190. Dr. William Harris: 90% of Americans Are Low in This Critical Longevity Nutrient

190. Dr. William Harris: 90% of Americans Are Low in This Critical Longevity Nutrient

From Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD by Darshan Shah, MD

August 13, 2026 · 58 min

About this episode

Dr. William Harris discusses the importance of measuring omega-3 levels for heart and brain health.

What if one of the most important markers for your heart, brain, and longevity is something most people have never measured? AND roughly 90% of Americans aren't in the optimal range for? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. William Harris, one of the world's leading experts on Omega-3 fatty acids and the co-inventor of the Omega-3 Index, a test he helped develop more than 20 years ago. Dr. Harris has spent decades researching how omega-3s influence cardiovascular health, inflammation, cognitive health, chronic disease, and longevity. And his message is surprisingly simple: you can't know whether you're getting enough omega-3 just by looking at your diet or supplement routine. You have to measure it. We break down what omega-3s actually do inside your cells, why Dr. Harris believes an Omega-3 Index of 8–12% is the target, and why measuring EPA and DHA in red blood cell membranes gives you a more stable picture of your status than plasma testing. We also tackle some of the biggest controversies in nutrition today—including seed oils, omega-6s, saturated fat, LDL cholesterol, fish versus supplements, EPA versus DHA, and whether you really need to worry about the omega-6 to omega-3…

People in this episode

Host: Darshan Shah, MD

Guest: Dr. William Harris

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Omega-3 Index

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