The only safe kind of fish oil to consume is mercury free fish oil. This means that the oil has been refined using the only process that is known to remove all of the many toxins from the oil such as mercury, lead, PCBs and dioxins. In order to further purify the oil, it should then be put through a further proprietary process called molecular distillation.
The distillation process extracts all of the remaining toxins from the oil, but as it does not affect the omega 3 content, the remaining oil is still very beneficial to you. Of course, it is only wise to check the labels when shopping to ensure you are not buying an inferior product.
Mercury free fish oil helps to prevent numerous diseases by lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It helps to prevent the formation of blood clots and also minimizes the risk of artery damage from forming.
The brain is made up of about a third of the essential fatty acids in your brain, and many of the membranes need omega 3 to regulate the flow of nutrients into the brain.
For these reasons, many doctors recommendMercury Free Fish Oilto supplement their patients with, especially people who have cognitive health issues or who are concerned about the effects of mercury on the brain. It is often given to expectant mothers to prevent the negative effects that mercury may have on the fetus.
It also helps to prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, but not because it improves memory, but because it helps the body protect itself from the onset of each of those diseases.
Looking for a mercury free fish oil supplement? Let’s look at some of the ones on the market. Some of the better supplements use a combination of oils from hoki fish and tuna.
That combination has been shown to provide up to 2 1/2 times the health benefits when compared to other products on the market. That’s pretty good, but the most amazing health benefit of fish oil is due to the DHA and EPA omega 3 fatty acids.
DHA and EPA are the specific omega 3 fatty acids that have been shown to have the highest percentage of health benefits for everything from heart disease to cancer.
For example, scientists just learned that it is a powerful anti-inflammatory. This means it helps the body to heal itself like you are building a house.
Don’t be fooled by some of the fancy marketing there are today. Check the label to see if the oil has been purified and to see how much DHA and EPA is in the oil. The basic fact of what you will find on the label is the total amount of omega 3s and the percent of each one.
For example, you might find a fish oil supplement with 1000mg of omega 3. Only 50% of that is fish oil. The other 50% is everything else -adium, food coloring, fragrance, preservatives and oils from the cabbage. Really, what percent of the fish oil does the label say is fish oil – the rest is filler.
So, if you see a label that looks like this, you know you won’t be getting enough omega 3s with that brand:
EPA: 500mg, DHA: 800mg, ALA: 0mg
Total EPA: 1000mg
Total DHA: 500mg
Total ALA: 400mg
shifting the ratio around so that all three groups are similar because they all have omega 3 in them. Flaxseed will have ALA but not enough to be included in a fish oil supplement.
You also want to see how fresh the product is. The best manufacturers immediately process the oils after being caught. They have each batch tested to ensure that it is fresh enough for human consumption and they guarantee that no oxidation has occurred. A batch of fish oils that has been caught in polluted water and quickly processed is the best way to guarantee this.
Purity
Purity is another thing to be aware of when choosing a brand of fish oil. The product should be neither contaminated nor high in nitrogen. Fish have nitrogen in the form of harmful dihydrogen sulfide that must be removed through an enzymatic process.
This is why many people think that fish are more dangerous than they are because the supplement can be contaminated with such harmful substances. But the reality is that fish oil is the safer way to get omega 3 fatty acids. All of the health benefits that come from taking these essential fatty acids are still available even if the source is not as pure as it could be.
Women are more susceptible to heart disease, arthritis and allergies than men, but the good news is that natural fish oil supplements can help to reduce the risk of developing these conditions. Taking the time to learn how to choose the best fish oil supplement sometimes can mean the difference between a healthy life and a damaged one.
The information on this site is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always consult your healthcare provider if you have questions regarding your medical condition or treatment.
While the information on this site is aimed at helping people make informed decisions about their health, it's important to consult your doctor or other qualified health care provider if you have any questions about any medical condition. Before making any changes in your health care plan or treatment, always speak with your doctor.
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All of the content on this site is presented for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice.