On ALA consumption: what about the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio? I've read it's an important matter for ALA's conversion into DHA and EPA, and the ALA sources mentioned in the video all have many times the amount of omega-6 over the amount of omega-3. (My English may be awful, please ignore it)

[@danadams6697]

I'm really stuck on vitamin b12. I want to take a supplement for it, but there's so much conlifliting information available that it's hard to make a decision. Some people take 2000 MG a day, some people take 2.5 a day... how can this be at all similar? I have ordered tablets that direct me to take 1 supplement every day, but they contain 1000mg. Is this not too much?

[@eliv8472]

i heard DHA can be responsible for sharpness of the mind, and being diagnosed with dyslexia a couple of months back I'm pretty worried!! I've been vegan since december 2015, and I'm really worried my levels of DHA may have dropped so much that its caused dyslexic symptoms :/ do you have any advice or knowledge?? could they be connected??

[@Chris-MusicTheoryAndFretboard]

You can increase your ALA conversion if you cut back on foods high in Omega-6.

[@aLoveTart]

I may have missed this, but other than the DHA, which supplements are you taking while breastfeeding, specifically?

[@woosh2055]

I think she only takes b12 and DHA supplements

[@chantyjernica]

My MIL went to a conference once for supplements and one of the talks mentioned that vegans and vegetarians seemed to make the conversion easier in their bodies. I'm not sure of the validity of that though. Either way, even most meat eaters should be supplementing. Unless you're actually eating enough fish.

[@heatherg1296]

I wasn't informed about this. I'm actually kinda scared. I supplement for B12, and Vitamin D, but not this. I am honestly doubting everything right now. I have been vegan for the past four months as a teen, and now I'm scared. It seems you have to supplement for everything. B12, Vitamin D, DHA. Is this diet even sustainable? Am I dystroying my body, and mind?Someone please help me.

[@Chris-MusicTheoryAndFretboard]

If you eat foods high in ALA and try to minimize foods high in Omega-6, then you should generally be fine. The reason for this is that the body uses the same pathway to convert ALA (the Omega-3 parent acid) and LA (the Omega-6 parent acid) into the Omega-3 acid DHA and the Omega-6 acid AA, respectively. So the two types of acid compete with one another in a way. If you have too much Omega-6, then it will crowd out ALA and not give the body an opportunity to make DHA. This can happen even if you eat a diet full of animal foods or vegetable oils (like fried foods). Meat and dairy will already have the preformed Omega-6 AA, which if you already have inflammation, the body will use it to feed the inflammation. This is why many recommend supplementing with DHA/EPA because a lot of people like to eat a lot of foods high in Omega-6 and so you need to consume more Omega-3 to compensate and get a good ratio. If you use a food tracker like cronometer, shoot for a 4:1 Omega-6:Omega-3 ratio. The standard american diet has a ratio of 10:1 or even higher to give you some perspective.

[@lolzmcfree6996]

Heather G most people should take vitamin d, b12 is a easy supplement( plus fortified foods are really easy to find )

[@veganforthem76]

Heather G hi Heather! I know this is an old comment, but I wanted to respond to it anyway just in case it can be helpful for anyone reading. First things first: I’m a vegan RD, and I have been practicing for over 20 years know. Nutrition -more specifically, eating right- is complicated, regardless of whether you consume animal products or not. You need to know how to meet nutrient needs, what nutrients of concerns you should avoid, how to cook... Vegans generally have a better understanding of these aspects because we spend more time than the average person thinking about our diet. Now onto your supplements concern. Yes, all vegans should supplement with b12, either taking a pill or through fortified foods. People over 50 also should supplement with it even if they consume animal products. It is a small price to pay in order to help animals and the planet. Vitamin d is a huge concern, not only for vegans, but for the general population. Everyone should supplement with it in the winter. As far as DHA, as discussed in the video, it is still an open question at this point. I do supplement with it, but I would do the same if I wasn’t vegan, as practically no one eats fatty fish every day, nor in the amount required to keep levels high. So no, you are not destroying your body and mind. Seems like you are taking good care of them. And that’s a positive thing.

[@peteredwards1528]

Should I be worried about the link between supplemental DHA and an increased risk of prostate cancer?

[@kasblue3005]

Hi. Does anyone know of a nutrient calculator that does not show calories? I want to check if I am getting enough vitamins/minerals/protein on average over the course of, say, a week, but looking at calorie counts is triggering for me. I asked my doctor about getting a nutrition panel done to check, but my insurance doesn't cover it and I can't afford it. Does anyone have any ideas, besides taking a multi vitamin to be safe? I know cheap ones exist, but I have very limited funds, so I'd still rather check first than just buy some. Sorry for being a bit off topic, but this video made me wonder. Thank you for your time.

[@Ozzy200292]

wow your content is pretty educational. What's your opinion on thevegancheetah ? He's creating a new uprising of people who call themselves vegan while still consuming animal products. I personally believe he's harming the vegan community by misrespresenting veganism. Yet again we have to rely on Vegan Gains alone to deal with this problem. Might have to point out what veganism is all about 'cus apparently some people still don't get it.

