Fish oil’s best-kept secret. The antioxidant game-changer in Omega-3

Are you supplementing with Omega-3? You're in good company. The health benefits of this essential fatty acid are undisputed, but consuming enough fatty fish isn't easy. Almost 500 million people worldwide have chosen to bridge the gap with supplements, but not everyone knows that extra virgin olive oil can be key to ensuring the fish oil nutrients are safely absorbed in the body. Let's explore the science behind the vital ingredients in Omega-3 supplements. 

Not all olive oils are created equal 

The olive tree is a marvel of longevity. It's been cultivated for thousands of years - the first seeds sprouted during the Bronze Age in 2,000 BC - and it's still growing in the wild. There are approximately 850 million olive trees on our planet today, and we produce around 3 million tons of olive oil annually. The olive tree has a remarkable immune system with a special arsenal of health-promoting substances that protect not only the tree, but the olives too. The unique wine glass-shaped structure with a hollow trunk allows the sun's UV rays to penetrate and stimulate the production of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols to safeguard the tree and its olives from stressors like disease, dust, insects, and extreme weather.  

Polyphenols are nature's own protectors, preserving the vital compounds in our most nutritious foods. You'll find them in vibrant-colored and aromatic fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts, keeping plants and plant eaters such as fish free from damage and disease while offering tremendous health benefits for humans. Polyphenols are also naturally present in the tissue of most fatty fish, but they are lost in standard oil refining processes. We'll come back to that later. Around 25 of the 8,000 identified polyphenols in our nature are unique to virgin olive oil, including oleocanthal. This is where the olive oil's peppery sensation comes from. Oleuropein is found in the olive's skin, and hydroxytyrosol is a key active ingredient behind the olive oil's health benefits.  

Olives from the Cypriot olive oil producer Cleanthi Alpha-Olenic LTD

The power of early-harvested olives 

For most of us, extra virgin olive oil is the finishing touch on the Mediterranean salads, or a new go-to in the pan for a more heart-friendly frying option. However, the health properties of this liquid gold stretch far beyond the kitchen, and some people even go as far as to say the purpose of food is simply to get olive oil into the body. But, not all olive oils are worthy cornerstones of a true Mediterranean diet. Extra virgin olive oil made from early-harvested olives owes much of its power to the significantly higher levels of polyphenols. The organic compounds form an effective, natural shield against oxidation. They also play a vital role in delicate oils such as fish oil where the Omega-3s need to stay fresh and potent for as long as possible to be absorbed in the body. 

Not any antioxidants will do 

All oils will eventually go bad. Fish oil begins to oxidize from the moment it's extracted, creating a race against time to preserve its nutrients before the potency is lost. Let your nose guide you here. A rancid taste or smell lets you know that the time is up. Supplement manufacturers use various methods to slow down the process and increase the product's shelf-life, but not all solutions are equally effective. You need to be wary of what ingredients have been added to the mix. Synthetic antioxidants, like TBHQ or ascorbyl palmitate, may even counteract Omega-3's health benefits. Naturally mixed tocopherols or vitamin E are excellent in neutralizing free radicals, but will not fully protect the Omega-3s. Polyphenols found in high-quality extra virgin olive oil are the gold standard of natural antioxidants to stabilize oxidation and optimize Omega-3 absorption.  

4 tips for choosing high-quality olive oil  

For olive oil to qualify as extra virgin, it must be cold-pressed and meet strict criteria for chemical composition and taste, including low acidity (<0.8%) with no sensory defects in taste or aroma. A strong, peppery, or bitter flavor profile in the oil is a really good thing. This indicates a high content of the polyphenol oleocanthal, which has been known for its anti-inflammatory effects since the days of ancient Greece. Scientists exploring the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet have even compared oleocanthal's effects to a low dose of ibuprofen. To ensure you're getting an olive oil worthy of its legacy, make sure to look for these key features on the label: 

• Extra virgin: Indicates traditional harvesting methods and cold pressing. 
• Harvest date: Fresher olives are more potent.  
• Phenolic content: Olive oil with high levels of polyphenols helps protect against oxidative stress and safeguards the olives' superior health benefits. 
• Organic certification: Organic orchards often produce olives with higher polyphenol levels. 
• Origin: Certain varieties, like Koroneiki olives from Cyprus, are small-batch and renowned for their high polyphenol concentration and distinctive, peppery flavor. 

The Cypriot Koroneiki olive is known for its unmatched levels of polyphenols and waxy skin rich in the antioxidant fatty acid squalene. With its strong flavors and significant health benefits, Koroneiki olive oil is considered to be among the best olive oils for health, and it's usually the foundation of high-polyphenol Omega-3 supplements like BalanceOil+ Premium, ensuring superior protection for the fish oil nutrients and uncompromised nutrient absorption. 

Olives & olive trees from Cleanthi Alpha-Olenic LTD

Polyphenols are essential in olive oil and fish oil 

Omega-3s are sensitive fatty acids, whereas the Omega-9s in olive oil are stable. The special bond between fish oil and olive oil is, in many ways, the result of modern food manufacturing. Omega-3s need polyphenols to thrive, but standard oil refining processes break this vital bond. When removing environmental toxins, the naturally occurring polyphenols that protect the Omega-3s inside the fish are washed out too. Without antioxidants to safeguard the nutrients, the oil becomes vulnerable to oxidation and loses its potency, compromising the benefits we rely on for heart, brain, and immune health. In standard olive oil extraction, the polyphenols are also stripped away, releasing enzymes that degrade the oil and its health properties. In contrast, extra virgin olive oil with early-harvest olives is made using ancient cold-pressing techniques. The oil is gently squeezed out of the fruit without raising the temperature, hence preserving the natural antioxidants and ensuring maximum potency and health benefits. Omega-3 supplements fortified with high-quality extra virgin olive oil from early-harvest olives restore the natural synergy between polyphenols and Omega-3s, resulting in longer freshness and potency. 

What to look for in an Omega-3 supplement 

To maximize the heart, brain, and immune health benefits of your fish oil supplement, choose a high-polyphenol Omega supplement with a full-spectrum fatty acid profile. Here's your checklist: 

• Pure, sustainably sourced fish oil from small, wild-caught fish 
• Bioactive antioxidants such as early-harvest, extra virgin olive oil  
• A higher EPA-to-DHA ratio such as 20:10 to meet Omega-3 guidelines for daily intake 
• Third-party certifications verifying quality, purity, and freshness 
• Scientifically tested with individually proven effects 
• Bioactive, ethically and transparently sourced ingredients 

The difference is test-based  

We are a global health and wellness brand that offers test-based, scientifically proven nutritional supplements based on a portfolio of independently managed, health tests. Our signature range of Polyphenol Omega Balance food supplements is based on a unique, synergistic formula that has set a new standard in the market for Omega supplements. The proprietary blend naturally stabilizes fish and algae oil with premium extra virgin olive oil from early-harvest olives. BalanceOil+ Premium is our flagship product, pairing sustainably sourced fish oil from small, wild-caught Pacific and Atlantic Ocean fish with a precise measure of R.E.V.O.O; our private label of superior, patented extra virgin olive oil carefully curated from Koroneiki olives. The olive oil is crafted using a revolutionary, patented process that rethinks, redesigns, and rebuilds ancient olive oil pressing principles, resulting in a concentration of polyphenols 30 times higher than standard extra virgin olive oil to ensure unparalleled Omega-3 protection, absorption, and reliability.  

Reveal your own, unique fatty acid profile in our BalanceTest, learn more about test-based nutrition and how to create a supplement routine that works at zinzino.com