I hadn’t ever considered taking a fish oil supplement before. In all honesty, I didn’t even know there was such a thing! Fish oil supplements are becoming more and more popular now that the discovery of “good” fats and Omega 3 fatty acids has been recognized. These are essential fatty acids that our bodies need. A great source of these fatty acids are oily fish such as salmon and mackerel. It has been found that these essential fatty acids help improve the functioning of the eyes and brain, help relieve diabetes symptoms, help keep a healthy immune system and reduce the risk of heart disease.
If you are like me and tend to turn your nose up at the thought of biting into a piece of fish then what better way to get your Omega 3 than a fish oil supplement! Be aware that not all fish oil supplements are the same and in fact some can even be dangerous! It’s very important that you are aware of this and know how to choose a quality product.
When looking for fish oil supplements it’s important to look for the active ingredients it contains. Fish oil supplements contain two different types of the omega 3 fatty acids: EPA and DHA. They are both important nutrients but you should look for one that contains higher levels of EPA. You will probably have to do a lot of searching because most supplements give you more DHA. While label searching keep an eye out for the supplements that offer Vitamin A and Vitamin E, which are other important nutrients and vitamins that your body needs. These can be harmful in large doses or when used with certain medical conditions.
Make sure that you know where the fish came from. A lot of fish contain mercury and other heavy metals that pollute a fish’s natural environment and should be avoided. These metals can be found in fish oil supplements so keep that in mind. You should look for a supplement that uses fish from pristine waters.
Do not assume that a fish is safe just because it came from clean water. A fish oil supplement should be molecularly distilled to remove an additional impurities, this will make it free of dangerous chemicals. Another thing to keep in mind is you should look for a supplement that is pharmaceutically graded. Any product that lists that it is molecularly distilled and pharmaceutically graded is a better quality product and probably free of any potentially harmful chemicals.
A word to the wise, consult your doctor before you start taking any supplement. It’s very very important to seek your doctor’s approval before beginning a fish oil supplement because a too high dosage can cause serious side effects!
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