There are certain compulsory things you must know before you buy yet another omega 3 fish oil! With Australian sales of omega 3 supplements exceeding $200 million annually and growing at a rate of more than 10% per year, you may have a few legitimate questions.
Such as: is the supplement you're buying a 'good' brand? And how can you tell whether it really is a 'good' brand? What's an effective dose? I certainly want to know what I'm spending my money on and what I'm actually investing in. If you too feel the same, then allow me to share some astounding facts regarding fish oils with you.
Be aware that despite assurances from manufacturers, many fish oil supplements do contain toxins, and if you are not choosing a superior product you could be poisoning yourself unknowingly.
This may sound a bit dramatic but with increasing toxins in our environment, radiation from the Japanese Fukushima plant leaching daily into our oceans, sources of quality of fish oils aren't like they used to be!
Eating fish now days is risky and you need to be conscious of your choices. Tuna is actually one of the largest sources of mercury exposure in Americans’ diets! And farmed salmon has half the amount of omega 3 than wild salmon. Studies show that 70-80% of fish marked as 'wild' are actually farmed!
So how do we get safe doses of omega 3? And if supplementation is the only safe way to go, what should you be looking out for in a brand that you're considering to buy?
A study published in 1998 revealed that when testing 44 different fish oil supplement brands sold in 15 countries, between 1994-1995, it clearly indicated appreciable quantities of organochlorines (included PCBs and pesticide residues)
When choosing an omega 3 supplement use a brand that has been independently tested and guaranteed to be free of heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead, and other environmental toxins including dioxins, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's). Many cheaper brands could be doing you more damage than good!
Upon opening, if the product you purchased smells 'fishy' this means its gone rancid and has oxidized, this is not good and must be thrown out!
Many people buying retail products frequently don't get relief of symptoms. Either the dose is too low or the product was inferior because it was oxidized (gone rancid!), or the stated dose on the bottle was inconsistent. If your symptoms are not being alleviated over the duration of 4-6 week supplementation then you may be falling in this category!
Because fishing practices all over the world a mostly unregulated its important to only buy from reputable companies that support sustainability, source supplies with awareness and responsibility.
How much should I be taking?
Most standard fish oil capsules contains 180mg EPA and 120mg DHA. What you need to be looking for is a higher amount of these essential fatty acids to get to a therapeutic dose.
The American Heart Association recommends that people with heart disease take 1 gram EPA+DHA per day, and individuals with high triglycerides, 2–4 grams per day. Raffaele De Caterina, n-3 Fatty Acids in Cardiovascular Disease, New England Journal of Medicine 2011; 364: 2439–50
Always take omega 3 supplements with food, not on an empty stomach. This will help those people who find it 'repeats' or you get the fishy burps! If this is an issue, then remember to take break up your doses into 2-3 smaller daily doses, instead of just one big dose.
Keep in mind, for inflammatory conditions look for a product that is predominantly higher in EPA as this is the inflammatory component.
Fish oil has also been called 'brain food'. That is because of its effect on mental health, behavioral, mood, and brain issues. If this is an area that you would benefit from, choose a product higher in DHA, as this is the fatty acid that is required by the brain. DHA is linked to dopamine and serotonin production.
Krill vs fish oil
Krill oil has also been found to be a rich source of omega-3. Krill has a similar overall fatty acid composition as fish oil. Some krill oil companies claim the phospholipid fats in krill make it more effectively absorbed and therefore more powerful than fish oil. There are also claims that the addition of antioxidant astaxanthin found in krill makes it more beneficial.
But the jury is still our whether krill oil really is much more beneficial than fish oil. I'd say try it for yourself and come to your own conclusions. All that matters at the end of the day is that you find a product that alleviates your suffering, works for you, and is affordable in the long run.
Check with your health practitioner and be mindful if...
If you are taking anti coagulant medications such as Coumadin (warfarin) for thinning the blood, have allergies to fish, are scheduled in for surgery, or have had a hemorrhagic stroke. In some sensitive cases fish oil can affect blood clotting.
Can we eat fish instead? Which types to avoid?
Small fish such as anchovies, sardines and krill that are at the bottom of the food chain are generally considered a better choice ecologically than large fish. They are much less likely to be contaminated with mercury and other environmental toxins.
Fish labeled as 'Atlantic Salmon' is most likely farmed so its best to avoid it. Alaskan Sockeye Salmon is protected and thus cannot be farmed, so that is a much better choice. Unfortunately, as much as 70-80% of the fish marked "wild" salmon were actually farmed.
If you're still regularly eating canned tuna, think twice. Read more here about Dr. Mercola's findings and advice regarding consuming fish...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/08/31/tuna-fish-labeling.aspx
So what's so bad about farmed fish?
They contain approximately half of the healthy EFA's of wild fish. Higher levels of contaminants are also found in farmed fish and, they are fed genetically modified ingredients such as corn and soy?! And that is just scratching the surface regarding the detrimental effects of this common practice.
The Norwegian Health Department actually warned the public against eating farmed fish. That should be of significance to the rest of the world also!
Health-wise, how omega 3 deficiency could be affecting you..
It's imperative that we are switched on about the importance and quality of omega 3. For even further information about how omega 3 deficiency impacts health please ready my previous blog
http://journey-thru-wellness.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/the-staggering-effects-of-omega-3.html
and for more extensive government information on omega 3, have a look at Medline, USA's National Library of Medicine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/993.html
In conclusion
I know what its like to waste money and time suffering, whilst patiently waiting for any sign of relief. As a person living with a chronic illness I have trialed many brands over an extensive length of time. After observing myself and many others in practice, I highly recommend Nordic Naturals.
Nordic Naturals have been at the forefront of supplying the worlds best sources of omega 3 for over 20 years, adhere to strict international standards for purity, offer third party proof of quality, are a research driven company, guarantee optimal absorption levels, are extremely environmentally conscious, and surpass international pharmaceutical standards. They also provide vegan and vegetarian options!
For more information about Nordic Naturals and why they are considered and recognized as the best, read here
https://www.nordicnaturals.com/en/About_Us/Why_Nordic_Naturals/595#pharmStandards
They may cost more than retail brands however once you understand that you are investing in a reputable product, you will realize most other brands cannot compete with the research and quality they offer.
After much of my own research I found a brilliant supplier in iherb. It is a fantastic online health site which delivers internationally to over 100 countries, is extremely competitive with pricing, and offers a $10 discount to all new customers! You can take advantage of this offer by clicking here..
http://www.iherb.com?rcode=JOV897
or check out Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega capsules here!
With new research and information coming out every day it can be overwhelming to keep track of how to take care of ourselves in the best, most cost effective, conscious, and quickest way. With prevalence of degenerative illness on the rise, Omega 3 is something I think we will all need to be aware of.
I'm appreciative that we can all learn, share and help each other though our findings too. I'm grateful for the people who have dedicated their lives in finding innovative ways we all can better the quality of our lives. I hope this small contribution can spark interest in maintaining your health, alleviating symptoms, and choosing consciously to only buy from companies that support the health of our environment also.
If you have found an exceptional brand of omega 3 I'd love to hear from you and your experience with it. Please share in the comments below!
For further insights on maintaining health, making more conscious choices, and tips on healing, please subscribe to my blog and You Tube channel by clicking on the icons at top of this page!
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