Best Diet Patch .com

Before you buy DHA supplements, take a little time to learn about the different ones on the market.  There might be better choices.  It really depends on why you are interested in supplementation.

For the Brain

In studies concerning depression, a combination of Docosahexaenoic acid and Eicosapentaenoic acid was shown to be more effective than either of the omega-3s, alone.  In the studies that focused on attention deficit disorders in children, fish oil was given.  Fish oil contains several different omega-3 fatty acids, as well as other fats.  The content varies.  So, it is important to read the label, carefully, before you buy.

DHA supplements derived from marine algae do not have the same complex nature that is found in natural fish oils.  There is reason to believe, as you’ll read about later in this article, that there is more to the health benefits of fish oil than the omega-3 content, alone.

For the Heart

DHA supplements have proven to be more effective in lowering total blood triglycerides and at improving the blood’s HDL (good) cholesterol concentration.  So, for that benefit, any of the supplements on the market will do.  But, in order to see a marked reduction in triglycerides, you would need to take about 3000mg per day.  The average supplement on the market contains only about 200mg.  The better fish oils contain about 280mg.  So, you can see that it is unfeasible to take 3000mg of DHA alone every day.

For the Baby

Pregnant and nursing women need more omega-3s than the average person.  Exactly how much has yet to be firmly established, but some doctors recommend a minimum of 500mg per day.

You would need a good fish oil supplement to get that much in two capsules.  Otherwise, you would need to take more and more might not be a good idea.  The safety of high doses of fish oil or high doses of other DHA supplements has yet to be verified.

For Your Joints

For your joints and for the rest of your body, the main benefit of the supplement is due to the anti-inflammatory activity.  There has been some debate about whether there is any “real” anti-inflammatory activity or if the benefits are due solely to modulating inflammation; preventing it from getting worse, you might say.

A recent study should put the debate to rest.  A regular fish oil supplement was shown to have about half the anti-inflammatory activity of aspirin.

A concentrated supplement was shown to have a little more anti-inflammatory activity, but surprisingly, to researchers, a supplement that contained a combination of the concentrated ester and the natural triglycerides had the most anti-inflammatory activity, even though the omega-3 content was lower.

Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/4-good-reasons-to-discover-dha-supplements-1377161.html

What is DHA used for these days?  While the abbreviation could refer to a form of vitamin C, the active ingredient in self-tanning products or a coal tar derivative, it is most commonly used to refer to Docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid.  Here’s where you’ll find it and what it’s good for.

The primary dietary source of Docosahexaenoic acid in the human diet is fish and seafood.  At one time, beef, poultry and eggs may have been a source of the nutrient, but as they have been taken off of grass and other greens, fed primarily corn and grain, the foods are no longer sources of the nutrient.  Any omega-3 that they contain is alpha-linolenic acid or ALA.

ALA is an essential fatty acid, but it is not used by the human body “as is”.  It is converted to Eicosapentaenoic acid, which through a series of steps may eventually be converted to Docosahexaenoic acid, but researchers believe that the conversion occurs only under severe circumstances.  They know that only a small amount is converted and that high intakes of ALA do not increase circulating blood levels of Docosahexaenoic acid, which makes it an essential fatty acid, too.

What is DHA used for in the human body?  It is a primary component of brain cells, neurons and the epithelium inside of the eye.  It is believed that regular fish and seafood consumption was what allowed man’s brain to become larger, in the first place.

Low levels of Docosahexaenoic acid are associated with Alzheimer’s and depressive disorders.  Those findings indicate that the nutrient is necessary for the continued health of the brain, not just during early childhood or during fetal development.

What is DHA used for by food manufacturers?  Primarily, it is a food additive.  Until recently, the main use was to fortify infant formulas.  Breast milk is rich in Docosahexaenoic acid.  Cow’s milk and soy, the basis of infant formulas, do not provide the nutrient.

What is DHA used for in the treatment and prevention of diseases?  That is a relatively new field of study, although it began over two decades, ago.  Arthritis, heart disease, and depression are just a few of the conditions that may benefit from  supplementation.

