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Nutrition
beginner
Strong Evidence

Omega-3 Intake (EPA+DHA)

Get 2-4g EPA+DHA daily through fatty fish or supplements. Critical for inflammation management, brain health, and cardiovascular protection.

Time
2 min/day
Cost
$20-50
Equipment
None required
Min. Trial
8-12 weeks

Dosage & Timing

Duration
Ongoing
Frequency
Daily
Best Time
anytime

Evidence Strength

4/5 — Strong
EvidenceStrong

Strong evidence for cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory benefits. Some recent meta-analyses show mixed results for all-cause mortality, but benefit in high-risk populations is clear.

Overview

Consume 2-4g combined EPA+DHA per day through fatty fish (2-3 servings/week) and/or supplementation. Omega-3s reduce inflammation, support cardiovascular and brain health, and most people are severely deficient.

Wellness education and routine support only. Review the evidence, caveats, and interactions before trying this protocol, and ask a clinician when medical conditions, pregnancy, medications, or symptoms are involved.

How To Do It

  1. 1

    Eat fatty fish 2-3x/week

    Salmon, sardines, mackerel, anchovies. Wild-caught preferred.

  2. 2

    Supplement the gap

    If not eating sufficient fish, supplement with 2-4g EPA+DHA. Look for triglyceride form, third-party tested.

  3. 3

    Test your omega-3 index

    Optimal is 8-12%. Most Americans are 4-5%. Test via OmegaQuant or similar.

The Evidence

Each claim is linked to its source study. Confidence reflects the study design — systematic reviews and RCTs rank highest.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
High Confidence

Marine omega-3 supplementation and cardiovascular disease

Marine omega-3 supplementation showed dose-related reductions in some cardiovascular outcomes.

Source Context

Primary references behind the protocol summary.

1 primary source
Systematic Review and Meta-analysisMarine omega-3 supplementation and cardiovascular disease (https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.119.013543)

Who Popularized This

Creator references are context only. LiveWell weighs evidence, safety notes, and routine fit separately from who discussed a protocol.

Rhonda Patrick
Peter Attia

Interactions & Warnings

Review 2 contraindications and 1 interaction note before adding this protocol to a routine.

Contraindications

  • Fish/shellfish allergy (use algae-based)
  • Blood thinning medications (consult physician)

Interactions

  • High-dose fish oil may interact with anticoagulants

What To Track

These are review prompts for your own routine notes, not expected improvements or medical outcome targets.

Improved omega-3 index (blood test)
Reduced inflammatory markers (hs-CRP)
Improved triglycerides

Routine actions change your saved plan after sign-in. The protocol guidance above remains wellness education, not a personalized recommendation or expected outcome.

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