Taking both fish oil and flax oil can be beneficial, but whether you should depends on your specific health goals, dietary preferences, and nutritional needs. Here’s a breakdown of the considerations:

Complementary Benefits of Fish Oil and Flex Oil

• Fish Oil (EPA and DHA):
  • Provides direct sources of EPA and DHA, which are crucial for heart health, brain function, and reducing inflammation.
  • Beneficial for those who may not consume enough fatty fish or need higher doses of these Omega-3s for specific health reasons (e.g., cardiovascular health, cognitive function, inflammation).

• Flax Oil (ALA):
  • A good source of ALA, a plant-based Omega-3 fatty acid that the body can convert into EPA and DHA, though inefficiently.
  • Rich in antioxidants like lignans, which have additional health benefits such as hormone balance and cancer prevention.
  • Suitable for vegetarians and vegans, and it can add variety to your intake of Omega-3s.

Why You Might Take Both Fish Oil & Flax Oil

• Broader Nutritional Profile: Combining both oils gives you a broader range of Omega-3s, ensuring that you're covering all bases. Fish oil provides EPA and DHA, while flax oil provides ALA and other beneficial compounds.
• Dietary Flexibility: If you follow a mostly plant-based diet but occasionally consume fish, taking both oils allows you to get the full spectrum of Omega-3s, particularly if your fish consumption is irregular.
• Specific Health Goals: If you have specific health goals like reducing inflammation (where EPA and DHA are particularly effective) and supporting general wellness (where ALA from flax can help), both oils might be beneficial.

Potential Downsides for Taking Both

• Overlapping Benefits: Since fish oil provides the more bioavailable forms of Omega-3s (EPA and DHA), taking flax oil on top of fish oil might not add significantly to your intake of these specific fatty acids. However, flax oil still offers other health benefits.
• Caloric Intake: Both oils are high in calories due to their fat content. If you're watching your calorie intake, using both oils might contribute a significant number of extra calories.
• Cost: Taking both supplements can increase your supplement costs, which may not be necessary if you’re already getting enough Omega-3s from fish oil alone.

Taking both Fish Oil and Flaxseed/Oil is a great way to give ourselves the best coverage from these essential nutrients. Nobody knows if we have taken enough Omega-3, even if we have fish in our diet regularly. The reason is very simple yet is misunderstood by many: only specific types of fishes may give good amount of Omega-3. Commercially farmed fish with artificial feedings are unlikely to have meaningful amount of Omega-3 in the fish meat or oil.

Flaxseed/Oil has compounds that give additional benefits that are not provided by fish oil. Plan your meals and have both fish oil and flax in your daily diet is a plan that gives you the best health coverage.