Agents with omega-3 fatty acids should be good for the heart and prevent dementia: what is it about the advertising promise? Experts from Stiftung Warentest agree.
- The shelves in drugstores, supermarkets and pharmacies are full of nutritional supplements *.
- Products with omega-3 fatty acids are said to have a positive effect on eyesight, help maintain normal brain function and strengthen the heart.
- Stiftung Warentest took a close look at 23 products - and comes to a clear conclusion.
Fish oil contains large amounts of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. However, there are vegetable alternatives such as linseed oil and algae oil, which also contain many omega-3 fatty acids. W ir take the polyunsaturated fatty acid on the diet - also rapeseed oil and walnuts . According to the German Nutrition Society, people in this country are adequately supplied with plant-based omega-3 fatty acids. However, many still use food supplements. The Stiftung Warentest has examined how useful this is.
23 products with omega-3 fatty acids tested
A total of 20 dietary supplements and three over-the-counter medications with omega-3 fatty acids from fish, algae or linseed oil were tested. "For the test, we reviewed the products in the laboratory, among other pollutants. In the declaration check, we looked to see if the health claims correspond to the packs to the legal provisions. In addition, assessed appraiser, the study on the effectiveness. And this fall, the balance sheet despite countless studies on the topic sobering, "says the Stiftung Warentest publication. It goes on to say: "After evaluating all of these points, our experts come to the conclusion that the tested food supplements to protect against cardiovascular diseases are superfluous. This applies to healthy people as well as to risk patients who, for example, have already had a heart attack *. Also our experts did not find sufficient evidence for other areas of application such as the prevention of dementia or age-related eye diseases ".
Instead of using nutritional supplements, Stiftung Warentest advises that the need for omega-3 fatty acids be met through diet. The German Nutrition Society recommends about 1 to 1.5 grams of vegetable omega-3 fatty acids per day. This corresponds to one teaspoon of linseed oil a day or four to five walnuts a day .
Read more : Mediterranean diet: why you should immediately switch to a Mediterranean diet.
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