We were pleased to exhibit at last month’s Eco Veggie Fayre in Reading, at which our nutrition scientist Dr Nina Bailey gave a talk on essential omega fats in the diet. We also showcased our echium seed oil health supplement, Echiomega, which provides an excellent source of omega-3, -6 & -9 fatty acids. We met with many vegans who were very familiar with the health benefits of omega fats in flaxseed oil, and yet so few people had heard of the new source of plant-based essential fats, found in echium seeds, derived from Echium plantagineum.

 What is echium oil?

We’re delighted with this opportunity to tell you a little more about this new plant oil, which hosts a number of important nutrients for vegans.

We’ve been bombarded by the media for some time now about the wide-ranging benefits of omega-3s, but there’s a good deal of science supporting many of the health claims. These important fats are essential for all bodily processes, not to mention supporting the cardiovascular system, eye health, brain and immune function, concentration, joint health, and nourishment of the skin, hair and nails.  We’re still coming across new research almost weekly! Even food manufacturers are now falling over each other to offer functional foods which provide many of these nutrients (yes, omega-3s are even added to baked beans!), but in reality the amounts provided aren’t usually sufficient to offer real health benefits.

As vegans you’re probably extremely astute when it comes to eating a healthy and balanced diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals than, but getting the right essential fats can be a challenge with an exclusively plant-based diet. 

Vegan foods rich in omega-3 fats:  seeds (sesame, pumpkin) avocados dark green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale) nuts (walnuts)

‼ These provide only short-chain omegas, which still have to be converted by the body before they offer significant health benefits. Unfortunately, the most readily converted omega-3s are those found in oily fish, which explains in part why blood plasma levels of EPA and DHA in vegans tend to be very low.

So how can you ensure that you get plenty of these essential fats in your diet if you don’t eat fish? 

We were delighted when we found out that scientists have discovered a new source of plant-based fatty acids in echium seed oil, which is a rich source of omega-3, offering vegans a superior alternative to flaxseed oil.  Echium seed oil also contains other beneficial fatty acids, including omega-6 and omega-9, which boast their own health properties too. 

The only health supplement currently available offering the benefits of echium seed oil is Echiomega. More information is available from:  http://igennus-hn.com/products/echiomega/. Echiomega is from a sustainable source