Fish Oil – Finding Value In Fish Oil Supplements
Fish Oil Finding Value In Fish Oil Supplements
We all try to save a few dollars here and there by comparing prices and trying to find the best bargain. In fact, many of us get up at the wee hours of the morning just for the privilege of standing in line to buy that new television set or computer at a discounted price.
So it just seems to make good sense to believe we can find the best deal on fish oil by clipping coupons, looking for bargains, or waiting for a sale at our favorite shopping venue. Or does it?
When I first started doing research on fish oil supplements I pretty much thought that all fish oil supplements were about the same. I mean after all a fish is a fish, isn't it?
To my surprise what I started to find that price was generally a good indicator of quality and potential benefits.
What makes fish oil so healthy?
The benefits we receive for fish oil supplements has to do with two omega 3 fatty acids. They are docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. That would be DHA and EPA for short. Additionally, the lesser known omega 3 fatty acid docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) is thought to be beneficial as well, though little research has been conducted on DPA.
Of the two primary amino acids DHA is the one that has been researched the most, and is generally credited with many of the most well known health benefits, such as preventing disease, promoting cardiovascular health, improving blood pressure reading, alleviating allergies, and helping with general skin conditions.
These facts lead us to the conclusion that the higher the DHA content in our fish oil supplement the greater the health benefits will be!
But an interesting thing has happened as DHA has emerged as the top dog in the pack of omega 3 fatty acids, and that is many well known, and well respected, fish oil manufacturers have stopped breaking down DHA and EPA on their labels, opting instead for total omega 3 fatty acids.
Why?
While no one really knows for sure, one could speculate that they are using the cheapest and lowest quality fish which yield lower levels of DHA and higher levels of EPA. The two best examples of fish meeting this criteria are sardines and anchovies. Often when you see another higher quality fish (mackerel, hoki) listed as an ingredient the price will increase by at least 20 percent.
What about toxins?
Toxins are another serious concern due the pollution in our oceans and the lax manufacturing guidelines which allow a bit of toxins to slip through. Examples of dangerous toxins found in fish are mercury, organochlorine contaminants, dioxins, chemical solvents, and plastic residue. Recent studies have linked mercury to brain illness and plastic residue to cancer.
Pricing and other tidbits
What I seem to be finding is that omega 3 fish oil supplements which are around a $15 price point tend to have higher omega 3 fatty acid levels, and in some cases, contain higher quality fish; though most still contain anchovies and sardines. Those under $10 may contain fillers such as soy.
I was able to find only one product that didn't contain either anchovies or sardines, and that was a molecularly distilled fish oil manufactured by Xtend Life made from a blend of hoki and tuna. This product also had the highest DHA content (280 mg) and the highest total omega 3 content (500 mg).
In conclusion, when it comes to omega 3 fish oil, and its many benefits, you really do get what you pay for, so be smart and read the label before you buy.
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