Are All Fish Oil Supplements All They're Cracked Up To Be?
Fish oil pills have become increasingly popular among health enthusiasts. Significant clinical studies have been conducted validating the premise that the consumption of fish oil supplements with the corresponding Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA) such as EPA and DHA slow the progression of heart disease.
I now know such fish oil health benefits are good for our heart health (not to mention its other health advantages), but there is a downside. In order to get long-chained Omega-3 fatty acids, we need to get it from fish.
The problem is most of the world's ocean waters, even in the supposedly untouched Arctic Ocean, have become polluted by industrialized pollution. The significance? Large levels of toxins such as mercury, dioxin, and high levels of contaminants in the form of PCBs have been found in many species of fish. This is a key point about fish oil supplements.
(This is why the U.S. FDA recommends limiting one's consumption of fish and rightly so.) The theme of this informational page is to notify you that you need pharmaceutical grade capsules tested for mercury -- thus giving us all the health benefits of the fish without dangerous toxins like mercury entering our systems.
Capsules Analyzed for Mercury
There are three main things you need to know before buying any such capsules. They are:
Obtain only molecularly distilled capsules
Ideally, ensure the oil comes from fish in unspoiled waters.
Get only pharmaceutical type quality gels that are actually made at pharmaceutical GMP-compliant facilities. These are the same exact standards prescription medication makers have had to adhere to. Pharmaceutical grade like quality oil is dependable.
Let's succinctly take these one at time. What is molecular distillation? In essence, it is a mechanism that uses centrifugal force to separate unwanted elements from the oil. It is a purifier, if you will, eliminating toxins like mercury or dioxin from the beneficial oil, which is then encapsulated and sold as fish oil gels.
Key Point
Never purchase fish oil gels that aren't molecularly distilled! You are literally putting known toxins into your system when you consume non-molecularly distilled fish oil pills. While molecular distillation is clearly vital, so is the source of the fish. Most specialists urge never buying fish oil supplements made from North Atlantic fish due to the high toxicity of the fish.
The more untouched the ocean waters, the healthier. It's crucial to know that fish oil capsules tested for mercury is important but it's not the only consideration when choosing your fish oil supplements. Not all fish oil supplements are created equal. There is a glaring difference between pharmaceutical grade fish oil and non-pharmaceutical fish oil. Most of the oils sold as supplements come from sardines, anchovies, and mackerel caught off the coast of north and South America.
The fish are then turned into fish meal, which is where the oil is extracted. The oil is then sent to refineries for total processing. Between the time it is processed to when it reaches its appointed destination, the delicate oil is in a speedy state of decomposition.
Ideally, the time between processing and production should be minimal but oftentimes it is not. It would be best to produce the fish oil supplements near where the fish are taken but that doesn't happen.
Bottom line? The fish oil spoils -- quickly. Key Point: Make sure you're buying fish oil pills made from a fresh source.
Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil?
Pharmaceutical GMP-compliant facilities ensure you're getting the supreme oil available. These are the same exact standards prescription medication makers have had to adhere to as dictated by the FDA. Or else, you will be ingesting toxic fish oil. Toxicity in dietary supplements is out of control. You ought to have the best so don't settle for anything less than pharmaceutical grade like supplements.
I've discussed the importance of molecular distillation and of obtaining only pharmaceutical grade like quality supplements. These two criteria offer substantial safety as to the purity of the fish oil supplements, but there is another level of safety: The source of the fish. Listen to one company's approach to this problem.
Early in 2003, the company recognized these limitations and after a year of research, perfected a pure fish oil gel that addressed these issues! The result was a pure molecularly distilled oil ester with no contaminants with exceptionally high levels of DHA! This was made possible by using a cold deep water New Zealand fish called Hoki. This fish has naturally high levels of DHA which is further improved during the purification process. It is captured in the pristine Southern Ocean and is naturally free of toxins.
There you have it. If you're looking for an inexpensive, pharmaceutical grade like quality oil vitamin, then search for companies that offer GMP-compliant, pharmaceutical grade quality like fish oil. It should be scientifically constructed containing oil esters, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, DHA, EPA, and Vitamin E.
I've added such fish oil gels to my own supplement regime and you should too. It's very low-cost and I see the difference.