There’s been a lot of talk in the news lately about the benefits of Fish Oil. It seems that fish oil is the new miracle cure for many ailments such as depression, memory loss, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease as well as ADHD and ADD and many others.

The fact is Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids, which is derived directly from fish oil, is not new at all but has always been required to stay healthy (in other words, it’s not an option!) just like other nutrients – minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, fats and even water, essential fatty acids are needed in our diets to maintain proper health.

No doubt, omega 3 essential fatty acids are extremely important and chances are you’re not getting enough of it.

Our bodies cannot make essential fatty acids so we have to get them through a dietary source. Fish are the main source of omega 3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA – the important O3’s for proper brain and eye health). Some nuts, oils and vegetables contain Omega 6 fatty acids which when consumed can covert to Omega 3, however the problem is many times are bodies don’t metabolize O6’s efficiently so we don’t get the essential fatty acids (O3’s) we need for optimal brain function. This is why we need to take fish oil supplements.

So you’re ready to improve your health, but wait.

How do you know which product to choose? Do you just run down to Walmart and pick the cheapest fish oil you can find?

No, you don’t, and I’ll tell you why.

There are many impurities in fish due to the heavy pollution in our oceans, fish are contaminated with toxins such as heavy metals and mercury. The cheaper fish oil you might find at Walmart are low quality and are not guaranteed to be free of these toxins. They may also contain additives such as saturated fat and artificial perservatives. Another problem is the manufacturing process. Lower quality fish oil can become oxidized during processing which will cause the fish oil to become rancid. A label stating ‘pharmaceutical grade’ doesn’t neccessarily mean it’s high quality.

A good quality fish oil will not have a fishy smell, it will list the ingredients including the total amount of Omega-3’s and the amounts of EPA and DHA.

High Quality Fish Oils that meet these standards which I recommend are:

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(part 1 of this article)
Omega 3 Fish Oil Buyers Guide for ADHD and Depression (part 2) continued…

4. Amount of DHA and EPA

The relative proportions of DHA and EPA omega 3 fatty acids.

Of the 50-70% of the fish oil that is omega 3 oil almost all of it should be either EPA or DHA.

The most common type of oil used to treat disorders such as ADHD and depression is Omega 3 Oil that contains more EPA than DHA. However the research is very inconclusive and many people claim that oil which is higher or almost completely DHA is very effective too.

It is probably best to start with an oil that has EPA and DHA in a proportion of between 3:2 and 3:1 EPA to DHA ratio. A ratio of 2:1 is also pretty common and a good choice.

An example breakdown of a 2:1 ratio capsule would be:

* Total fish oil: 1000mg

* Total omega 3 oil: 620mg

* Total EPA: 400mg

* Total DHA: 200mg

Many companies are now offering fish oils containing omega 3 oils that are almost entirely EPA with very little DHA. There is very little evidence that these are better although they may help some people more than others. DHA is certainly vitally important for growing infants and children. 8% of the human brain is actually made out of DHA!

An important thing to note is that the nutritional information given above and found on the labeling of different Omega 3 products probably doesn’t tell the whole story. One brand of fish oil may ‘work for you’ while another may not even if the nutritional information given with the two products is identical or almost identical – I know this from personal experience.

It seems likely that there are things about fish oil which we don’t understand. The most important thing is to experiment and find an Omega 3 supplement which works for you. If you are thinking of using fish oil to treat disorders such as depression or ADHD, it is a good idea to try a range of products separately over a number of weeks. The positive effects of fish oil on these disorders can often be seen within the first few days of use so a week or two is an adequate trial period for a fish oil. Sometimes people feel very pronounced positive effects within hours if high doses (e.g. 4-8 grams) are taken.

Don’t start taking a very high dose to begin with though because it could make you feel sick. Also avoid taking high doses if you are going into hospital for an operation because fish oils can thin the blood.

5. Blended/Mixed Oils

Some companies sell blends of fish oils along with plant oils such as Evening Primrose and Starflower Oil. These provide a type of fatty acid called GLA. There is some evidence that this can help with disorders such as ADHD and depression.

Omega oils blended in this way are often sold as ‘Omega 3,6,9′. Some have proprietary names such as the heavily advertised (and prohibitively expensive) ‘Eye-Q’ product produced by Equazen.

6. Liquid or Capsules

You can buy Omega 3 fish oil in liquid form or oil in liquid form. The same goes for flax seed oil, evening primrose and starflower oil. The capsules can be hard to swallow especially the larger 1000mg ones. Some manufacturers make smaller capsules which can be chewed before you swallow them but these tend to contain artificial sweeteners and flavours.

Buying omega oils as a liquid is a good idea for many people if they have problems with the capsules. It can be easier to persuade children to take the liquid form on a spoon or it can be mixed with drinks or food. Bottles of liquid fish oil require refrigeration after opening.

What is Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil?

‘Pharmaceutical Grade’ doesn’t really mean anything specific. Currently, it generally refers to high quality, high strength, high purity fish oils. Do not buy something on the strength of it claiming to be ‘Pharmaceutical Grade’ though as the term could easily start being misused.

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