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Introducing Bek
by Tassal
“Food for thought. Of all the proteins, salmon is the leading source of Omega 3.”
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Rebekah Willmer
People & Culture Advisor
Q: ‘Just one, 100 gram serve of salmon supplies your brain with 159% Omega 3’ - what is this based on?
Check it out for yourself!
Visit the Heart Foundation Website for more info on Omega 3s.
www.heartfoundation.org.au
A: The Heart Foundation’s daily Omega 3 recommendation intake is 250-500mg (of EPA and DHA). We have added up the amount of EPA and DHA Omega 3s found in a 100g salmon portion and divided it by 500mg to get this result, although 159% is a modest figure.
What are EPA & DHA Omega 3s?
EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid)
The human body can make most of the types of fats it needs from other fats or raw materials. This isn’t the case for Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA).
These are essential fats—the body can’t make them from scratch but must get them from food.
What makes Omega 3 fats special?
They are an integral part of cell membranes throughout the body and affect the function of the cell receptors in these membranes. They provide the starting point for making hormones, which regulate blood clotting, contraction and relaxation of artery walls and inflammation. They also bind to receptors in cells, which regulate genetic function. Likely due to these effects, Omega 3 fats have been shown to help prevent heart disease and stroke, may help control lupus, eczema, and rheumatoid arthritis and may play protective roles in cancer and other conditions.
Source: Harvard School of Health
Q: Do other proteins (such as beef, lamb and pork) combined only provide a fraction of Omega 3s compared with salmon?
A: Using nutritional information found on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) website, we compared the total long chain Omega 3 fatty acids in mg for 100g portions of salmon, lamb, beef and pork. It was found salmon contained over 1500 mg of Omega 3 fatty acids, with other proteins scoring below the 150 mg range.
Have you seen Bek’s ad yet?
Visit: www.tassalgroup.com.au /rebekah/
Brain Food!
Q: Why do our brains need Omega 3s?
A: 150g salmon portion provides you with a good source of essential fatty acids, protein, vitamins and minerals (B3, B12, E, phosphorus and selenium).
It is also a source of antioxidants (vitamin D), magnesium and vitamin B1 - all of which are vital ingredients for a healthy balanced diet.
Resource: Brain Research Journal
Studies suggest Omega 3s are essential for brain development and function throughout all stages of life and help maintain healthy brain activity. Many studies also suggest Omega 3s play a significant role in reducing depression and increasing memory.
More info ... www.foodstandards.gov.au/science/monitoringnutrients/nutrientables/nuttab/Pages/default.aspx
About Bek
People & Culture Advisor
Bek has a background in psychology and HR, completing her bachelor’s degree in South Australia before heading to Tasmania in 2016.
She joined Tassal’s People & Culture team in early 2017.
