The Best Fish Oil Capsules Contain DHA Omega 3’s
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Finding the best fish oil capsules is simple, if you know what to look for. The factors that are most important include purity and freshness, omega-3 content, DHA content and anti-inflammatory activity.
Some of those things will be listed on the label. You may have to do a little digging to learn about the others, but you should be able to find the information that you need on the manufacturer’s website. If they don’t make the information easy to find, then choose a different brand. There are lots of different brands on the market. So, there is no reason to settle for second-best.
The omega-3 and the DHA content should be clearly listed on the label. Simply stating that the capsule contains 1000mg of fish oils is not sufficient. Only a portion of the oils found in fatty fish are omega-3s.
DHA or Docosahexaenoic acid is the longest-chained fatty acid. Within the body, it can be easily converted into any of the other omega-3s, such as Eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA, but the reverse does not hold true. The best fish oil capsules provide a minimum of 28% or 280mg of DHA per cap.
DHA deficits are associated with learning and behavioral disorders, as well as depression and dementia. There’s a lot of fat in the human brain and about 40% of it is DHA. There’s a reason that fish is called brain food. There are no other natural dietary sources of DHA. Small amounts of omega-3s are found in plants and in grass-fed livestock, but DHA is only present in fatty fish.
Information concerning purity and freshness should be available at the manufacturer’s website. The best fish oil capsules are free of contaminants and have very low levels of oxidation (spoilage). The manufacturer should have had testing conducted by an independent laboratory to prove that the oils are fresh and pure. You cannot take the company’s word for it. You should look for a COA or certificate of analysis.
Oxidized oils cause fishy aftertastes and burping. When oxidation levels are very low, then the product will be burp-free. The better manufacturers guarantee it.
Fishy burps are annoying, but the worst part is that oxidized oils contain free radicals. We should make every effort to reduce the body’s free radical burden. The best fish oil capsules help us do that, because they have anti-oxidant activity. Antioxidants neutralize free radical molecules before they can damage the cells.
Laboratories can examine the anti-inflammatory activity of the oils inside of a capsule. Researchers have seen that some oils have more anti-inflammatory activity than others.
Some manufacturers have had their supplements tested for anti-inflammatory activity. But, if the supplement is manufactured in the US, there’s no reason to have the testing done. The FDA does not allow manufacturers to make specific claims concerning anti-inflammatory activity, because that would make it a drug.
But, whether the FDA wants us to know or not, the best fish oil capsules do have a high degree of anti-inflammatory activity and the manufacturer can prove it.
Valerie Rosenbaum thinks taking omega 3 fish oil supplements is the easiest and most effective way to improve your health. Visit her site now to discover the pure, fish oil product she uses and recommends: http://www.TakingFishOil.com
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Salmon Fish Oil and the Ratio of Omega 9, Omega 6 and Omega 3 Make All the Difference
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Salmon fish oil might not be your best choice for omega-3 supplementation. While Wild Alaskan salmon is the most commonly recommended food choice, because of all of the nutrients that it provides, some of the oils on the market are high in omega-9 fatty acids. Those can have negative health effects.
According to the lipid (fat) analysis provided by one of the major manufacturers, the oils contain an average of 288mg of oleic acid. Some studies indicate that oleic and other monounsaturated fatty acids are associated with an increased breast cancer risk. Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated.
It could be that the omega-3s counteract the negative effects of oleic acid, but ideally, you would want a supplement that contained less. Other species are higher in omega3s, low in omega9s and very low in omega6s.
Researchers feel that typical Western diets are too high in omega6 and too low in omega3. They suggest decreasing omega6 intake while increasing intake of omega3s. One of the easiest ways to lower your intake of omega6s is to cut corn oil out of your diet. It contains 40 times more omega6s than 3s.
Of the lipids in the salmon fish oil mentioned above, only about 60mg are omega6s, which is pretty good, but there are some brands that contain less than 40mg of omega6s. That’s even better.
You see, omega6s and 3s compete for conversion into hormones within the body. The hormones produced from omega6s are pro-inflammatory. The ones produced form omega3s are less inflammatory and stimulate the production of molecules that end the inflammatory process.
Everything within the body is about balance. Inflammation is a necessary function of the immune system, but in recent times there has been a noted increase of autoimmune diseases, in which the inflammatory process turns on healthy cells.
Does salmon fish oil have a high degree of anti-inflammatory activity? The clinical trials and laboratory studies have used oils from other species. So, the answer to that question is unclear.
What one scientific study did show was that one concentrated salmon fish oil supplement contained high levels of mercury. At the recommended dosage, the weekly intake of mercury would be higher than amounts known to cause impaired cognitive skills, tremors and sleep disturbances.
