Organic Milk and Omega 3 - Benefits of Organic Milk

What is Omega 3?

Omega-3 is the name given to a family of essential fatty acids. These cannot be made by the body and therefore must be obtained through our diet.

There are three main types of Omega-3 fatty acid¹ (ALA), (EPA) and (DHA).  Milk and dairy products contain ALA, which is linked to maintaining heart health² but which is also converted by the body into EPA and DHA - the two types of Omega-3 most readily used by the body³.

Omega-3 is naturally found in a range of foods, including dairy products, oily fish, flaxseed, walnuts and dark leafy vegetables. 

Why do we need it?  

Omega-3 fatty acids play a major role in good health at all stages of life. The various types of Omega-3 have been linked to maintaining heart health, aiding brain development, alleviating depression and even reducing the risk of certain types of cancer.

What is the difference between organic and non organic milk, in terms of Omega-3?

A recent study has found that organic milk naturally contains higher levels of Omega-3 ALA than non-organic milk⁴.  This nutritional difference is linked to the fact that organic cows spend much of the year grazing in lush, rich meadows and are fed a diet high (min 60%) in forage such as fresh grass, clover, silage and hay.

Click here for more information on the health benefits of organic milk

References:

1. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA),  Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
2. Christensen JH, Schmidt EB, Molenberg D, Toft E. (2005)   Alpha-linolenic acid and heart rate variability in women examined for coronary artery disease. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. Oct;15(5):345-51. AND Luc Djoussé, James S Pankow, John H Eckfeldt, Aaron R Folsom, Paul N Hopkins, Michael A Province, Yuling Hong and R Curtis Ellison (2001) Relation between dietary linolenic acid and coronary artery disease in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 74, No. 5, 612-619, November 2001
3. Burdge G C, Calder P C (2005) Alpha-linolenic acid metabolism in adult humans: the effects of gender and age on conversion to longer-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Eur. J. Lipid Sci. Technol. 107 (2005) 426-439
4. Ellis K A, Innocent G, Grove-White D, Cripps P, McLean W G, Howard C V, and Mihm M (2006) Comparing The Fatty Acid Composition Of Organic And Conventional Milk, Journal of Dairy Science