What Are the Best Fish Oil Supplements?
The Truth About Fish Oil Products Revealed . . .

At Omega 3 Fish Oil Advisor, you'll discover the remarkable health benefits of fish oil supplements and omega 3 fatty acids.  

 

Our mission is to be a one-stop resource on any question or topic concerning omega 3 fish oil. We cover all aspects of the subject, and examine the differences in quality between various supplements.

 

Scientists first discovered the health properties of fish oil consumption in the 1970s, when they observed the health of Greenland Eskimos. The Eskimos followed a diet heavily based on fatty fish, such as whale and seal.

 

In spite of this diet, they enjoyed a low incidence of heart disease and arthritis, and healthy cholesterol levels. They were also relatively free of many other chronic inflammatory diseases.

 

Since that landmark discovery, the medical community has continued to study the effects of omega 3 fatty acids, with new studies being released regularly that tout the benefits of fish oil.

 

For most of us, supplements are the most effective way to enjoy the many health benefits of omega3s. EPA and DHA, two of the three types of omega 3 fatty acids, are primarily responsible for these benefits.

 

In fact, 60% of the human brain is comprised of fats, and approximately half of that fat is DHA omega3. It's easy to imagine why it's so critical to good health.

 

Unfortunately, most of the Western world is deficient in omega3 fatty acids. This is due to an imbalanced diet high in Omega 6, which comes from cereals, vegetable oils, and grains, and a low intake of Omega 3, which you'll find in fish, of course, but also spinach, organic eggs, flaxseed oil, nuts, and other vegetables.

 

Many experts place the Omega 6-Omega 3 ratio at 20:1. This is way out of whack! The optimal balance is 1:1.

 

Benefits of Fish Oil 

 

Hundreds of medical studies have been conducted over the years. Experts have determined that fish oil provides benefits in the following health areas.
 

- Preventing coronary heart disease.

- Promoting brain development in children, and ensuring proper brain function in adults.

 

- Encouraging healthy skin and preventing skin diseases such as acne and psoriasis.

 

- Reducing cholesterol levels.
 

- Alleviating pains and aches due to rheumatoid arthritis.

 

- Protecting against cancer, in particular breast, colon, and prostate cancer.

- Improving mood, and guarding against depression.

 
And many more benefits, which we explore in detail on this site.

The best way to enjoy these benefits is to take a daily fish oil supplement.

 

Why not just eat more fish and seafood? Because the world's waterways and oceans are polluted with toxins, such as heavy metals, PCBs, and dioxins. The fish that inhabit these waters absorb these chemicals, making frequent consumption of deep sea fish a health risk.

 

In fact, this is why the majority of fish sold in supermarkets are grocery stores are farm-raised. It's the only way to ensure safe consumption.

 

The downside? These fish are fed pellets, not their natural deep sea diet, resulting in a lower content of omega 3 fatty acids. To get enough omega3 from fish alone, you would have to eat a lot, and this isn't feasible or even desirable for most of us.
 
Adding a quality supplement to your daily health regimen is the way to go. But not all fish oil supplements are created equal. There is a great disparity in quality among these products--and the most expensive product is not always the best.

But let's face it--selecting the best fish oils can be a challenging task. There are so many different products on the market that picking the best one for your needs requires time, and effort.

 

Picking the Best Fish Oil Product

When evaluating a fish oil supplement, I recommend that you consider the following five factors.

1) Purity

The oceans and waterways of the world are polluted with a variety of toxins, such as PCBs, mercury, dioxin, and other contaminants. These harmful substances easily find their way into the fish that inhabit these waters.

When selecting an omega3 supplement, you'll want to be sure that it was sourced from pure waters, and has undergone a rigorous purification process.

The Southern Ocean off the coast of New Zealand is one such pristine body of water. Due to government regulation, it is free of heavy metals and other pollutants. The fish sourced from this region is renowned for its purity.

Additionally, the product should go through a process called vacuum molecular distillation. In molecular distillation, any trace elements of toxins are removed from the fish oil by weight, resulting in an ultra-refined omega-3 product.

2) Freshness

If you've ever stored seafood at home, you know the importance of freshness. Seafood is particularly prone to rancidity if you don't take proper care.

It's an equally important concern for fish oil supplements. A product that is not fresh will increase your likelihood of experiencing "repeating" or burping after consumption.

Oxidation levels are a solid indicator of the freshness of a fish oil supplement. The oxidation should be low. A higher level of oxidation will increase the amount of free radicals in your system, leading to cell damage.

To verify this information, check the manufacturer's Certificate of Analysis. The oxidation level (if it's listed at all) should be low.

Additionally, you can test a product by smell. When you cut open a fish oil soft gel capsule, it should smell fresh as the ocean, not rancid or artificial.

3) Anti-inflammatory properties

The anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 essential fatty acids are what makes them so beneficial in combating a variety of ailments. Inflammation is an especially key factor in heart disease.

A quality omega3 product should have well-documented anti-inflammatory properties. Look for clinical studies.

4) Bio-availability

What does bio-availability mean? Quite simply, the supplement should be easily absorbed by your body.

A good fish oil supplement should have a molecular structure that supports easy, effective absorption. A natural triglyceride form is recommended.

Even better, look for ethy ester fish oil. This means that the oil has been extracted in a natural triglyceride form, and then concentrated via vacuum molecular distillation.

The result is a highly purified, concentrated omega3 product that your body can readily absorb, getting the full benefit of the nutrients.

5) DHA content

DHA stands for Docosahexaenoic acid. It is widely recognized in the medical community as the most effective omega-3 essential fatty acid in promoting good health.

DHA plays a critical role in proper brain function. This makes sense when you consider that about 60% of the human brain is comprised of fats, of which half is DHA.

DHA also helps to fight inflammation, and can improve your levels of HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol).

But not all fish oil supplements have equal levels of DHA. Typically, the percentage of DHA per soft gel fluctuates between 10% and 23%.

The omega-3 product I personally use contains 28% of DHA per capsule, the highest in the nutritional supplements industry.

Look for purity, freshness, anti-inflammatory properties, bio-availability, and DHA content when selecting the best fish oil supplements for you and your family.