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Nutritional Wonders - Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules

Fish oil is not generally known for its great taste, which is why the demand and necessity for Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules came to be. Lets face it, not many of us are brave enough to stand in the face of fish oil and swallow a whole spoonful without any reservations. Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules are a great way to avoid that ‘fishy’ taste and go straight for the capsule that will provide you with all the benefits of adding Omega 3 to your diet.

Not all fish oils are created equal, selecting the wrong supplement can mean the difference between vibrant health and no health benefits at all. More over, some supplements on the market have been found to contain contaminants and toxins that can impair your health. Don't just take our word, just an authority as the FDA recognises this industry wide problem.

There is more to learn however, many omega 3 supplements being sold can actually impair your health. The truth is - there are many considerations that one needs to be aware of before even using omega 3 fish oil. With all the hyped up information available, it is understandable that many consumers aren't even aware of these important considerations. The good news is you can finally find out what you need to know on omega 3 and improving your health.

You, the consumer, needs to ask questions when it comes to the purity of fish oils, these considerations apply to all dietary supplements

What are the benefits of fish oil capsules?

The benefits of fish oil are well documented, infact, there are numerous studies around omega 3 alone and its known benefits for ones health. The brain needs adequate levels of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) an essential fatty acid to repair and rebuild cells. Fish has been known as brain food for some time because it harbours this particular fatty acid which is crucial for brain health.

Scientific studies show that the fatty acids found in some fish promote optimal brain function.  Increasing the amount of omega-3s you consume may improve ones memory and general IQ. 

Depression, multiple sclerosis and attention deficit disorder have all been linked to low levels of DHA in a persons diet. However, the health benefits of omega 3 fish oil supplements go way beyond brain health.

RECOMMENDED OMEGA 3 FISH OIL PRODUCT -- The One We Use Ourselves. Xtend-Life's Omega 3 Esters are the  Best Omega 3 Fish Oil we've uncovered to date.

Lets look at some opinions on DHA from important and valuable sources from professionals in the nutrition field.

"Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial because they provide fluidity to cell membranes and improve communication between brain cells. Omega-3s also reduce the clotting ability of platelets, thus potentially decreasing the incidence of heart attacks and strokes.

Two very important omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). They are found in seafood, especially mackerel, salmon, striped bass, rainbow trout, halibut, tuna, and sardines. In the body, DHA is found mostly in the brain, retina, and in sperm. DHA plays an important role in vision. B) Omega-6 fatty acids are made from linoleic acid, a fatty acid found in vegetable oils such as corn, safflower, cottonseed, and sunflower.

Mayonnaise and salad oils normally contain a great amount of omega-6 fatty acids. Unlike omega-3s, which are concentrated in the brain, omega-6s are found in most tissues in the body. The double bond of an omega-6 fatty acid starts six carbons from the left. Most Americans generally have a much higher intake of the omega-6s than the omega-3s."
Mind Boosters by Dr Ray Sahelia MD, page 69

"One of the most important of these fats is called docosohexiaonic acid or DHA. This fat plays an important role in the formation of the synaptic connections within the brain. These connections allow the various parts of the brain to communicate with each other and communicate with the body as well."
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 34

"Adequate levels of DHA are required for proper brain and eye development and function. DHA is important for signal transmission in the brain, eye, and nervous system".
Heart Disease by Burton Goldberg, page 46

On Sept 8th, 2004, the Food and Drug Administration issued a Press Release Announcing:  "Qualified Health Claims for Omega-3 Fatty Acids" In the FDA press release was this remark:  "Coronary heart disease is a significant health problem that causes 500,000 deaths annually in the United States," said Dr. Lester M. Crawford, Acting FDA Commissioner. "This new qualified health claim for omega-3 fatty acids should help consumers as they work to improve their health by identifying foods that contain these important compounds."

"Essential fatty acids are important in both stroke prevention and during the repair of brain tissue damaged by stroke. The brain is almost entirely composed of fatty acids. The Framingham study confirmed that the friendly fats have a beneficial effect on stroke prevention. Essential fatty acids include alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) found in perilla and flaxseed oils and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) found in cold-water fish oil.

