The most common Omega-3 mistake. And how to avoid it

As awareness around supplement ingredients, and how processed substances affect our wellbeing grows, it’s becoming more important to get curious about what’s in the supplements you buy. 

When choosing an omega-3 supplement, it’s easy to assume that all fish oils are created equal. But look a little closer and you’ll discover that the form of omega-3 you take can make a profound difference to how well your body recognises, absorbs and ultimately uses it. At Higher Nature, we believe that nutrients should be the exactly the same form as they are found in nature. Because your body certainly knows the difference. 

When shopping for an omega 3 look at the form. Is it Triglyceride (TG) or Ethyl Ester (EE)? If the omega 3 you are buying doesn’t make a point of it being in naural triglyceride form, you are probably buying ethyl ester. 

Nature’s Design: The Triglyceride Form 

In whole fish, omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) are naturally bound in a triglyceride (TG) structure. This is the exact molecular form our cells have evolved to recognise. When you consume omega 3 in its triglyceride form, your digestive system already understands how to break it down and deliver it efficiently into the bloodstream. The body sees this form as familiar. Because it is. 

Triglycerides are also the structure in which fats are stored and transported in the human body. This natural compatibility gives triglyceride-form omega 3s greater bioavailability, meaning more of the beneficial fatty acids actually reach your cells, where they can support everything from brain function to heart health and inflammation balance. 

In fact, it is widely accepted that triglyceride form Omega 3 is 70% more bioavailable (absorbable) than ethyl ester. 

Ethyl Ester Omega-3: A More Processed Alternative 

Ethyl ester (EE) omega 3s take a very different route. During heavy processing and concentration, the original triglyceride structure is chemically altered and replaced with an ethyl alcohol backbone. While this allows for higher EPA and DHA percentages on paper, it fundamentally changes the molecule. 

The result? A form of omega 3 that your body must work harder to break down and convert back into a usable triglyceride structure before it can be absorbed. This extra metabolic step can reduce efficiency and may contribute to lower bioavailability compared with natural triglycerides. 

In other words, ethyl ester oils are a step removed from nature. And your body knows it. 

You Are What You Eat. Right Down to Your Cells 

Every one of your cells is surrounded by a membrane rich in omega 3 fatty acids. These fats influence the fluidity, flexibility and communication capacity of cell walls throughout the body. When we say omega 3s are part of what you’re made of, this is quite literally true. 

Choosing a highly processed, chemically altered oil means building your cells with something your body doesn’t fully recognise. Choosing the natural triglyceride form means supplying your body with the same molecular structure found in fresh fish and the same structure your cells depend on every day. 

Choose the Omega 3 Your Body Knows 

At Higher Nature we only use fish oils in their natural triglyceride form. Super Potency Omega 3 delivers ultra-pure, sustainably sourced fish oil in its natural triglyceride form. With exceptional freshness and potency, it provides the omega 3 your body can absorb and use with ease, supporting whole-body wellbeing from the inside out. 

When it comes to nourishing your cells, choose what nature intended.