| Before you buy fish oil, take a few minutes to | | | | tasting burps and there is a risk to your long-term |
| read this article. If you are not careful about the | | | | health, because oxidized oils contain free radicals. |
| quality of your supplements, then you could be | | | | If you currently have some supplements in your |
| wasting your money or even damaging your | | | | home, you can check for oxidation by cutting one |
| health. You need to be sure that the supplement | | | | open and "sniffing". It should not smell like rotten |
| is free of contaminants, has low oxidation levels, | | | | fish or an artificial flavor like lemon. Companies |
| has high omega3 content and has good | | | | often add lemon, lime or another flavoring to |
| anti-inflammatory activity. This article covers how | | | | mask the taste and smell of rancid oils. |
| to determine those things. | | | | Determining Omega3 Content |
| Checking For Contaminants | | | | The omega3 content will also be listed on the |
| It is simply not good enough for a company to | | | | COA. Some manufacturers list it on the label, as |
| "say" that their products are free of mercury and | | | | well. Others list only the amount of oils that are in |
| other contaminants. They should be able to | | | | each capsule. Not all of those oils are omega3 |
| "prove" it. In order to do that, they can have | | | | fats. You want to be sure to buy fish oil that |
| testing conducted by an independent laboratory to | | | | provides at least 500mg of omega3s per 1000mg |
| obtain an official certificate of analysis or COA. | | | | of oil. |
| A copy of the COA should be posted on the | | | | The manufacturer should also list the amount of |
| manufacturer's website. If you don't see it, don't | | | | individual fatty acids (DHA, EPA and DPA) that are |
| place the order. It just doesn't make sense to | | | | in each capsule. DHA is the most important to the |
| buy fish oil that costs as much as $60 per bottle, | | | | brain and has more triglyceride reduction activity |
| when there is no guarantee of purity. | | | | than EPA. |
| The COA will list mercury, PCBs, dioxins, lead, | | | | Judging Anti-inflammatory Activity |
| arsenic and a variety of other toxins that are | | | | The manufacturer can pay to have their |
| known to pollute our waters and our fish. On the | | | | supplements scientifically tested for |
| line next to each contaminant, it should say "not | | | | anti-inflammatory activity. Most companies, |
| detected". Molecular distillation can insure low | | | | particularly those in the US, don't bother. |
| contaminant levels, but some naturally occurring | | | | Companies in the US are not allowed to mention |
| oils are safe enough to take "as is". No distillation is | | | | the anti-inflammatory activity of the supplement, |
| required. | | | | because that would be a medicinal benefit. |
| Finding Out About Oxidation | | | | If you buy fish oil that has been proven to have |
| Oxidation will also be listed on a COA. You should | | | | a high degree of anti-inflammatory activity, there |
| not buy fish oil that has a high level of oxidation. It | | | | will be benefits to your joints and every cell of |
| has to do with how fresh the oils were when | | | | your body, because inflammation is one of the |
| they were encapsulated. If the total oxidation | | | | causes of cellular aging. |
| level is over 17 MEQ/KG, then you will get fishy | | | | |