Fish Oil Supplements - Do You Need Them?

Omega 3 fatty acids, like those found in omega 3 fish oil supplements, are probably the most important fats for your health. A major reason for this is because they help suppress inflammation, a primary cause of many of the degenerative diseases so common today - heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, arthritis, and more.

Omega 3 supplements have been shown to be beneficial for a wide range of health issues, including:

• improved brain function
• improved blood sugar health
• increase in joint comfort
• lowers inflammation
• lowers blood triglycerides
• lowers LDL, raises HDL cholesterol
• healthier liver function
• relief of normal PMS symptom
• boosts your immune system
• offers healthy mood support
• improves skin, hair and nails

Typical modern day diets are usually lacking in omega 3 fats. Instead, we're consuming lots of omega 6 fats, largely through vegetable oils like corn and soy oil.

An imbalance of omega 3 and omega 6 in the diet leads to inflammation, which contributes to the onset of degenerative diseases. You can use omega 3 fish oil supplements to avoid the dangerous levels of mercury and other toxins in fish and still get your daily requirement of these essential fatty acids.

Dietary Sources of Omega 3

The best dietary sources of omega 3 are cold-water fish such as salmon, anchovies, cod, herring and sardines. Unfortunately, it's become difficult to find fish that are truly safe to eat. Due to environmental pollution, most fish today are contaminated with dangerous toxins like mercury, dioxins and PCBs. The FDA has warned consumers not to eat fish too often due to the levels of mercury present; they recommend that, for many species, one serving a month is all that is safe!

How Do You Judge the Quality of Your Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplement?

When you're purchasing a fish oil supplement, use the following criteria:
1. Choose name-brand products from reputable manufacturers. Cheap store-brands often have high levels of toxins and contaminants.
2. Look for natural sources that have been purified by molecular distillation.
3. Look for added antioxidants that will protect the oil from oxidation.
4. Always check the expiration date.

How Much Omega 3 Fish Oil Should You Take?

Be consistent -- supplement with a high-quality omega 3 fish oil supplement daily. If you eat at least two seafood servings a week and have no pressing health concerns, 500 mg each of EPA and DHA per day will be enough for general health needs. You could double that if you're looking for extra protection for your heart.

Typically, fish oil supplements will have different ratios of EPA to DHA; most of them have more EPA, in about a 3 to 2 ratio. There doesn't seem to be any consensus over what is the ideal ratio of EPA to DHA. However, DHA appears to have more documented evidence about its benefits, so it may be the more important element.

Discover more about Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplements

Stan Mrak has had a passion for antiaging nutrition and preventive health for over 30 years. Pay a visit to his website at http://www.antioxidants-for-health-and-longevity.com and discover more about the importance of antioxidants for staying young and preventing disease.