[@amillionmangatoread7870]

are u going to make a response video to Nikocados video eatin eggs? I don't mean a freelee-like response, but some of these awesome rational-on-the-point-ish responses of u

[@emilyjohnson6333]

Thanks for the video :))

[@TheMalteseVegan]

I recently decided to supplement with dha/epa supplements; and it is as you said, either quite expensive or else most of them had bad stuff like carageenan. I was looking and dha and epa ones, not dha alone like the deva brand though. I finally found one which was in pipette form and is actually intended for babies hehe. I think i've showed in one of my vlogmas vlogs

[@PureEssenceBeauty215]

I had training with Nordic Naturals today and I agree eating fish isn’t necessary! I wish I knew this information when I was pregnant and nursing..

[@Elfuxxx]

Why don't you have a Patreon? My mum told me when I was at her place that "you watch that same woman on KZbin all the time!!". :D I would like to support your work.

[@rkcatt186]

I'm 15 yo,i don t know if i should start supplementing on DHA,is my brain still growing like when i was a toddler?Love to hear your thoughts on that.

[@MB-nh3fj]

RK Catt your brain is developing until 25 years of age.

[@Amylaurapaige94]

I'm still nursing my baby she is 14 months I eat chia seeds every day. My baby isn't vegan and eats fish on an occasion do you think I should supplement don't know if I cam afford that price tbh?

[@backspace7124]

Oh, almost forgot to mention this. It's been awhile since I've looked into this stuff, but I was under the impression that the research showing potential harms to high ALA intake were looking at animal-derived ALA, not plant-derived. Something to look into...

[@backspace7124]

This is from Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina's book 'Becoming Vegan: Comprehensive Edition'; they're registered dietitians that I believe meet the criteria you've set for reliable vegan experts to turn to for good information. "Why do some reports show an increased risk of prostate cancer and degenerative eye diseases in people who consume greater amounts of ALA? Experts suggest that the answer may lie in the dietary sources of ALA. In the United States and other Western countries, the primary sources of ALA are meat and other animal products. Other sources included processed foods made with ALA-containing oils, such as soybean and canola oil (e.g., mayonnaise and margarine), and foods fried or cooked using these oils. Considering these sources of ALA, it's quite possible that ALA itself is not the issue, but rather ALA damaged by heat, light, oxygen from food processing, and high-temperature cooking. Researchers have also suggested that ALA may simply be a marker for high meat and fat intakes, as well as unhealthful eating patterns. Conversely, walnuts, ground flaxseeds, hemp seeds, and chia seeds weren't major sources of ALA in these studies, raising confidence that vegans have no cause for concern. In fact, a small handful of studies by one research team in the United States found that adding 3 tablespoons (45 ml/30 g) of ground flaxseeds per day consistently decreased prostate cancer cell proliferation in men with prostate cancer, compared to men who didn't consume ground flaxseeds." Citations are provided in book; if anyone wants those, just ask.

[@angeldream1]

Hi I'm new here I went vegan 44 days ago and yea lots of people tel me I'm going to die now lol. Thumbs up 💛

[@marcotobits3369]

Awesome! You go girl! two years and going :)

[@JE-ng4ty]

Best of luck your journey! Sorry people are shit

[@murliasnani1451]

10 year vegan here.

[@lIlIllIlIllIlllIllIIIIIIIIIlII]

So did you die?

[@PinkiKiller13]

What about the brain activity and the lower DHA levels? Is it important for brain development or we also need it for optimal brain function?

[@DystopeanPersona]

what supplement brand do you take?

[@lezlie15]

What kind of vegan baby formula do you recomend for babies. I know you are breastfeeding your baby. But I would assume there are vegan moms out there who have to work full time and can't breastfeed during day.

[@persimmondanceremilie8878]

What about eating nori or other seaweed? Is that still considered helpful for supplementation? I think it's cheaper.

[@Chris-MusicTheoryAndFretboard]

A good source of iodine but not Omega-3...

[@emmi541]

Dha\Epa are not available where I live ( Argentina) and you cannot import supplements for customs reasons.

[@millievanillie7493]

Most people do fine with just having a high level of ALA intake, from certain nuts and seeds, especially ground flax seeds, hemp seeds and wal-nuts as well as leafy green vegetables. You can track your omega-3 intake on sites like cronometer.com pretty easily from time to time as well. That's still unfortunate about the bureaucracy surrounding nutritional supplements there.

[@emmi541]

millie vanillie People over 60, children and pregnant women cant be vegan without some risk in Argentina

[@celinak5062]

Emmi! you could try to use seaweed instead, some types of mushrooms grown in light have D3 and D4, and fermented food like sauerkraut and natto have vitamin K2 and B12.

[@millievanillie7493]

I would agree that a lot of people have more of a requirement for DHA/EPA. Although I do think people underestimate how much an adequately planned diet, high in ALA, can provide for people who are able to convert that into DHA.

