There's a blood number connected to how you're aging that almost nobody checks — and it isn't cholesterol.
The Omega-3 Index measures the percentage of EPA and DHA — the two most-studied omega-3 fatty acids — in your red blood cell membranes. Researchers have examined it for years as a status marker associated with heart and brain health across the lifespan.
Why EPA and DHA specifically?
"Fish oil" isn't one thing. EPA and DHA are the omega-3s your body puts to work in cell membranes throughout the heart, brain, and eyes — and they're the forms behind the vast majority of omega-3 research. The plant form (ALA, from flax and chia) converts to EPA/DHA poorly, which is why food-frequency matters so much.
The problem: most diets under-deliver
Unless you eat fatty fish — salmon, sardines, mackerel — about twice a week, every week, your intake of EPA and DHA is likely low. Most Western diets fall well short, and studies consistently find average Omega-3 Index levels below the range researchers consider optimal.
How to know — and how to raise it
1. Test it (optional but illuminating). At-home finger-prick Omega-3 Index kits exist from several labs. It's one of the few nutrition numbers you can actually track over time.
2. Food first. Fatty fish twice a week is the foundation — the research on omega-3s started with fish-eating populations, not capsules.
3. Cover the gap daily. On the weeks the salmon doesn't happen (most weeks, honestly), a daily softgel delivering meaningful EPA + DHA helps cover the shortfall. That's exactly the job our Omega-3 softgels are built for — and why omega-3 anchors the cardiovascular corner of Her Daily Essentials.
The takeaway
You can't manage what you never measure — and you can't get EPA and DHA from wishful thinking. Eat the fish when you can, cover the gap when you can't, and give it months, not days: the Omega-3 Index moves slowly, which is exactly why consistency wins.
Explore our Heart Health collection for the rest of the long-game lineup.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is general wellness information, not medical advice — talk to your doctor about testing and supplements, especially if you take blood-thinning medication.
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