Fish oil provides EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) -- two essential omega-3 fatty acids your body can't produce on its own. Research supports their role in cardiovascular function, brain development and cognitive health, immune system regulation, joint comfort, and nervous system maintenance. For athletes specifically, the anti-inflammatory effects of EPA support faster recovery from training-induced muscle damage, and adequate DHA supports the sharp focus and decision-making outdoor sports require.

Any time of day works, but for optimal absorption, take it with a meal that contains dietary fat. Omega-3s are fat-soluble, meaning they need dietary fat to absorb properly. Any meal with olive oil, nuts, avocado, cheese, eggs, or fatty fish works well. Consistency matters more than timing -- take it at the same meal every day if that helps you remember.

Gnarly's softgels use the triglyceride form of EPA and DHA -- the naturally-occurring molecular structure found in whole fish. Triglyceride-form omega-3s absorb significantly better than the cheaper ethyl ester form used in bargain fish oils, and users consistently report no fishy aftertaste or burps. If you've had bad experiences with fish oil in the past, it was likely an ester-form supplement.

No. Baseline Omega-3 is fish oil sourced from wild-caught Peruvian anchovies, in a gelatin softgel. This is the one product in the Gnarly Baseline series that is not vegan. If you're plant-based, algae-derived omega-3 supplements are the vegan alternative -- they contain the same EPA and DHA (fish get their omega-3s from algae in the first place).

Small fish low on the food chain accumulate significantly less mercury, heavy metals, and environmental toxins than large predator fish like tuna, swordfish, or shark. Peruvian anchovies are also part of one of the world's best-managed sustainable fisheries -- Friend of the Sea certified -- meaning the omega-3s in Baseline Omega-3 come from a clean, ethical, renewable source. It's the same reason nutrition-minded people are told to eat sardines rather than tuna: better nutrient density, lower contaminant load.