Omega-3 for Inflammation — Separating Signal from Supplement Marketing

The Inflammation Confusion

Inflammation is not the enemy. Acute inflammation is how tissue repairs after training. The problem is chronic systemic inflammation — driven by a high omega-6 diet, poor sleep, chronic stress, and insufficient recovery. Omega-3 supplementation addresses the chronic piece, not the acute training response.

EPA and DHA: What They Actually Do

EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) is the more potent anti-inflammatory compound. It competes with arachidonic acid for the COX enzymes that produce pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. DHA is critical for brain health and cell membrane structure. Both matter, but if inflammation is the primary target, EPA dose is the relevant variable.

How Much Is Enough

Most clinical anti-inflammatory studies use 2 to 4 g of combined EPA plus DHA daily. The standard one fish oil capsule provides roughly 300 mg — about a tenth of the effective dose. This is why many people supplement with fish oil for years without noticing any effect: they are dramatically underdosing.

Dietary Context

The Western diet has an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of approximately 15 to 20:1. Evolutionary estimates suggest humans evolved with a ratio closer to 4:1. The excess omega-6 comes primarily from seed oils. Reducing dietary omega-6 while increasing omega-3 has a larger effect on the overall balance than supplementation alone.

Why Genesee Uses No Seed Oils

Bison tallow has a more favorable omega-6 to omega-3 ratio than seed oils. Removing seed oils from the protein bar formulation is not an aesthetic choice — it is a decision about the baseline inflammatory load of the product. Founders 250 at $299 per year provides early access to the expanding stack.