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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Why Atlantic Cod Fish Oils Are a Poor Source of Omega 3’s
Filed Under Anti-Inflammatory, Blood Pressure, DHA and EPA, Fish Oil Supplements, Main Content, Omega 3 Fatty Acids | Leave a Comment
Don’t buy cod fish oil to get your omega3s. There are much better choices, today. This article covers why using the Atlantic Cod as a source of omega3s is a bad idea.
The North Atlantic is heavily polluted with mercury, PCBs and dioxins. Mercury poisoning has occurred due to eating fish contaminated with it. Since it is in the water, it is in the fish.
The Atlantic Cod and similar species feed on smaller fish. Because of this, the concentration of contaminants increases over the course of the fish’s life. Adults would have a higher concentration of contaminants and their livers would be particularly contaminated, because the liver is the dumping ground for heavy metals.
Most cod fish oil is advertised as cod-liver oil, but it is actually derived from the entire body. A large market for fish meal exists. It is used in animal feed and to fortify certain foods. In order to make the meal, the fishes are ground up and the oils are removed. So, what you actually have is a byproduct of fish-meal production.
From there, the oils will need to be distilled and refined. The act of distillation reduces contaminants, but also reduces the nutritional value. While heavy metals are easily removed with the process, chemical contaminants like PCBs and dioxins may still be present. Manufacturers are not required to test each batch for contamination.
But, assuming that the oils have been purified, there is still a risk associated with cod fish oil. It contains retinol, the animal form of vitamin A.
Retinol is toxic at high doses. It causes birth defects. Regular intake of excessive amounts of vitamin A is associated with osteoporosis and bone fractures. Vitamin A competes with vitamin D for absorption and it interacts with parathyroid hormone which regulates calcium absorption. It has been estimated that 75% of people in developed countries take in more than the recommended daily allowance of retinol on a regular basis.
If vitamin A supplementation is desirable, it is best to take beta-carotene, the vegetable form. Beta-carotene is non-toxic. The body converts it on an as-needed basis to retinol. It is not possible to get too much beta-carotene in the diet.
From an environmental standpoint, taking cod fish oil is not recommended because of over-fishing. The popularity of specific species as food sources has rendered their populations unsustainable. Depletion of one population often affects other populations that feed on it, as well as the entire underwater ecosystem. People don’t often realize how much life on earth depends on life in the oceans.
Right now, the best choices for supplement manufacturers are species such as anchovy and hoki. They are small, reproduce quickly and are low on the food chain. They feed, to a great extent, on sea algae, with is rich in DHA, an important omega3 fatty acid.
The manufacturer should guarantee that their products are free of contaminants and rich in omega3 fatty acids. So, that’s why you shouldn’t buy cod fish oil. Spread the word and save the species.
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
Omega3 Fish Oil and the Importance of DHA
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Omega3 fish oil should contain DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DPA (Docosapentaenoic acid). The amount of each of those fatty acids should be listed on the label. Each one is beneficial, but the most important is DHA.
DHA is a 22 carbon bond long chained essential fatty acid. It is essential for the growth and functional development of the brain in infants and is required for maintenance of normal brain function in adults. Low levels of DHA in the bloodstream have been associated with conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, depression and aggressive behavior.
Increased intake of DHA has been shown to improve learning ability, ability to concentrate and reduces feelings of depression. Studies concerning the benefit for protecting the brain from the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease are currently ongoing. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease of the brain that causes memory loss, dementia and eventually kills.
DHA omega3 fish oil has a positive effect on diseases such as hypertension (high blood pressure), arthritis, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), type II or adult-onset diabetes and some types of cancer. It reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke and blood clots.
DHA has good anti-inflammatory activity and helps to modulate immune system function. There are benefits for people that suffer from eczema, psoriasis, acne, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel diseases and any condition in which inflammation plays a role. Since inflammation is one of the causes of cellular aging, you might say that DHA-rich omega3 fish oil has anti-aging activity.
