Fish Oil Supplements- Truth or Myth?

Fish oil supplements are one of the hottest supplements on the market today. We can pop a pill into our mouths and get all the health benefits of eating fish, right? Not so fast…

The good:

Fish oil has been shown to boost brainpower, lower inflammation in the body, and reduce the chance of having heart disease. Most doctors recommend eating one to two servings of fish per week. Anchovies, herring, salmon, and sardines are all great choices, since they are loaded with good oils. If you’re not a huge fan of fish, doctors suggest taking one gram of fish oil per day as a supplement. The supplement should have two types of omega 3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Fish oil supplements are usually made from small fish, so you don’t have to worry too much about exposure to mercury and other contaminants.

The bad:

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Many fish oil supplements sold in stores are oxidized, which lowers the quality of the oil. Best case scenario, this means that the fish oil will not work its magic. Worst case scenario, the oxidized (degraded) oils can cause health problems, as they have been linked to organ damage, growth problems, and damage to blood vessels in animals. We want to prevent more health problems, not cause them!

Also, most supplements had lower amounts of DHA and EPA than claimed on their labels when they were actually tested.

Fish Oil Supplements conclusion:

These supplements might not be worth all the hype- no matter what the expiration date says on the label or the cost. It is best to feast on a nice salmon dinner to get your dose of omega 3 fatty acids! Here at ETG, if we don’t have access to fresh fish, we take fermented cod liver oil instead.

If you know someone who takes fish oil, please share this article with them!

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