How To Find The Good Fish Oils

Do you want good fish oils or do you want the best? There are lots of good brands on the market. But, if you’re like most people, you probably want the best value that you can get for your money. In order to get that, you just need to do a little bit of research.

The most important nutritional components of the supplements are the omega-3 fatty acids. Eicosapentaenoic acid and Docosahexaenoic acid or EPA and DHA are the two omega-3s that we cannot get from other food sources. Plant foods, such as flax, olives and walnuts, provide only alpha-linolenic acid or ALA.

ALA is said to be the only essential long-chained polyunsaturated fatty acid, because the body can elongate it to form the others. The problem is that the body doesn’t always make the necessary conversions. Research has shown that supplementing ALA does not raise circulating blood levels of DHA and low levels are associated with a variety of different conditions, including schizophrenia and depression.

So, we really need DHA in our diets. Good fish oils will provide some. The best supplements provide a minimum of 280mg of DHA per 1000mg capsule. The average adult can take two or three capsules per day, which would bring the DHA intake up to 560mg or more per day.

Some nutrients have tolerable upper limits. Consuming more than that limit will cause unwanted symptoms. In some cases, there will be toxicity.

There is no upper limit for omega-3 fatty acids. There is some concern that taking too much fish oil could cause an increased bleeding risk. But, no increased bleeding has been seen in people taking up to three grams (3000mg) per day.

There has also been concern for people taking aspirin or blood thinners. But, a recent study showed that there was no risk among people taking good fish oils, aspirin and a blood thinner. So, basically, there seems to be no risk, as long as people follow the manufacturer’s dosage recommendations.

There is some risk or potential for exposure to heavy metals and other contaminants. So, it is important to find out what steps the manufacturer takes to address that risk. They should have each batch of oil tested for contaminants, before they attempt to sell it. But, not all manufacturers go to that effort.

If you want the best, not just the average or good fish oils, then you want to look for a manufacturer that tests each batch and makes the results of testing available to you. Typically, they will post the results on their websites in the form of a certificate of analysis or COA.

A COA from an independent laboratory will also provide information concerning the amount of total omega-3s and individual ones like DHA that are included in each capsule. In order to get the best value for your money, you want a relatively high concentration of DHA, as mentioned above.

Make no mistake about it. Good fish oils might only provide 150-180mg or less per capsule, but the best supplements simply give you more.

By: Laurel Cohen

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Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.