Update On Fish Oil Supplements- Are You Getting What You Pay For?

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting and your comments are welcome anytime!

I just received an update from Consumer Labs regarding new testing they’ve done on fish oil supplements.

I won’t go into all the benefits of fish oil supplements - I’ve already done that here: Fish Oil Supplements, so if you’re looking for some basic information, read that post first. Read more

The Other Side of the Salmon Debate

There are two sides to every coin - even in the wild vs. farm-raised salmon debate.

See my original article here:

Are You Swimming Upstream In Salmon Choices?

Here is a website that presents knocks down all the “myths” associated with eating farm raised salmon.

Farm Fresh vs Wild Salmon

So who do you believe? Like most debates in life, the “truth” probably lies somewhere in the middle.

I think I’ll stay out of this one and know that I probably won’t die from eating farm raised salmon once in a while. I prefer the taste of wild salmon usually — but don’t hold me to a blind taste test.

You should make your own decision.

And again, I’m still taking my fish oil supplements:

Carlson’s Fish Oil

Are You Buying the Right Fish Oil Supplements?

Fish oil supplements have certainly been getting a lot of buzz lately.  And with good reason - they provide a good source of Omega 3 fatty acids. These essential fatty acids have been found to reduce the risk of heart disease, improve the functioning of the eyes and brain, keep a healthy immune system, and even help relieve your diabetes symptoms.  Oily fish, such as mackerel and salmon have been found to be one of the best natural sources of these essential fatty acids, however there is a lot of controversy surrounding the quality of the fish we buy today.  

Taking a fish oil supplement is a great way to get Omega 3 acids, especially if you are not a big fish eater or worry about how much you are actually eating.  However, not all fish oil supplements are the same, some can even be dangerous.  That's why it's important to know how to choose best quality supplement.  

What To Look For In Your Fish Oil Supplement

One of the first things you want to look for in quality fish oil are the active ingredients.  There are three types of Omega 3 fatty acids. The first two, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexanoic acid), are both found in cold-water fish, such as salmon, tuna and mackerel. The third type of Omega 3, called ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), is found in flaxseed oils, dark green leafy vegetables, and some vegetable oils. The Omega 3's in flaxseed oil and other plant oils do not contain DHA and EPA, although they do contain precursors.

Fish oils actually contain two types of omega 3 fatty acids: EPA and DHA.  While they are both important nutrients, you should actually look for a supplement with higher concentrations of EPA.  Most supplements give you more DHA, so you may have to do a lot of label searching.  You also want to look for other vitamins and nutrients, such as Vitamin A and Vitamin E, that are included in some fish oils and may be harmful in large doses or when used with certain medical conditions.

When researching your fish oil supplement, find out where the fish come from. Most quality supplements will tell you right on the label.  Mercury and other heavy metals that pollute fishes' natural environment is a concern for most people.  These metals are hazardous and can be found in certain fish oil supplements.  That's why it's important to get a supplement that uses fish from pristine waters.  Just because the fish come from clean water doesn't mean that you should assume it's safe.  For a fish oil supplement to be free of dangerous chemicals, it should be molecularly distilled to remove any additional impurities. 

You should also look for products that say they are pharmaceutical grade.  A product that lists that it is pharmaceutical grade and molecularly distilled is much more likely to be free of any potentially harmful chemicals.

What Are the Side Effects of Fish Oil?

As with any supplement, you should consult your doctor before you start taking anything new.  Research has been done on side effects of fish oil supplements and in more than half of the studies, there were no side effects.  The most common side effect was gastrointestinal, such as diarrhea. This was reported in less than 7% of all fish oil studies. There were no reports of sudden death, life-threatening illness, handicaps or disabilities from taking fish oil supplements.

However, people with bleeding disorders or taking anti-coagulant medicine should consult their doctor first as the omega 3 fatty acids reduce the risk for blood clots and make your blood thinner.

Some people report having fishy burps or a fishy aftertaste. If you use pharmaceutical-grade fish oil capsules, that shouldn't be a problem.

Why Should Omega 3 Fish Oil Be Part Of My Anti Aging Therapy?

The National Institutes of Health published a report stating that fish oil can help reduce deaths from heart disease. The FDA itself states research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may actually reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.  The latest government report cites the triglyceride-lowering effects of fish oil on reducing heart and blood vessel disorders. Fish oil supplements also protect the healthy blood flow in arteries.

Of course, buying a quality fish oil supplement doesn't have to be expensive. Here are two choices that are quality, yet reasonable. I've been taking Carlson's Fish Oil Gels for years.

Carlson's  Fish Oil

Natrol Fish Oil