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
Filed Under Anti Aging Supplement, Anti Aging Vitamin, Anti-Inflammatory, Blood Pressure, DHA and EPA, Fish Oil Supplements, Main Content, Omega 3 Fatty Acids | Comments Off
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
Fish Oil Concentrate & Why Regulations Can’t Protect You From Harmful Contaminants
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Before you buy a fish oil concentrate, it is important to learn what steps the manufacturer takes to insure purity and freshness. It is not possible to be “too” careful. Some of the supplements on the market are simply a waste of money, but others could actually be bad for your health.
In an independent laboratory analysis, traces of the banned pesticide DDT and the banned chemicals PCBs were found in a popular supplement known as Omega-Pure. Obviously, it isn’t that pure. Both of those chemicals are listed by the US EPA as probable human carcinogens.
From a strictly environmental standpoint, the fishing practices used by the company are hazardous to the ecosystem. They use vacuums to bring in thousands of tons of a species known as menhaden. It is a filter fish, crucial to places like the Chesapeake Bay. In 2007, at the time that the laboratory analysis was conducted, the company was the largest producer of omega3 fish oil concentrate in the United States.
The Environmental Defense Fund has created a list of the best choices for supplementation and the worst ones. While these supplements are generally recognized as safe, there are few regulations concerning contamination or oxidation. Adherence to standards for purity and freshness is strictly voluntary. In most cases, it is the less expensive supplements that are on the “worst” list.
Of the 75 companies surveyed by the Environmental Defense Fund, more than a third of them returned incomplete data or failed to adhere to the standards set by the Council for Responsible Nutrition. The standards set by the council are not as high as those set by individual companies, but at least, it is a starting point.
You can usually identify the best quality fish oil concentrate by visiting the manufacturer’s website. They should post a copy of a certificate of analysis, conducted by an independent laboratory. They should list the name of the laboratory that conducted the analysis and when it comes to impurities the report should say “not detected”.
There will be some level of oxidation in any supplement, but the level should be as low as possible. Oxidized oils contain free radicals and cause fishy-tasting burps. Basically, the oils are spoiled when they are encapsulated.
The supplements that are a simple waste of money are those that do not provide large amounts of omega3 fatty acids. A fish oil concentrate might contain a lot or a little. The manufacturers are not required to list the amount of omega3s that are present in the product. Nor are they required to list individual omega3s like DHA.
DHA is one of the most studied omega3 fatty acids. It is important for the health of the brain and the eyes. It has the highest degree of triglyceride reduction, which is beneficial to the heart. It has the most anti-inflammatory activity and it may reduce the risk of many age-related diseases.
You can only be confident about taking a fish oil concentrate if you take the time to do a little research about the manufacturer. The best companies proudly display their standards for purity, freshness and omega3 content. The worst ones appeal to you with a low price.
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
