Fish oil (also known as omega-3 fats) supplements, are one of the most popular supplements, with more people buying than ever. This should not come as a surprise as there have been more than 15,000 studies, fish oil is powerful in reducing the risk of heart disease, triglycerides and helping with weight loss.
When determining a quality fish oil, it is important to consider several key factors:
- All fish oils are not created equal
- You should not ‘burp up’ fish after taking capsules
- Quality fish oil should provide a high concentration of the good stuff: EPA and DHA. These are 2 of the 3 omega-3’s that are tied to most of the benefits of fish oil as a whole.
The company whose supplements you plan to use should have third party independent lab tests to confirm the quality. Also, you do not want to be taking mercury and other toxic ingredients when you think you are doing something good for your body.
Consider the EPA & DHA content. You get EPA & DHA from animal sources (fish) and you generally get ALA from plant sources. In deciding on a fish oil product, consider the total amount of EPA + DHA rather than the total amount of omega-3. For general health, the recommended minimum intake is 500mg of EPA/DHA. Higher doses may be recommended for people with a history of heart disease or high triglycerides but you should check with your Doctor for their recommendation.