In today's episode, host Colleen Patrick-Goudreau talks all about omega-3s—those essential fats we all need for heart, brain, and overall health. But here's the catch: instead of getting them through fish, which has ethical, environmental, and health concerns, we can go straight to the source: marine plants like algae. Omega-3s aren't included in a regular blood panel, so we'll dive into why it's important to get tested, what the optimal levels are, and why you don’t want to fall below them. Let’s get into it!

USE THIS LINK (https://lovecomplement.com/?aff=152) to get 15% off on all Complement products, including their Essentials, Omega Complex, as well as their Omega-Index Test! Enter "joyfulvegan" when checking out to get your discount.

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Join our awesome community and support this podcast through Patreon or as an Apple Subscriber for bonus material, early access to episodes, and other perks, depending on the option you choose.

Support this podcast today at JoyfulVegan.com/Donate

Visit my website: JoyfulVegan.com

Join me on an all-inclusive vegan trip: JoyfulVeganTrips.com

AFFILIATE PARTNERS:

• Complement — Use this link (https://lovecomplement.com/?aff=152) and coupon code "joyfulvegan" and get 15% off my favorite supplements.
• Nama Juicer — Use this link (https://namawell.com/?ref=joyfulvegan) and coupon code COLLEEN10 and get 10% off my favorite juicer.
• Plaine Products — Use this link (https://www.plaineproducts.com/ref/161) and coupon code "compassion" for 15% off my favorite zero waste bath and body products.

Thank you for listening.

PRE-ORDER COLLEEN'S NEW BOOK at http://www.joyfulvegan.com/preorder

A dilemma a lot of new vegans grapple with is what to do with all the animal-derived products they have from their pre-vegan days — leather shoes, wool sweaters, down-filled pillows, etc. — and a question a lot of people ask is "is it vegan to wear / buy second hand leather, wool, silk, etc. In both cases, the harm has been done, but there are a lot of arguments for and against wearing these items, including:

• being vegan means not wearing any animal products at all, so you can't be vegan and do so.
• even wearing second hand leather is giving tacit approval that it's okay to kill animals for their skin.
• second hand leather is more environmentally friendly than new synthetic leather.

And so on. Enjoy!

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Join our awesome community and support this podcast through Patreon or as an Apple Subscriber for bonus material, early access to episodes, and other perks, depending on the option you choose.

Support this podcast today at JoyfulVegan.com/Donate

Visit my website: JoyfulVegan.com

Join me on an all-inclusive vegan trip: JoyfulVeganTrips.com

AFFILIATE PARTNERS:

• Complement — Use this link (https://lovecomplement.com/?aff=152) and coupon code "joyfulvegan" and get 15% off my favorite supplements.
• Nama Juicer — Use this link (https://namawell.com/?ref=joyfulvegan) and coupon code COLLEEN10 and get 10% off my favorite juicer.
• Plaine Products — Use this link (https://www.plaineproducts.com/ref/161) and coupon code "compassion" for 15% off my favorite zero waste bath and body products.

Thank you for listening.

In this episode, Colleen dives into the importance of getting regular blood work to monitor key biomarkers, prevent disease, and assess your overall health—whether you’re vegan or not. She discusses what the optimal numbers are for such biomarkers as LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, iron, B12, and more to get a clear picture of your wellness.

Learn why tracking these levels helps catch potential issues early, so you can make informed decisions about your diet and lifestyle to optimize your long-term health.

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Join our awesome community and support this podcast through Patreon or as an Apple Subscriber for bonus material, early access to episodes, and other perks, depending on the option you choose.

Support this podcast today at JoyfulVegan.com/Donate

Visit my website: JoyfulVegan.com

Join me on an all-inclusive vegan trip: JoyfulVeganTrips.com

AFFILIATE PARTNERS:

• Complement — Use this link (https://lovecomplement.com/?aff=152) and coupon code "joyfulvegan" and get 15% off my favorite supplements.
• Nama Juicer — Use this link (https://namawell.com/?ref=joyfulvegan) and coupon code COLLEEN10 and get 10% off my favorite juicer.
• Plaine Products — Use this link (https://www.plaineproducts.com/ref/161) and coupon code "compassion" for 15% off my favorite zero waste bath and body products.

Thank you for listening.