You’ve probably heard it a hundred times.  Fish and seafood are arguably the best omega-3 sources in the world.  But, for many reasons, people may be concerned about eating fish and seafood on a regular basis.

That’s probably one of the reasons that so many people take fish oil supplements.  It is the biggest selling dietary supplement in the US, according to surveys.  It’s more popular than green tea, ginkgo biloba or ginseng.  Only standard multi-vitamins are better sellers.

But, are people really getting what they are paying for?  Are they getting the best value for their money?  Would it make more sense just to eat a little fish every day?

As long as you stay on top of the consumption advisories for fish that are high in mercury or other contaminants, then including seafood in your diet is a good choice.  It is usually lower in total fat than other meat choices and it provides a variety of different nutrients.  But, if you want to be sure that you are getting enough EPA and DHA to meet your body’s daily needs then a fish oil supplement is the best choice.

The amount of total omega-3s in seafood varies, as does the DHA and EPA content.  Although you need both and some ALA, too, the best omega-3 is probably DHA.

DHA or Docosahexaenoic acid is found in large quantities in the brain and in the back of the eye.  Numerous studies have shown that fish oil lowers total blood triglycerides and increases the blood content of HDL (good) cholesterol.  At least one study has shown that DHA has a greater effect on those two health factors than EPA.

In studies concerning depression, DHA has been more effective than EPA, but the greatest benefits have been seen when both DHA and EPA are given to depressed individuals.  So, the best omega-3 for depression is a fish oil supplement rich in DHA and EPA.

What about other types of supplements?  Well, flax seed provides only ALA, which means it is not a “complete” supplement.  Marine algae provide only DHA.  So, it’s not complete, either.

The better fish oils provide DHA, EPA and the lesser known DPA or Docosapentaenoic acid, which is believed to be important to good cardiovascular health.  That’s truly the most complete supplement that you can get.  ALA is found in a number of different foods.  So, supplementation is really unnecessary.

In terms of getting value for your money, the best omega-3 supplement is one that is rich in DHA.  Looking at the grams of DHA per bottle and looking at the cost per bottle will help you determine value for your money.

You’ll also want to be sure that the supplement you choose is free of contaminants, such as mercury or PCBs.  The better manufacturers post a copy of an independent laboratory analysis proving the supplement’s purity, freshness and nutritional content.

So, while seafood is the best omega-3 source, a supplement is a better choice for most people.  It’s a more affordable and simply an easier option for insuring you are well nourished.

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.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/discover-the-best-omega3-1432980.html

Do you want good fish oils or do you want the best?  There are lots of good brands on the market.  But, if you’re like most people, you probably want the best value that you can get for your money.  In order to get that, you just need to do a little bit of research.

The most important nutritional components of the supplements are the omega-3 fatty acids.  Eicosapentaenoic acid and Docosahexaenoic acid or EPA and DHA are the two omega-3s that we cannot get from other food sources.  Plant foods, such as flax, olives and walnuts, provide only alpha-linolenic acid or ALA.

ALA is said to be the only essential long-chained polyunsaturated fatty acid, because the body can elongate it to form the others.  The problem is that the body doesn’t always make the necessary conversions.  Research has shown that supplementing ALA does not raise circulating blood levels of DHA and low levels are associated with a variety of different conditions, including schizophrenia and depression.

So, we really need DHA in our diets.  Good fish oils will provide some.  The best supplements provide a minimum of 280mg of DHA per 1000mg capsule.  The average adult can take two or three capsules per day, which would bring the DHA intake up to 560mg or more per day.

Some nutrients have tolerable upper limits.  Consuming more than that limit will cause unwanted symptoms.  In some cases, there will be toxicity.

There is no upper limit for omega-3 fatty acids.  There is some concern that taking too much fish oil could cause an increased bleeding risk.  But, no increased bleeding has been seen in people taking up to three grams (3000mg) per day.

There has also been concern for people taking aspirin or blood thinners.  But, a recent study showed that there was no risk among people taking good fish oils, aspirin and a blood thinner.  So, basically, there seems to be no risk, as long as people follow the manufacturer’s dosage recommendations.

There is some risk or potential for exposure to heavy metals and other contaminants.  So, it is important to find out what steps the manufacturer takes to address that risk.  They should have each batch of oil tested for contaminants, before they attempt to sell it.  But, not all manufacturers go to that effort.

If you want the best, not just the average or good fish oils, then you want to look for a manufacturer that tests each batch and makes the results of testing available to you.  Typically, they will post the results on their websites in the form of a certificate of analysis or COA.

A COA from an independent laboratory will also provide information concerning the amount of total omega-3s and individual ones like DHA that are included in each capsule.  In order to get the best value for your money, you want a relatively high concentration of DHA, as mentioned above.

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.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/how-to-find-the-good-fish-oils-1344967.html

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