What are the most suitable sources of omega-3 for athletes?
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are the two molecules that perform the activities attributed to Omega 3, such as reducing post-exercise inflammation. Theoretically, they can be obtained from their precursor, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is the Omega 3 abundant in "terrestrial" plant sources, such as walnuts, flax seeds, and derived oils. Unfortunately, however, the human body is not a good producer of EPA and DHA: the amount of ALA that it can convert into DHA is less than 1% in men and slightly higher in women; nor is the efficiency of converting ALA into EPA satisfactory.