Both DHA and EPA have proven benefits for improving levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and lowering total triglyceride levels. One study compared the benefits of DHA to that of EPA. The DHA group had a 26% decrease in blood triglycerides while the EPA group showed a decrease of 21%.
The human body can easily convert DHA to EPA, by removing two carbon bonds. The reverse is not true. In order to convert from EPA to DHA, the body would need to “add” two carbon bonds. That is not easily accomplished.
DPA is a lesser known omega3, although research is being conducted. Currently, we believe that it contributes to overall cardiovascular health, because it is present in high quantities in seal oil, a favored food of native Inuit peoples, who have a low incidence of cardiovascular disease, despite a diet high in fat.
Once you verify that the omega3 fish oil you are about to buy contains all of the essential fatty acids, find out what steps the manufacturer takes to insure purity and freshness. Molecular distillation is a popular choice, but it may also reduce the anti-inflammatory activity. Some recent evidence indicates that.
Some oils are naturally free of contaminants like mercury and PCBs. The manufacturer can verify that and prove it to consumers by posting an independent laboratory analysis on the company website.
With the popularity of omega3 fish oil as a dietary supplement, there has been an influx of new brand names. Your best bet is to buy online. The department store brands simply cannot be trusted.
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
Are You Taking the Right Fish Oil Dosage For Your Particular Health Condition?
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Suggestions for the proper fish oil dosage vary from 1000-3000mg per day. But, the thing that is really important is not the amount of oil that is present. It is the amount of omega3 fatty acids in each capsule. The omega3 content is not equivalent to the amount of oils. It is only a percentage of it. Reputable manufacturers include this information on their labels.
There are some highly concentrated varieties that provide as much as 800mg of omega3s per 1000mg capsule. But, a recent study showed that there are some extra anti-inflammatory benefits to the natural triglycerides, which have a lower concentration.
Researchers compared the anti-inflammatory activity of two different supplements. One contained 800mg of omega3 fatty acids in the concentrated ester form that most manufacturers use. The other one contained only 500mg of the ester and 500mg of the natural triglyceride. The omega3 content was lower, providing only 500mg total, but the anti-inflammatory activity was higher, twice that of the concentrated ester.
So, basically, your best fish oil dosage is 1000mg total, 500 of a concentrated ester and 500 of natural triglycerides. Total omega3 content would be 500mg and total content of DHA would be at least 260mg.
DHA is the most studied of all of the omega3 fatty acids. It is abundant in brain cells and nerve endings. It accounts for 60% of the free fatty acids in the retina of the eye, the light gathering apparatus that transmits signals to the brain, allowing us to see.
DHA and another important omega3 called EPA have a significant impact on unhealthy blood triglyceride levels. They improve the concentration of “good” HDL cholesterol, which in turn reduces the negative effects of LDL or bad cholesterol.
A good fish oil dosage may help reduce the risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke and blood clots. It has anti-coagulant activity, similar to that of aspirin, and helps lower blood pressure.
The benefits to the digestive system and the joints have been recognized for hundreds of years. Nordic fisherman took a dose every day, to reduce the negative impact that the cold had on their joints.
Recent studies have shown that there is benefit for people that suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, eczema, psoriasis, acne and lupus.
A good fish oil dosage may help improve your mood, reduce depressive feelings and improve your ability to concentrate. Researchers are evaluating the benefits for people that suffer from Alzheimer’s and have suggested that it may be beneficial for reducing the risk of that degenerative brain disease.
So, there are benefits to the skin, the immune system, the joints, the digestive system, the heart, the brain and basically every cell of the body. But, these benefits may be accompanied by risks, if the supplement is not evaluated for purity.
Manufacturers are not required to test each batch for contaminants, but the better manufacturers do conduct that sort of testing. They are able to prove that their recommended fish oil dosage is free of mercury and other contaminants. Ask for the proof, before you buy.
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
