I am finally back in DC after back-to-back trips to Boston (work) and Austin
(play). The play part involved attending
the 2008 Austin City Limits
Music Festival with my whole family.
The festival was full of a lot of dust, a lot of heat, and a lot of
people, but also a lot of amazing music.
I’m hoping to return next year.
While in town, I ate at several of my very favorite restaurants from
college, including the site of mine and my fianc’s first date, Mother’s
Caf. Mother’s is a vegetarian
restaurant and reminded me of a question I see come up from time to time – are
there vegetarian sources of omega-3s?
The answer depends on what kind of omega-3s you are asking about. Here is a brief breakdown:

Fish-based omega-3s:

• called EPA and DHA
• found in algae and seafood,
  especially oily fish
• associated with babies’ brain and
  eye development; significant heart disease prevention; and brain health in
  older adults to name a few

Plant-based omega-3s:

• called ALA
• found in plant foods such as flax,
  walnuts and canola oil
• associated with heart disease
  prevention
• the body
  converts a little ALA to EPA and almost no ALA to DHA

So, while plant-based omega-3s are healthful, it is the
fish-based kinds that offer potent protection for both the heart and
brain. Read more here.