Fish Oil from Soybeans?
Fish of the world, rejoice! The US FDA has just approved for human consumption a genetically modified soybean that can produce Omega-3 oils – you know, like EPA and DHA that have previously been harvested from fish. What this means for you is that in the near future you may be able to get those amazing health benefits seen from Omega-3 oils in a way that doesn’t harm the planet’s diminishing fish stocks. Along with a new process to get fish oil from microorganisms (such as algae) and from other plant sources, we may soon be able to supplement our diets from any number of environmentally friendly sources.
As you may or may not know, there is growing concern about overfishing throughout the world. More and more frequently we are seeing the collapse of breeding populations of large fish (such as the steep decline in San Francisco Bay salmon, where I live). So I for one am very encouraged by this development because I consider taking an Omega-3 supplement every day as one of the key aspects of maintaining my own healthy diet. Not only have they been shown to be beneficial for the cardiovascular system, but Omega-3 fatty acids are necessary for proper brain development and have been linked to a variety of positive long-term benefits.
Newscientist magazine has a thorough story about the new FDA ruling, as well as some of the other future sources of Omega-3 oils, and it’s worth a read if you’re interested in more information.
