Episode 8: You’re Probably Deficient In Omega-3—Here’s How To Fix It The Dr Kumar Discovery podcast

Episode Summary

In this deep-dive episode, Dr. Ravi Kumar explores why omega-3 fatty acids are foundational to human health—touching on their biochemistry, evolutionary history, robust clinical evidence, and practical strategies for optimizing intake. You’ll learn:

What “omega-3” really means and why your body can’t make these fats on its own
Early discoveries by George and Mildred Burr in the 1920s
The Inuit paradox: high-fat diets with low cardiovascular disease
Landmark trials such as REDUCE-IT and EVAPORATE demonstrating cardioprotective effects
Roles across the lifespan: brain development, mood regulation, eye health, immune function, muscle maintenance, liver health, skin integrity, and more
Evolutionary insights from traditional populations and enzymatic conversion of ALA → EPA/DHA
Practical guidance on food sources, supplement types (triglyceride vs. ethyl ester, krill, algal oil), dosing, safety (oxidation, contaminants), and certification (IFOS)

Practical Suggestions

Daily baseline: Aim for ≥2 g combined EPA + DHA (with at least 1 g EPA)
High-dose therapy: 3–4 g/day EPA-rich for hypertriglyceridemia, arthritis, depression
Pregnancy: At least 500 mg DHA daily (algal oil option for vegans)
Food sources: Prioritize small, low-contaminant fish (sardines, anchovies, mackerel); include wild-caught salmon sparingly
Supplement selection: Choose triglyceride-form fish oil, IFOS-certified; watch for oxidation (peroxide/anisidine levels) and contaminant removal via molecular distillation
Lifestyle context: Reduce omega-6 seed oils to improve ALA→EPA/DHA conversion; honor ancestral dietary patterns

References

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Episode 8: You’re Probably Deficient in Omega-3—Here’s How to Fix It

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