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Finding The Best Fish Oil Supplement – What Factors You Need To Know

What's the best fish oil supplement?  What's the worst?  I'm not going to mention any brand names here, but I will tell you about the factors you should consider when comparing what's on the market.

Total Omega-3 Content

The benefits of supplementation are due to the omega-3 content.  The average brand provides about 300mg per 1000mg capsule.  The rest is a mix of omega-6s and 9s.  We get enough of those in our diet.  We don't need more of them.

Some brands are highly concentrated providing as many as 850mg per 1000mg capsule.  However, studies seem to indicate that the processes used to increase the concentration actually decreases the anti-inflammatory activity.

One brand that provides 500mg per 1000mg capsule has been shown to have almost twice the anti-inflammatory activity of a concentrated brand.  Trinity Bioactives in New Zealand conducted the laboratory study.

Total DHA Content

DHA is a nutrient needed for the brain and eyes to repair damaged cells as life goes by.  It is essential for normal brain and visual development in fetuses, infants and children.

The average brand provides 120mg of DHA per 1000mg capsule.  The best fish oil supplement provides 280mg at the same dosage.

Total EPA Content

Scientists say that DHA is needed for brain cell production and that EPA is needed for brain function.  Both are needed to reduce depressive symptoms.  Both are necessary for improving heart and cardiovascular health.

The average brand provides 180mg of EPA.  Some manufacturers believe that 120mg of EPA is sufficient as long as the DHA content is high.  Since DHA is a longer chain of fatty acids, it can easily be down converted into EPA if necessary.

Purity

The best fish oil supplement has been tested for impurities like mercury and PCBs.  No detectable level has been found.

The state of California is currently suing eight major manufacturers because their supplements contain enough PCBs to cause cancer.  Under California law, peoples should not be exposed to more than 90 nano-grams per day.

Independent testing of 10 major brands showed that three of them contained far more than that.  California is suing the other five, because the supplements contain PCBs and there is no label on the bottle indicating the risk.

If you go fishing in a river in some parts of Virginia and other states, you are likely to see a sign warning you about PCBs.  You will usually be advised to eat no more than one or two servings per week, because of this carcinogen.

The best fish oil supplement contains no PCBs, because it is something that you take every day.  You cannot limit the number of servings in order to avoid PCBs and still get the health benefits.

Other factors to consider include how fresh the oils are and what kind of species the oils are derived from.  Spoiled oils contain free radicals, a cause of cellular aging.  Larger species are more likely to contain mercury.

The best fish oil supplement manufacturers test for all of these things and fully disclose the information on their websites.  The other manufacturers have "no comment".

About the Author

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 http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.

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