Fish oils reduce inflammation due to their high content of DHA and EPA. Fish oil acts as platelet aggregation inhibitors as well as triglyceride lowering agents".
Disease Prevention And Treatment by Life Extension Foundation, page 533

"DHA is not only very critical in brain development but also in maintenance of the brain later in life. Don't forget, the brain is constantly restructured throughout life, even into the extremes of age. Unfortunately, because of food-processing methods and industrial raising of animals as meat sources, most omega-3 fatty acids have been removed from our foods".
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 315

"Fish oil is probably the most important dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are vital nutrients. These fatty acids reduce inflammation, protect against the abnormal clotting associated with heart attacks, inhibit cancer, and protect brain function. There may be other benefits, too: a 1992 study published in the journal Lancet, for example, suggested that omega-3 fatty acids prolong pregnancy by a few days and improve birth weights".
Ask Dr Weil by Andrew Weil MD, page 92

An Alarming Omega 3 Fatty Acid Statistic: Researchers believe the majority of Americans are deficient in Omega 3's.

"The basic building blocks of our brain cells are essential fatty acids such as EPA and DHA from fish oil. These fatty acids are also used as fuel for brain metabolism and help control the chronic inflammatory processes involved in degenerative brain disorders".
Disease Prevention And Treatment by Life Extension Foundation, page 22

As you can see from the excerpts taken from credible sources for nutritional information, we need both the fatty acids EPA and DHA from a fish oil supplement, not only that, we need one that is high in DHA in particular. Unfortunately, not many products sold on the market today contain DHA in high levels.

To be honest, most fish oils sold today are sold as rancid because companies know little about the manufacturing process of dietary supplements as a whole. The result is oils that are used from all over the world that quickly go rancid.

Omega-3 fatty acids consumed daily may even prevent and relieve the symptoms of the condition osteoarthritis.  In fact, the American Arthritis Foundation states that fish oil dietary supplements are recommended for those who suffer with Arthritis and for those who do not, as a basic preventative measure.

Some studies even indicate that certain types of cancer may be linked to a person having low levels of omega-3s in their diet.

Maybe you’ve even seen or heard of Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules on television or the radio, and thought about getting some, or seen it in the local grocery store.

These products are picky to choose in the way that not all fish oils can be in the same classification of quality. It is highly important that you purchase pharmaceutical grade fish oil. By doing so, you ensure that you are buying a product that contains the actual ingredients. We have learnt that the manufacturing process for supplements in New Zealand is the most stringent in the world, far exceeding that of the FDA (Food & Drug Administration).

What Makes the Difference Between Grades of Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules?

A process called ‘molecular distillation’ is the fundamental element difference when selecting Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules. This process is the very process that takes the fish and removes the toxins and other contaminants in our environment, such as heavy metals like mercury and other metals and PCBs.

This pollution isn’t entirely man made either, there is also an abundance of natural pollution found in waters and it is essential that these be removed from fish oil before human consumption. When you purchase your pharmaceutical grade Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules that have been molecularly distilled, you’re ensured the highest quality product available.

This is not the only reason however, that Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules can vary significantly aside from the distillation processes, and that is that - like the general category of ‘meat’ in which chicken and beef vary in protein content, not all types of fish have the same content of the essential fatty acids which are called EPA and DHA and this varies hugely depending on geographical location.

The best kind of Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules are those that are found to be molecularly distilled, remember this is an important element of this process, and to be found in extremely unspoiled locations, such as the capsules that can be found from fish oil products made from New Zealand.

Are there any side effects?

The best type of fish oil you will come across is tasteless and odor free. They are molecularly distilled to remove all impurities and harmful contaminants from the oil.  We advise that you follow the manufacturer's or your doctor's instructions and always consume your supplements of choice with a meal to prevent stomach upset and to insure that the supplements are being absorbed correctly.

Anyone who suffers from any medical condition of any kind requiring a doctor's treatment or medication should discuss the appropriate dosage, before consuming any dietary supplements, even basic multi vitamins. 

Once you have chosen a supplement to purchase, then you need to decide who to buy it from. 

Below are questions you should be asking yourself about the manufacturer:

Are you purchasing from a reputable company that sells a wide array of health supplements and has the company been in business for some time? 

Many companies on the market selling vitamins are no more than middle men.  You will find that they purchase bulk raw ingredients from a wholesale distributor and have little quality control. Some companies buy supplements already packaged in an unlabeled bottle and add their own label, this is appalling to be honest, and its surprising these companies get away with it, after all, its us as consumers who are the ones that suffer. 

Some even dilute the active ingredients in order to increase profits.  Random samples by consumer groups have shown that many supplements being sold do not contain what is printed on the label. Reputable companies guarantee quality, content and customer satisfaction. Learn more about this industry wide problem from a no less an authority than the FDA.

Then, there are considerations that relate specifically to Omega-3 supplements. You, the consumer should ask:

What are the ingredients contained in the supplement?