By Kate Lally

Copyright dailyrecord

Dr Federica Amati, chief nutrition scientist at Zoe Health, has issued a warning to those relying on Omega 3 supplements. Speaking on Davina McCall’s Begin Again podcast earlier this year, the expert highlighted the dangers she observes in people who depend on vitamins and nutrients in tablet form. During the discussion, Dr Amati voiced her worries, and said: “Taking a supplement is easier than changing your diet… People take supplements and then they think ‘okay, I’ve done my bit’.” However she said many take vitamins and nutrients in pill form, and continue with damaging habits including poor eating choices, heavy alcohol consumption, insufficient sleep, and sedentary behaviour. Dr Amati went on: “That supplement, in the grand scheme of things, is going to have a very marginal effect on your health.” Her comments follow recent statistics revealing nearly half of adults in Britain take supplements on a regular basis. The specialist also advocates obtaining nutrients through food rather than tablets, emphasising the distinction with Omega 3 consumption. She referenced a “really good long-running clinical trial” examining whether omega-3 supplements deliver on their purported health benefits, including reducing the likelihood of cancers, heart disease, and death. She simply said: “It doesn’t do it. It doesn’t do it in the same way that eating fish does.” Omega 3 fatty acids are known for their numerous health benefits, such as supporting heart health, improving dry skin and eyes, and reducing inflammation in the body. The NHS also emphasises that Omega 3s are “also important for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, because it can help a baby’s nervous system to develop”. Health experts advise consuming “at least two portions of fish a week, including one of oily fish”. For those who aren’t fans of seafood, other sources of Omega 3 include flaxseed, chia seeds, walnuts, soybeans, and spinach.