subject: The Dark Side Of Fish Oil [print this page] First you need to understand that omega 3 fish oil has a lot of benefits. It belongs to the essential fatty acids which our body desperately needs. Our body does not have any capability of producing the omega-3 so we rely have to rely on external sources.
The fact that it is labeled essential fatty acid means that our body really needs it and the lack of it could result in a variety of health consequences.
Among the known benefits of taking omega-3 are the reduction of the risks of having heart disease, possible reduction in the development of cancer cells, improved eyesight and a reduction in the incidence of depression.
I could name many other benefits but needless to say, this is one nutrient you should be taking on a daily basis.
But unknown to quite few, fish oil supplements do have a "darker side" too. The side effects typically manifests when one overdoses or takes a poor grade of the supplement. Sometimes that body just needs to get used to the fish oil and once it has adjusted, the side effects disappear.
Some of the minor side effects include a fishy after taste and diarrhea. These two often appear during the first few days of taking the supplement. But in case they don't, changing brands might help.
Make sure the supplement you are taking is in pharmaceutical grade fish oil. This "grade" should keep that fishy burp and after taste to a minimum. Pharmaceutical grade fish oil also has the dangerous contaminants removed from the supplement.
You should check the expiry date of your supplement too.
Some people suggest keeping the supplement in a freezer to prevent the various gastrointestinal side effects. But if you are taking a pharmaceutical grade omega 3 supplement, this isn't necessary.
Fish oil is a blood thinner so bleeding a little more than usual from a cut is something that you may experience. This is not something that can simply changed by changing brands.
Fish oil can lower blood pressure and might cause blood pressure to drop too low in people who are being treated with blood pressure-lowering medications. You should also watch out for signs of internal bleeding like the presence of blood in the stool and vomit.
However, by and large, the benefits of fish oil typically far outweighs the negative. Furthermore, the side effects are typically minor. This supplement is far too important to ignore and should be a part of any healthy lifestyle.
