The Single Most Important Factor In Evaluating Fish Oil Supplements
Numerous studies in recent times have underscored the significance of omega-3s for health. Our bodies cannot manufacture omega-3s, so we must get them in our diet. The most common way that people obtain omega-3 is by ingesting fish. However, this article will illustrate the trouble with deriving omega 3 fatty acids from fish, and then will explain what to look for in fish oil supplements.
Fish Isn’t a Safe Source of Omega-3 Anymore
Before the creation of fish oil supplements, eating fish was the sole way to get omega-3s in our diet. This was an acceptable method, but the truths of a post-industrial world means more water contamination. The unfortunate outcome is that fish have become tainted with all sorts of poisonous contaminants like mercury, PCBs, dioxins, arsenic and heavy metals. These contaminants play a part in a broad array of diseases such as blindness, cancer, birth defects and even death.
Omega-3 Supplements Are Also Contaminated
As a result of these complications, more and more people are turning to fish oil supplements as a solution. But, fish oil capsulesare handicapped by the same risks, despite the fact that the majority of fish oil makers claim that their products are purified. A recent investigation by the UK’s Food Standards Agency resulted in the retraction of numerous fish oil brands because of toxic levels of toxins!
Also, reflect upon this alarming report from Greenpeace about OmegaProtein, the biggest maker of fish oil products in the world. Their investigation reveals that OmegaProtein’s fish oil products were discovered to be contaminated by poisonous quantities of flame retardants! However, maybe we should take this information with a grain of salt considering Greenpeace’s ideological leanings, but if true, it is extremely frightening!
Now that you are aware of many of the dangers possible in fish oil supplements, what can you do about it? Luckily, there are a handful of guiding principles that make it simple to evaluate an omega-3 supplement for strength and cleanliness.
The Best of the Best: The International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS) Program
The best method to find out if an omega-3 product is a pure, quality supplement is by choosing one that’s been frequently tested by the International Fish Oil Standards program, or IFOS. The IFOS program is a voluntary 3rd-party testing organization that measures fish oil supplements according to 5 parameters:
* Passes All CRN and WHO Testing Categories
* Higher than 60% Concentration of Omega 3 Benefits
* Amount of Oxidation Less Than 75% of CRN Requirement
* PCB Amount Less Than 50% of CRN Standard
* Dioxin Quantity Less Than 50% of World Health Organization Requirement
These guidelines were selected because the standards employed by the CRN (Council for Responsible Nutrition) and WHO (World Health Organization) were not rigorous enough to permit larger doses of fish oil omega-3. To obtain the rewards of omega-3, one must often consume more than simply the 1,000 mg everyday that has been normally recommended. The rationale for why only 1 gram has been advocated, however, is due to adulteration risks. This is obviously not a problem if you’re taking an IFOS-certified product.
If you’re not consuming an IFOS-certified brand, you are certainly more in danger of consuming toxins. Chances are, in spite of the fact that your omega-3 supplement may profess to be decontaminated by “superior molecular distillation” (a marketing phrase), it may not be harmless to take. Since the International Fish Oil Standards organization reports the results of their tests on their website, you can research the best brands of fish oilon the market.
Learn in detail about fish oil supplements by visiting Brittany A.M. Wallace’s website. Brittany is a health and nutrition expert that studied fish oils for almost a decade.
