Fish Oil Supplements
I normally eat fish two to three times a week. I typically opt for fatty fish such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, or salmon. I eat fatty fish because of the high content of omega-3 fatty acids found in these particular types of fish. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that cannot be manufactured by the body and must be obtained from food. They regulate pain and swelling and help maintain proper blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
The American Heart Association recommends the consumption of 1g of fish oil daily for patients with coronary heart disease. While I don’t have coronary heart disease, I still choose to take this dosage every day. Since I don’t want to eat sardines every day I take a fish oil supplement. This is an easy way for me to ensure I get the recommended dosage of fish oil every day. (I don’t take fish oil on the days I know I am going to eat fish.) Fish Oil is derived from the tissues of oily fish and naturally contains the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Side Effects
- Some people complain about indigestion and fishy burps when taking a fish oil supplement.
- There is some concern about toxic substances in fish such as mercury. These concerns have been addressed by the industry and good quality fish oil should not contain these toxins.
When purchasing fish oil dietary supplements I recommended looking for a label certifying the product to be distilled, pharmaceutical grade, and free of mercury and other toxins. I use Nature’s Bounty Fish Oil.
Last Updated on April 14th, 2008
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