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making our products
What are EPA & DHA? I see them mentioned a lot.

EPA and DHA are both omega-3 fatty acids--some of the most well-known and sought-after “good fats”. There is ample published human science demonstrating that adequate levels of omega-3 in the body support healthy joints, cardiovascular wellness, balanced mood, and a healthy inflammatory response.

Plant sources of omega-3 actually contain a short-chain fatty acid called ALA which your body would have to convert into true EPA and DHA.

iwi is unique: we provide true EPA and DHA from algae so that your body gets what it needs and you don’t have to compromise.

Is iwi third party tested?

Yes! Each lot of iwi algae oil is tested three times: once at our own farm, once by a 3rd-party laboratory, and again when the oil is being encapsulated. This ensures quality and safety.In terms of efficacy, iwi algae oil has also been 3rd-party tested in human clinical studies to demonstrate that it works! You can find the results here https://iwilife.com/pages/science .

Is iwi FDA approved?

In the United States, the FDA does not approve any supplement, since supplements are legally neither food nor drugs, which the FDA regulates. However, the FDA does inspect facilities where supplements are manufactured, and iwi is produced in FDA-inspected facilities which have attained cGMP status. We also register our ingredients with the FDA per regulatory guidelines.

Is iwi made in America?

Yes! Our algae farms are located in Texas & New Mexico, and the algae oil is encapsulated in California.

Have you done clinical studies?

Yes! iwi’s unique algae oil has indeed been the subject of multiple human clinical trials conducted by independent contract research organizations.
You can view the results of a study showing our higher bioavailability here https://lipidworld.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1476-511X-12-102. This was conducted by MPS in Hamburg, Germany.
A study demonstrating iwi’s benefit to cholesterol health was conducted by RDC Global in Brisbane, Australia (https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/6/1869).

Additionally, our products have been validated by external certified laboratories, primarily Eurofins Product Testing Services.

Can I take chia, ahiflower, or flax seeds to get my daily Omega-3s?

We hear you--you have a commitment to a plant-based diet and you don’t want to compromise. Until now, you had to settle--no more!Here’s the scoop. Flax and chia seeds contain ALA, a short-chain omega-3 “precursor” fat. Your body can’t use short-chain fatty acids and has to convert them to long chain fatty acids (which is what true omega-3 EPA and DHA are). Unfortunately, the body is not really great at converting it. Some researchers estimate that as little as 1% of the plant fat ALA is converted into the DHA and EPA that your body requires…meaning you’d need to eat 300 tablespoons of ground flax seeds to get the same amount of DHA and EPA in your bloodstream as you’d get from just 2 capsules of iwi Omega-3.Recently, another plant source of omega-3 has hit the market--ahiflower. Unfortunately, ahiflower also does not contain true, pre-formed EPA or DHA, but another “precursor” fat called SDA. In addition, the environmental benefits of sustainably farmed algae outweigh any traditionally-farmed plant, so iwi leads the way for conscious consumers.

What fertilizers do you use on your farms?

Because we grow our algae in open-air ponds with water from underground aquifers that is high in salt and minerals, we don’t need to do too much to help this tiny power plant grow: nannochloropsis algae mainly wants sunlight (our farms are in West Texas and Southern New Mexico! Check!), carbon dioxide (plenty in the air! Check!), and a few key nutrients that all vegetables want when they’re growing: nitrogen, phosphate, and iron. We don’t need to use pesticides, herbicides, or any other harmful chemicals. 

Are your products vegan?

Yes! We are proud to say that our products are vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free.

Does your product include sorbitol or carrageenan?

Many consumers have become concerned about carrageenan, a compound made from Irish Sea Moss. The confusion stems from a different compound, poligeenan, which is used in lab experiments to create digestive issues and which used to be called “degraded carrageenan.” They are two different compounds. Carrageenan has been shown to be safe: it is approved as a food ingredient both in the U.S. and Europe. We feel confident based on the science that carrageenan is a safe ingredient.Currently, sorbitol and carrageenan are the best options to make vegan capsules which will hold our potent algae oil. Our scientists are always on the lookout for new ideas and ingredients, and we always strive to improve and produce the highest-quality supplements.

Do your products contain cholesterol?

Yes! It may sound confusing because most of us were taught that plants never contain cholesterol, but the fact is that all algae produce a small amount of “good” cholesterol. You’d get some of this same good cholesterol by eating nori rolls or seaweed salad! 

Do your products contain allergens?

Our products do not contain any of the following known allergens:

Soy, dairy products, nuts, yeast, wheat, pollen, gelatin, sugar, shellfish. People with iodine intolerance should not take our products, and we encourage everyone to consult with your healthcare provider before introducing iwi or any new supplement into your daily routine. 