[@UntakenNick]

La dieta tradicional de los argentinos es pasta, pan, facturas, dulce de leche y carne. La falta de omega 3 es el menor de los problemas. Y sí podés conseguir la dosis diaria de EPA/DHA con una sola lata de sardinas, eso sí existe en Argentina.

[@XdarkendGOSPLE]

what do you think about dr.sebi?

[@justincarrubba759]

People might go "ahh DHA supplement see thats why I cant be vegan!" and just use it as an excuse. If they insisted on getting DHA from an actual food source they could still be vegan with the exception of eating fish maybe twice a week, but we know how people love to make excuses.

[@yazraf]

I had very bad b12 after been vegan for two years i suffered brain fog and tiredness. I took the supplements and everything became fine .

[@Garysopinion]

so if I take omega 3 do I automatically get ala, epa, dha???

[@kslice66]

My gynocologist (one of the best of the city) said that he would prefer i eat fish. Because the data on how absorbable dha is by capsule has been a topic of dispute. Regardless of vegan or not vegan supplementation.

[@millie7642]

so how much omega3 and 6 are we meant to be eating?

[@VeganWalk]

EPA oxidizes fast in the brain, so we may need more EPA than DHA. Therefore it may be best to take both! Also Barry Spears PhD explains "if you use high-dose DHA it is essential to add back trace amounts of GLA to maintain sufficient levels of DGLA to continue to produce anti-inflammatory eicosanoids" (s). This may not be a problem with the RDA amounts you're suggesting, esp. if we take them every other day...

[@herbivarsawus4359]

As a kid I took a spoonful of cod liver oil UGH!

[@ansh0133]

Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

[@christina7454]

I think that's mostly for vitamin D though? Before vitamin D supplements were widely available and even before vitamins were discovered they knew cod liver oil prevented rickets, they just didn't know why.

[@herbivarsawus4359]

@@christina7454 Oh I don't know. Not even sure how far back that whole thing goes!

[@sannh]

Yes but I don't think it's necessary to take it every day, I think once a week is sufficient.

[@PhilippeOrlando]

As you hinted on one of your previous video why not eat mussels? The problem with supplements is they might or might not contain what they say they do. Mussels have DHA for sure.

[@BulbasaurLeaves]

Are there any whole food plant based sources of DHA? I’d rather make a vegan seafood recipe with the algae than take a pill.

[@neiloppa2620]

Can someone link me the walnut shake protein video?

[@snake1625b]

Make a video on the whole Omega 3 vs 6 ratio thing

[@charlottec9294]

Have you heard of Dr. Rhonda Patrick? I think you would find her research very interesting!

[@zukodude487987]

There are only ALA supplements in stores. Only EPA/DHA supplements i find are fish based.

[@nohayamigo]

check opti3 omega website (google it), they sell quite strong omega3 (high values of EPA and DHA + D3) vegan capsules. I did some research on dosage potency and this brand has relatively high values (tho fish oil still has slightly higher content, but the difference is not that big)

[@sww770]

the vegan EPA/DHA come from algae, not from fish. Not all stores will have them, but you can find them on amazon.

[@sarinabrennan1297]

I'm really glad I watched this. I haven't been supplementing my young children with DHA since stopping breastfeeding but they do get plenty of APA with their food but I would rather be safe than sorry. B12 obviously we all supplement. We don't supplement Vitamin D because we live in sub-tropical Queensland in Australia, from what I know this is fine, is Vitamin D not needed if it's fortified in foods and also we get a good amount of sun?

[@DrGerbils]

In Queensland, 20 minutes per day of sun on exposed arms and legs will produce enough vitamin D for a light complexioned person. More vitamin D is produced in January than in June, of course, but you're close enough to the equator to have adequate sunlight year round.

[@sarinabrennan1297]

Thank you! This is much appreciated.

[@mcresent]

Does anyone know of any algae dha supplements for kids?

[@JkDubbed]

What do you think about Dr Joel Fuhrman and his recommendations of daily GBOMBS & limiting grains & potatoes? How about his credibility? Thanks :)

[@RoseOfTheBear]

Have you done a video about raising a vegan child and how to deal with maybe parents/in-laws disapproving? Or vegan pregnancy and child-rearing if partner is not vegan? Social pressure against veganism gets really heated when babies get involved.

[@WillerRemyMa]

DHA as well as EPA are both rather important for cognitive function as we age. Plus, there are very common gene polymorphisms that hinders the conversion to the longer chained omega's...

[@nancy78811]

Thanks for this! My boyfriends been bugging me on this issue. I sent him the link

[@hoolachic8734]

I have b12 supplements but what about products that are fortified with b12? Trader joes soymilk and some type of their cereal is fortified with a high percentage of b12 for dra.

[@mmmars1000]

Fortified products should be good if you can get enough through them. You can still take supplements, though, if you don't overdo it too much. B12 toxicity is rare.