I made an interesting discovery…
My OmegaQuant lab results came back and revealed I’m incredibly low on my omega-3 anti-inflammatory fatty acids. I was horrified.
For the past year, I’ve been faithfully taking flax oil and eating raw, sprouted pumpkin seeds to boost my omega-3 levels, since I tested low last year with Genova’s Metabolomix test.
Turns out, I either wasn’t consuming enough or my body does better with fish oil or algae-based omegas.
Here’s the kicker… after my last test, I started taking fish oil again but quickly developed the dreaded “fish burps” at 10 a.m., even with Nordic Naturals ProOmega, which I’d tolerated for years.
I blamed the fish oil, but in hindsight, it was more likely poor fat digestion due to low digestive enzymes.
Truth is, I’ve never been a big seafood lover (Midwest fish fries? Not my thing…unless my neighbor Todd makes it and he picks out all the bones 😅).
So flax oil seemed like the perfect workaround.
Around the same time, I had Brian Peskin on the podcast to share why DHA in fish oil may not work well for those with delta-6-desaturase deficiencies.
I convinced myself I was one of those people, ditched fish oil, and leaned into flax.
Some of my clients even labs improved more on flax than fish oil, so it felt like the right move.
But here’s my lesson learned: I should have re-tested at 4–6 months to see if flax was truly working for me.
Instead, I waited a year and missed the mark.
What do omega-3 fatty acids do for you?
They:
- Boost brain health and cognitive function
- Regulate inflammation
- Support mitochondrial health by reducing oxidative stress (helping your cells make energy + detox)
- Promote cardiovascular health
All things you need as you age.
The good news? Testing your omega balance is easier than ever with simple finger-prick, at-home kits.
You can check out the OmegaQuant test I took by clicking HERE (it’s $55).
The takeaway: Many people take fish, algae, or flax oil without knowing if it’s actually working. Testing removes the guesswork and helps you avoid blind spots in your health strategy.
Here’s to your fatty acid balance,
Dr. J
