Fish oil- why is everyone taking it?

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Is this a quality fish oil? Read below to find out!

As fish oil is being stocked onto the shelves of supplement stores, department stores, convenience stores, and even kiosk's in the mall, it is rapidly becoming one of those "super supplements" many people believe can cure everything and anything. So does it?  

Well, it may not be a cure-all, but it is a great support for general health, much like a multivitamin. Fish oil has many health benefits, such as its anti-inflammatory effect supporting both cardiovascular and brain health. It's important to make sure you are taking a quality product, with proper dosing, and you are checking in with your doctor before starting anything new. 

So... would I take fish oil? Yes! Taking fish oil has become as normal as brushing my teeth in the morning. I am currently testing out different products, but here are the ones I like:

  • Finest pure fish oil, orange flavor - slight orange taste, but great EPA/DHA content!
  • Genestra Super EFA capsules - don't like the liquid, no worries! Try these caps. 
  • Arctic cod liver oil, strawberry - good source of Vitamin A, tastes good too!

Get 15% off here. Click on "Shop By Dispensary Categories" and choose "General Wellness" to find the brands above. 

Here are some of the well researched conditions fish oil showed benefit:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis 
  • Mental illness- adult & childhood depression
  • Hyperlipidemia- in combination with statin drug use
  • Hypertension
  • Atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease
  • Dermatological issues- dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, wound healing 
  • Cancer- supportive therapy
  • Pain management 
  • Stress response

Do you feel you may benefit from fish oil supplementation? Contact your doctor to discuss quality products and proper daily dosing. 

Recap and specific information:

  • Brand does matter. When choosing a fish oil, it may be tempting to get the off brand at your local chain department store, but it is important to research the supplement company you will be purchasing from and read the nutrition label for quality ingredients and proper dosages. Cheap supplements can contain high levels of mercury, dioxin, PCB's, or non therapeutic doses of EPA/DHEA, and also could be spoiled. 
  • Fish oil is mainly comprised of EPA and DHA. A quality product will have over 300mg of both EPA and DHA. Ideally 2000mg total. Most research on fish oil as been done high doses of fish oil a day, and physician's typically dose around 1-3 grams per day depending on it's use. Consult your doctor when starting a new supplement to ensure correct dosing and potential health risks. 
  • Fish oil may be trending now, but with constant new research being done, I am confident is saying, fish oil is here to stay! Keep up to date with new research that is coming out about fish oil by using the internet and exploring google scholar, the PubMed database, or other well established databases. Check in with you doctor to see if you can benefit from daily supplementation!