How to Choose the Right Fish Oil Supplement
A few years ago, if someone had suggested I take a fish oil supplement, I would have thought they were crazy. However, with the discovery of “good” fats, and Omega 3 fatty acids, fish oil supplements are becoming more and more popular. Oily fish, such as mackerel and salmon have been found to be one of the best natural sources of these essential fatty acids, which have been found to reduce the risk of heart disease, improve the functioning of the eyes and brain, keep a healthy immune system, and even help relieve your diabetes symptoms.
If you’re not a big fish eater, then fish oil supplements are a great way to get Omega 3 acids. However, not all fish oil supplements are the same, some can even be dangerous. That’s why it’s important to know how to choose best quality fish oil supplement.
The first thing you want to look for in a quality fish oil is the active ingredients it contains. Fish oils actually contain two types of omega 3 fatty acids: EPA and DHA. While they are both important nutrients, you should actually look for a supplement with higher concentrations of EPA. Most supplements give you more DHA, so you may have to do a lot of label searching. You also want to look for other vitamins and nutrients, such as Vitamin A and Vitamin E, that are included in some fish oils and may be harmful in large doses or when used with certain medical conditions.
An important step for ensuring your fish supplement is safe is finding out where the fish come from. Many people avoiding eating these types of fish because they can contain mercury and other heavy metals that pollute fishes’ natural environment. These metals are hazardous and can be found in certain fish oil supplements. That’s why it’s important to get a supplement that uses fish from pristine waters.
Sadly, just because the fish come from clean water doesn’t mean that you should assume it’s safe. For a fish oil supplement to be free of dangerous chemicals, it should be molecularly distilled to remove any additional impurities. You should also look for products that say they are pharmaceutical grade Omega 3. A product that lists that it is pharmaceutical grade and molecularly distilled is much more likely to be free of any potentially harmful chemicals.
As with any supplement, you should consult your doctor before you start taking anything new. This is especially important with fish oil because too high a dosage may cause dangerous side effects.