Which Fish Oil Is Best
December 29, 2012
You may have heard that one of the important supplements that should be a part of your daily routine is a fish oil. Fish oil contains Omega 3 fats. Fat being a vital component to what a human body needs to survive. Not all fats are created equal and the Omega 3 is a healthy fat. With the health food industry being so expansive giving you so many options it may be difficult to know which fish oil you should consume. You can go to discount stores and find supplements for cheap or you can dearly overpay. My aim is to teach you what to look for and why.
Piles of scientific research is showing that Omega 3 fatty acids are important in promoting heart, joint, and even brain health. Your aim when taking omega 3 is to absorb DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid). Fish oil capsules will also contain EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid). The major component of most omega 3 capsules are EPA. Be sure to look at the concentration of of DHA to EPA. A good level to look for is 12% DHA and 18% EPA or 18/12 on the label. Some capsules contain omega 3 fatty acids but no DHA, these are worthless. You may be paying less, but you're actually wasting money on fillers and no benefits. Look for the highest DHA to EPA you can find to get the best value.
Some of you may be saying that you don't like fish oil and would prefer to take flax seed to obtain your omega 3s. These vegetable oils provide ALA (alpha lenolenic acid) and no DHA at all. When consuming these your relying on your body to convert ALA to DHA to receive benefits. As we age, our ability to do this conversion rapidly diminishes. The best way to get DHA is to take fish oil. You should look for enteric coated capsules that only break down when past the stomach and in the small intestines so you wont taste the oil later. Always look for molecular distilled or have an impecable certificate or purity to reduce your chances of heavy metal ingestion.
Unfortunately in any free market situation you sometimes have questionable sources. Knowing what to look for on the label of your supplements can ease your mind about what you're taking and if you're actually getting your monies worth. I recommend researching how DHA improves your healthy. This is a great article http://www.wellness-vitality.com/DHA.pdf .