The biggest drawback to including more fish in our daily diet is increasing our intake of mercury. There are some species that cannot be safely consumed, at all, because of mercury contamination. Those species include wild bass, bluefish, wild sturgeon, king mackerel and blue-fin tuna. Other species, like Atlantic and Washington salmon, croaker and flounder should be limited to no more than one serving per month due to PCBs, cancer-causing chemicals.
Food and supplement manufacturers are not required to evaluate a catch for mercury or PCB contamination. It is up to the consumer to look for health alerts from the Environmental Defense Fund and other public health organizations.
Instead of buying salmon fish oil, you might want to consider looking for one that comes from the New Zealand hoki, a small species that swims in very clean waters. It might be a little harder to find, but it is the safest choice.
Valerie Rosenbaum thinks taking omega 3 fish oil supplements is the easiest and most effective way to improve your health. Visit her site now to discover the pure, fish oil product she uses and recommends: http://www.TakingFishOil.com
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4 Quality Control Checks Before Buying Fish Oil Supplements
Filed Under Anti Aging Supplement, Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, DHA and EPA, Fish Oil Supplements, Main Content, Omega 3 Fatty Acids | Leave a Comment
Before you buy fish oil, take a few minutes to read this article. If you are not careful about the quality of your supplements, then you could be wasting your money or even damaging your health. You need to be sure that the supplement is free of contaminants, has low oxidation levels, has high omega3 content and has good anti-inflammatory activity. This article covers how to determine those things.
Checking For Contaminants
It is simply not good enough for a company to “say” that their products are free of mercury and other contaminants. They should be able to “prove” it. In order to do that, they can have testing conducted by an independent laboratory to obtain an official certificate of analysis or COA.
A copy of the COA should be posted on the manufacturer’s website. If you don’t see it, don’t place the order. It just doesn’t make sense to buy fish oil that costs as much as $60 per bottle, when there is no guarantee of purity.
The COA will list mercury, PCBs, dioxins, lead, arsenic and a variety of other toxins that are known to pollute our waters and our fish. On the line next to each contaminant, it should say “not detected”. Molecular distillation can insure low contaminant levels, but some naturally occurring oils are safe enough to take “as is”. No distillation is required.
Finding Out About Oxidation
Oxidation will also be listed on a COA. You should not buy fish oil that has a high level of oxidation. It has to do with how fresh the oils were when they were encapsulated. If the total oxidation level is over 17 MEQ/KG, then you will get fishy tasting burps and there is a risk to your long-term health, because oxidized oils contain free radicals.
If you currently have some supplements in your home, you can check for oxidation by cutting one open and “sniffing”. It should not smell like rotten fish or an artificial flavor like lemon. Companies often add lemon, lime or another flavoring to mask the taste and smell of rancid oils.
Determining Omega3 Content
The omega3 content will also be listed on the COA. Some manufacturers list it on the label, as well. Others list only the amount of oils that are in each capsule. Not all of those oils are omega3 fats. You want to be sure to buy fish oil that provides at least 500mg of omega3s per 1000mg of oil.
The manufacturer should also list the amount of individual fatty acids (DHA, EPA and DPA) that are in each capsule. DHA is the most important to the brain and has more triglyceride reduction activity than EPA.
Judging Anti-inflammatory Activity
The manufacturer can pay to have their supplements scientifically tested for anti-inflammatory activity. Most companies, particularly those in the US, don’t bother. Companies in the US are not allowed to mention the anti-inflammatory activity of the supplement, because that would be a medicinal benefit.
If you buy fish oil that has been proven to have a high degree of anti-inflammatory activity, there will be benefits to your joints and every cell of your body, because inflammation is one of the causes of cellular aging.
Valerie Rosenbaum knows that taking omega 3 fish oil supplements is the easiest and most effective way to improve your health. Visit her site now to discover the pure, fish oil product she uses and recommends: http://www.TakingFishOil.com
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Will Lutein Supplements Improve Vision? - Some Facts to Ponder
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If you are wondering will lutein improve vision, you may have seen or heard a commercial for a health supplement. Here are the facts that were probably not included in that commercial.
Lutein and zeaxanthin are two powerful antioxidants that are highly concentrated in the macula, a small area of the retina responsible for central vision and good visual acuity. Some studies indicate that increased intake helps reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration or AMD. Some studies have concluded that high supplementation (10mg zeaxanthin, 50mg lutein) lowers the risk of cataracts and may actually improve visual acuity in AMD by 20% or more.
So, if you have AMD and you are wondering will lutein improve vision, the answer is “maybe”. It is difficult to be more certain than that, because so many other factors come into play. Every health problem that affects other parts of your body also affects visual acuity. Many health problems increase the risk of AMD. If you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, then supplementation may not help. If you are obese or your diet is high in fat, it may not help.
Promising results from a single supplement when there are so many other factors to consider would be dishonest. Yet, some manufacturers focus only on the possible benefits and never mention the importance of a healthy diet and regular physical activity.
