Lower inflammation. Reduced risk of heart disease. Healthy brain function. Lower blood pressure. There are so many benefits associated with taking a regular fish oil supplement. And at Amy Brenner, MD & Associates we’re 100% on board!
But, wait! Before you go stock your medicine cabinets full of fish oil you should understand that not all supplements are created equally.
Here are some key factors that you want to consider when picking out a fish oil that’s going to be safe, high-quality, and effective…
What form of fish oil is it?
What many people don’t realize is that there are two forms of fish oil – Ethyl Ester and Triglyceride. Without diving into all of the details it’s important to know that Ethyl Ester is synthetic while Triglyceride is a natural form of Omega-3s. Ethyl Ester is cheaper to produce, but it doesn’t absorb in the body as well as Triglycerides. To put it into perspective you would typically need to two Ethyl Ester fish oil capsules to achieve the effectiveness of one Triglyceride capsule. When it comes down to it, we say stick to the way that nature intended by choosing Triglyceride fish oils.
Is it fresh?
When unsaturated fats, such as Omega-3s, are exposed to heat, light, and oxygen they become oxidized. The result … rancid fish oil that will likely do your body more harm than good. In order to protect yourself find a manufacturer that processes their capsules in small, frequent batches to maintain freshness. On top of that be sure to take your fish oil prior to the expiration date listed on the bottle.
What’s the source?
Almost all fish concentrate mercury in their bodies, but you can reduce your exposure by ensuring that your fish oil is sourced from small fish such as anchovies, sardines, and mackerels. This is because mercury travels through the food chain so the older and larger the fish is, the more likely it is to be contaminated.
How potent is it?
Don’t be fooled by those 1000mg fish oil supplements at your local Walgreens. More specifically check the label to determine the concentration of both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These Omega-3s are the most important ingredients as they provide all of the wonderful health benefits.
Is it sustainable?
Over-fishing is becoming a huge problem around the globe. As consumers, we can help protect at-risk fish populations by choosing products {such as fish oil} that are harvested in a sustainable manner.
We know that this seems like a lot to think about! Lucky for you we’ve already scoured the market in search of the best fish oil. After much research Omega fish oil capsules by AB Signature Health gets our vote. Along with being extremely pure and low in toxicity, one of our favorite things about these capsules is that they don’t leave you with nasty breath. We even chewed them to make sure! Better us than you, right?!
It’s come time to check your medicine cabinet to ensure that your fish oil capsules are a quality triglyceride form. If not stop by Amy Brenner, MD & Associates where we stock Omega on the regular. From there you can look forward to all of the amazing health benefits that Omega-3’s can provide!