| Fish oil pills come in all shapes, sizes and flavors. | | | | nutrients that tend to upset the stomach. |
| There are tablets with enteric coatings. Some are | | | | Omega3 fatty acids are easily absorbed and are |
| chewable. They usually have a fruity added | | | | not changed by stomach acid. They do not |
| flavoring. Gelatin capsules are most common. At | | | | normally cause stomach upset. So, there is no |
| one time, liquids were popular, but the taste was | | | | reason to pay extra for fish oil pills that have an |
| unappealing and most people found in difficult to | | | | enteric coating. |
| swallow. | | | | Basically, the gelatin capsules are your best bet. If |
| The better manufacturers do not provide a liquid | | | | you have trouble swallowing a 1000mg capsule, |
| form, because it is difficult to determine an | | | | you may need to look for a manufacturer that |
| accurate dosage. If the oil is concentrated, less | | | | provides a smaller one. Some manufacturers go |
| than a teaspoon is needed. | | | | as low as 300mg per capsule. Of course, you'll |
| An enteric coating is unnecessary, as long as the | | | | need to take more of them to get the same |
| oils are fresh. Freshness can be verified by | | | | amount of omega-3 fatty acids. |
| viewing a manufacturer's official certificate of | | | | Some people do not realize that the omega3 |
| analysis or COA. Copies are typically posted on | | | | content varies from one supplement to the next. |
| their websites. The listing that you want to look | | | | Just because it provides 1000mg of oils does not |
| for is total oxidation. It should be less than 17 | | | | mean that it provides 1000mg of omega3s. In |
| MEQ/KG. | | | | fact, the highest percentage that you will generally |
| If the oils are highly oxidized they can contain | | | | see is 50% or 500mg per capsule. |
| large amounts of peroxide, which is a reactive | | | | If you want the best value for your money, look |
| molecule, typically referred to as a free radical, | | | | for fish oil pills that provide a minimum of 280mg |
| when it is within the human body. Free radicals | | | | of DHA per capsule. Studies indicate that DHA has |
| are one of the causes of cellular aging. That's the | | | | the most anti-inflammatory activity. It is most |
| long-term health threat of oxidation. The | | | | important to the brain. It has the greatest effect |
| short-term side effect is fishy tasting burps. | | | | on blood triglyceride levels and the body has a |
| Fish oil pills should be guaranteed to be burp-free, | | | | hard time producing it from other fatty acids. |
| without the addition of an added flavoring. | | | | The body can easily convert DHA to any other |
| Flavorings can mask the taste and odor of | | | | fatty acid, because it is the longest chained of |
| oxidized oils. So, you really don't want a | | | | them all. The only necessary step is to reduce the |
| fruity-flavored chewable. | | | | length of the chain. If you buy fish oil pills that are |
| Enteric coatings are necessary on nutrients that | | | | rich in DHA, you should notice an improved ability |
| are quickly degraded or changed by stomach acid. | | | | to concentrate, along with many other health |
| It is also necessary for B-vitamins and other | | | | benefits, too numerous to mention here. |