If you do not have AMD and you are wondering will lutein improve vision, some people have reported improved eyesight after improving their nutritional intake with a totally balanced supplement. A single nutrient is probably a waste of time. Here’s a question for you. How’s your diet?
If you run through the day grabbing fast foods or snacks from the vending machine and then come home at night to eat meat and potatoes, then a good multi-nutritional supplement that includes mixed carotenoids should help you see better. If you remember being told to eat your carrots, there was a good reason for that. We didn’t know much about different antioxidants, until recently, but we have known for many years that eating carrots supports eye health, because of the carotenoids they contain.
The problem today is that most of the supplements on the market contain synthetic vitamins. There is now way to be sure that the synthetics are beneficial at all. If the latest studies are any indication, they probably are not.
The answer to will lutein improve vision might depend upon where the manufacturer got it. Is the source natural or is it a petrochemical? Many people are surprised to learn that their vitamins contain petrochemicals. People that would never expose themselves to cigarette smoke are ingesting possible carcinogens, every day.
Not all petrochemicals are carcinogenic, at least as far as we know, but many of them are. They are all made in the same factory. It is safe to assume that petrochemicals are bad for our health.
Luckily, there are some reputable manufacturers that use only natural ingredients. Now, instead of asking will lutein improve vision, why not learn more about how to choose a good multi-nutritional supplement.
Valerie Rosenbaum has made it her mission to provide the public with information. The best nutritional supplements will include a full complement of over 70 bio-active ingredients to create a healthy balance of nutrients and antioxidants within the body. Learn what she uses and recommends at http://www.NaturalBalanceSupplements.com
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Lutein and Zeaxanthin Supplements Alone Aren’t Enough
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Many optometrists and ophthalmologists are recommending lutein and zeaxanthin supplements for their patients that are at risk for age-related macular degeneration. Some doctors recommend them for all of their patients, a preventative maintenance. You will find that there are a variety of different brands and ingredient combinations to choose from, including a single ingredient zeaxanthin supplement. So, what’s the best choice?
Well, according to the latest research, lutein and zeaxanthin supplements should contain some other ingredients, too. Consumers should check out the amount that is included in the tablet, too. Many manufacturers include just a tiny amount of each. Most studies indicate that the necessary daily dose to see long term benefit is 50mg of lutein and 10mg of zeaxanthin.
Other ingredients that should be included are mixed carotenoids and vitamin E. A single ingredient zeaxanthin supplement provides only a single carotenoid. Other carotenoids include:
- Beta-carotene, deficiency causes night blindness, severe deficiency causes permanent blindness
- Lycopene, a potent antioxidant that may inhibit damage done to the inside of the eye by UV rays and blue light
Some products provide all of the carotenoids that are beneficial to human health. They don’t cost much more than a single-ingredient zeaxanthin supplement, but they are likely to provide more benefits. If you want the best value for your money, you want more than lutein and zeaxanthin supplements, you want multiple nutrients. Some of the best products contain over 70 different nutrients including basic vitamins and minerals, so that you don’t need to take a daily multi-vitamin, too. That reduces your total cost.
In addition to the benefits to eye health, recent studies indicate that a zeaxanthin supplement may lower cholesterol levels by increasing HDL (good cholesterol) and reducing LDL (bad cholesterol). HDL particles are large molecules of cholesterol that are able to pick up small LDL particles and return them to the liver for reprocessing or disposal. It is the small particles that build up on the arterial walls and become hardened, leading to heart disease and blood clots. Other nutrients and plant extracts that have been shown to lower LDL cholesterol levels include green tea, resveratrol, policosanol and lecithin, as well as omega3 fatty acids.
Because of their antioxidant activity, lutein and zeaxanthin supplements have been investigated for their benefits in treating or preventing cancer. It appears that lutein, not a zeaxanthin supplement, has the greatest benefit in this area, although the evidence is still in the preliminary stages. It is safe to day that increasing your overall antioxidant intake is one of the things that you can do to reduce your risk of cancer.
Some of the basic antioxidants include vitamins A, C, D, E and selenium. Some of the more potent ones include catechins found in green tea, curcumin found in turmeric, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins and resveratrol, all of which are found in the skins of red grapes and may be responsible for the health benefits associated with red wine consumption.
There lots of different brands of lutein and zeaxanthin supplements on the market, but if you want to do as much as you can for your overall health, you want more than those two…lots more.
Valerie Rosenbaum has made it her mission to provide the public with information supporting the use of natural and clinically tested ingredients in their anti aging supplements. The best nutritional supplements will include a full complement of over 70 bio-active ingredients to create a healthy balance of nutrients and antioxidants within the body. Learn what she uses and recommends at http://www.NaturalBalanceSupplements.com
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