Do your products contain soy?

No; our products are made without soy.

Are you trying to replace fish and krill oil?

With 18 million customers (and growing!) per year purchasing fish oil and krill oil supplements, our oceans and fisheries alone simply cannot keep up with the demand--we need more options. Our bodies need omega-3 to function, and we can’t depend on poorly-converted flax and chia seed oils to provide adequate nourishment for our hearts and brains. iwi algae oil provides the true EPA and DHA your body requires in a unique form that is much more bioavailable to your body, so you don’t have to compromise your health in order to support a more sustainable choice! 

Are the Omega 6, Omega 7, Omega 9, Polar Lipids, and Chlorophyll added ingredients? If so, what is the source?

Just when you thought algae couldn’t get any cooler, it does. iwi’s algae contains all of those valuable ingredients, naturally! No need to add them in.

Can I combine different products?

Absolutely! We always recommend consulting with your healthcare provider before adding any supplement or over-the-counter medication to your daily routine, especially if you have specific health concerns. Many of our customers love to stack their iwi formulas, knowing that they get even more precious omega-3 by taking an iwi multivitamin, their daily omega-3, and a specialty formula for eye or joint wellness.

taking our products
Which products should I take?

Take our quiz to find your perfect fit quiz

How long before iwi starts working?

Every person is different, and results depend upon so many factors--daily diet, level of exercise, stress level, sleep habits, genetic profile, and more. In our human clinical trials, most participants noticed changes at the 2 month mark.

When should I take iwi?

The short answer is, whenever you will remember to consistently take it! The longer answer is, many customers find that they can enjoy the benefits of their iwi formulas the most when they take their softgels with breakfast. A full meal helps your body utilize the nutrients in the product, and you’ll set yourself up with optimal nutrition for your day.

Can I take iwi with other vitamins and supplements?

iwi compliments any supplement routine by providing much-needed EPA and DHA omega-3, along with other beneficial nutrients. As with any supplement, we recommend consulting with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before incorporating iwi into your daily routine just to make sure that these formulas are a good fit for you.

Does iwi have any flavor or taste?

iwi softgels have a slightly sweet smell. Over time, the “ocean” smell of the algae may become detectable, but not overwhelming. There is not a strong taste when you swallow the softgels.

How should I store iwi?

High humidity environments could soften the gel caps, so we recommend storing your bottle of iwi in a dry, cool place and making sure the lid is properly closed. .

How big are the softgels?

Omega-3, EPA, DHA, Joint; 1 inch

Minis, Women’s multi, Men’s multi;  ½ inch

Who should take iwi Omega-3?

We think everyone should take Omega-3s! Studies have shown that people from every age group can benefit from these essential nutrients, and that most of us don’t eat enough fatty fish each week to meet our minimum needs.

Why does your product provide better Omega-3 absorption than other algae, fish or krill oils?

Research confirms it: the unique form of fat created by our algae is better absorbed by the human body than fish oil, krill oil, or even other types of algae--the most bioavailable form of omega-3 on the market! Here’s a video that explains why. If you’d like a not-so-heavy scientific reason why: the algae iwi grows, nannochloropsis, makes omega-3 fat when it’s happy and well-fed, so the form of omega-3 it is creating is for structure, not storage--and that’s what we want omega-3 for, too!The form of omega-3 made by other types of algae is produced when the algae are stressed, and so they create a form of fat for storage. Fish eat those algae and want to store the fat, too, so when we take fish oil, it is in a “storage fat” form.Here’s the slightly deeper science: iwi grows nannochloropsis algae, which is one of the (less common) algae species that photosynthesize. Because they can make their own food with sunlight, they are happy and well-fed, producing fat in what is known as the polar lipid form. This is pretty rare in nature! This form of fat is significantly better absorbed by the human body because it is essentially both fat- and water-soluble, and it means you can take fewer milligrams to get the results you want.Krill store omega-3s as phospholipids, which are better absorbed by the human body, but still not as well as polar lipids, so you don’t get the benefit of all the milligrams listed on that supplement label.FIsh store omega-3s as triglycerides--that “storage fat” that we mentioned earlier--and you absorb even less of it into your bloodstream, meaning those high milligrams on the label don’t all make it into your cells. 

Why is your dosage so low compared to other Omega-3s?

Because fish oil and krill oil are less bioavailable than iwi algae oil, higher milligram amounts are needed to achieve the absorption you need. Almega®PL is clinically proven to absorb 130% better than fish oil and 50% better than krill oil.