Dr Federica Amati, chief nutrition scientist at Zoe Health, has issued a stark warning to Brits who rely on omega-3 supplements.
Earlier this year, the expert appeared on Davina McCall’s Begin Again podcast, where she highlighted the dangers she observes with people who consume vitamins and nutrients in tablet form.
During the discussion, Dr Amati expressed her worries and said: “Taking a supplement is easier than changing your diet… People take supplements and then they think ‘okay, I’ve done my bit’.”
She revealed that many individuals persist with damaging behaviours including poor eating habits, heavy drinking, insufficient sleep, and sedentary lifestyles.
Dr Amati went on: “That supplement, in the grand scheme of things, is going to have a very marginal effect on your health.”
Her comments come after recent latest statistics reveal nearly half of UK adults routinely consume supplements. The specialist also advocates obtaining nutrients from food rather than tablets, emphasising the distinction with omega-3 consumption.
The doctor referenced a “really good long-running clinical trial” that examined whether omega-3 supplements fulfil their health claims, including reducing risks of cancers, heart disease, and mortality.
She determined: “It doesn’t do it. It doesn’t do it in the same way that eating fish does.”
Omega-3 fatty acids boast a wealth of advantages, including bolstering cardiovascular wellness, tackling parched skin and eyes, plus reducing bodily inflammation.
The NHS states that omega-3s are “also important for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, because it can help a baby’s nervous system to develop”.
Medical experts advise consuming “at least two portions of fish a week, including one of oily fish”. For those who aren’t keen on seafood, alternative omega-3 sources include flaxseed, chia seeds, walnuts, soybeans, and spinach.