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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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
Are You Taking the Best Fish Oil? - What to Look For
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The best fish oil supplements provide a minimum of 500mg of omega3 fatty acids per capsule. Omega3s are a group of polyunsaturated fats that are good for our health. They include DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid), DPA (Docosapentaenoic acid) and (ALA) ±-Linolenic acid, as well as five other less significant ones. DHA is believed to be the most important in several ways.
ALA is found primarily in vegetable oils. Until recently, it was believed that ALA supplementation would raise blood levels of DHA, but research has shown that it has little, if any, effect. For vegans and other vegetarians, marine algae supplements are being recommended, because they provide DHA.
DHA is the most abundant fatty acid found in the brain and inside of the eye. Its necessity for proper brain development in children has been well established. It is present in breast milk and most infant formulas are fortified with it.
The benefit for reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s, a degenerative brain disease, is currently being studied, as is the benefit for reducing the risk of age-related macular degeneration. The macula is a small spot in the back of the eye, responsible for central vision. Degeneration of this area is the major cause of blindness among the elderly. Although some peripheral vision is usually retained, central vision is lost. One of the risk factors for macular degeneration is high blood triglycerides.
The best fish oil contains a large amount of DHA, because it is so important to the brain and because it has proven to be most effective at reducing blood triglyceride levels. One clinical trial compared the effectiveness of DHA to that of EPA. DHA had a significantly greater effect.
High triglycerides are associated with an increased risk of heart disease among older people, specifically with atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. The best fish oil can help reduce our risks of age-related heart diseases. Not only because it lowers triglyceride levels, but also because it has anti-coagulant and anti-inflammatory activity.
An anti-coagulant is any compound that prevents clotting and “thins” the blood. The most well known anti-coagulant is aspirin. Doctors often recommend a low-dose aspirin regimen for patients that are at risk for or have had a history of heart attacks. Now, many doctors recommend omega3 supplementation, as well.
The biggest complaint that people have when taking these supplements is that they cause fishy tasting burps. The best fish oil supplements are guaranteed to be “burp-free”. You can get your money back if they cause that problem.
The reason that the manufacturers are sure that there will be “no burps” is because the oxidation level is so low. Oxidized oils are not fresh when they are encapsulated. The smell is hidden by the capsule, but the stomach has a negative reaction to them, anyway.
There are many other benefits of increasing your omega3 intake. Many different doctors recommend it. Books have been written about it. But, in order to get all of those benefits, you need to be sure to buy the best fish oil on the market.
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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Some Fish Oil Capsules Are Better Than Others - Find Out Why
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All fish oil capsules have some amount of anti-inflammatory activity, because of the essential fatty acids they contain. But, recent studies have shown that a fish oil capsule containing 500mg of natural triglycerides from the New Zealand hoki fish has anti-inflammatory activity equivalent to that of aspirin, which is more than double what is seen with a “regular” supplement.
Manufacturers have choices when they decide to sell fish oil capsules. They can choose what species of fish to use and decide whether or not to distill and concentrate it. If it is distilled the result is called an ester. If it is not distilled, it is called a natural triglyceride.
For many years, the use of molecular distillation was the best choice, because it concentrated the omega3 fatty acids and removed impurities like mercury. Now, it seems that the natural form has more anti-inflammatory activity, but since the concentration of omega3s would be lower, other health benefits would be lost.
There is a third choice. A fish oil capsule can contain 500mg of natural triglycerides and 500mg of concentrated esters. In that way, the omega3 content is higher than what is found in most supplements, but the anti-inflammatory activity is left intact.
Why a fish oil capsule containing the natural triglycerides would have a higher level of anti-inflammatory activity is unknown. Sometimes, it is impossible to isolate a single component of a naturally occurring substance that is responsible for its medicinal activity. Sometimes, it is a combination of all of the naturally occurring nutrients that is responsible.
For example, researchers have tried to find the compound that is responsible for the health benefits of red wine. When they identified resveratrol, they believed that had it. But, later studies showed that it could not possibly be resveratrol, alone, that was responsible for the health benefits, because the amount in the wine was far too low.
It has been difficult to explain the anti-inflammatory activity of fish oil capsules, too. Researchers have tried to identify what biological pathways are affected by omega3 fatty acids. It is known that bio-chemicals produced from omega3s have less inflammatory activity than those produced from omega6s. But, that would increasing omega3s in the diet would only have the affect of modulating inflammation.
If it has a high degree of anti-inflammatory activity, a fish oil capsule can relieve aching joints and protect the cells of the body from the negative affects of chronic inflammation. Diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel are improved through the use of fish oil capsules.
There are benefits to the heart, as well, because inflammation is involved in atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Skin conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis improve when a person takes a fish oil capsule. But, all of these benefits are dependent on the anti-inflammatory activity.
Manufacturers can have their fish oil capsules tested for anti-inflammatory activity. The better manufacturers publish the results on their websites. Of course, testing costs money and most manufacturers are not willing to pay the price. So, this is not something that you will commonly see. If you want the best, it pays to look for it.
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