Most cardiologists agree that the primary benefit is in the area of heart disease prevention.  Exactly how much is necessary to provide the benefit is still unclear.  But, most doctors recommend a minimum daily intake of Docosahexaenoic acid and Eicosapentaenoic acid combined.

What is DHA used for?  It’s used by the human body to grow and live.  It is a nutrient essential for good health and long life.

Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/what-is-dha-used-for-in-supplements-1377164.html

Let’s face it.  There have literally been thousands of fish oil reviews conducted over the course of the last 70 years or so, that have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that omega-3 fatty acids are a tremendous boon to your health.  These anti-inflammatory nutrients have the ability to prevent some of the most serious ailments that we face, and to aid in the treatment of many others.

There is more than one type of omega fatty acid, with n-3 and n-6 fatty acids being predominant.  The reason that these essential nutrients were given the name fatty acids is that early on researchers found that they were essential to the normal growth of children and young animals.  It was discovered that both the n-3 and the n-6 fatty acids played a similar role in normal growth.

However, it was decided that more fish oil reviews needed to be conducted into the n-6 fatty acids at the time, because they were seen to play a much greater role in dermal integrity, renal function, and parturition.  It wasn’t until quite some time later that the n-3 fatty acids began to be studied in earnest, and that was when it was finally seen that they were the more important nutrient.

What was discovered about n-6s is that arachidonic acid is converted by the body into pro-inflammatory agents known as eicosanoids, which can be broken down into prostaglandins, thromboxanes, prostacyclins, and leukotrienes.  Eicosanoids have important biological functions, and their short life spans begin with synthesis from fatty acids and end in metabolism by enzymes.

Fish oil reviews have shown that if the rate of synthesis exceeds the rate of metabolism then the excess eicosanoids have a harmful effect on the body.  Omega-3 fatty acids are also converted into eicosanoids, only at a much slower rate.  Omega-3 eicosanoids are less inflammatory that n-6 eicosanoids are, and the two sets of omega fatty acids actually compete to be transformed.

You want the positive inflammatory features of the n-3 fatty acids to win out over the potentially harmful n-6 fatty acids, but in order to ensure that your body has a better chance for remaining healthy your intake of omega-3s must be much higher.  Any negative effect from an n-6 eicosanoid can be voided by the presence of an n-3 eicosanoid, which is very important to your body.

Fish oil reviews have noted that n-6 thromboxane is a significant factor in the clumping of platelets which leads to clotting.  The leukotrienes are important to the immune/inflammatory response system, which means that they are relevant to arthritis, asthma, and lupus.  Omega-3’s form anti-inflammatory molecules called resolvins, maresins, and omega-3 oxylipins, which explain the versatile health benefits of fish oil.

Make no mistake about it.  Fish oil reviews have proven that these anti-inflammatory omega-3 molecules act as preventative agents when it comes to such things as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and they are suspected of having a positive effect in the prevention of certain types of cancer as well.  Making sure that your body has an ample supply of DHA and EPA rich omega-3 fatty acids could mean all the difference when it comes to your health.

Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/honest-fish-oil-reviews-1370254.html

Let’s face it.  The benefits of omega-3 fatty acids have been widely talked about, but some people still ask the question, what does fish oil do?  It really surprises me sometimes how little some of us know about the preventative effect that high doses of omega-3 DHA and EPA fatty acids have on the body.  More and more evidence of the positive power of fish oil has been coming out since the 1970’s.

It was then when it was decided that someone should investigate how it was that Eskimos and Inuits had such a low incidence of cardiovascular disease, despite the fact that their daily dietary fat intake was many times what is considered healthy.  It turns out that the key to their good health is how high a percentage of their daily dietary fat intake is made up of DHA and EPA omega fatty acids.

The answer to what does fish oil do to promote cardiovascular health is that these compounds, and this is especially true of DHA, lower your triglyceride levels, lower blood pressure, reduce your heart rate, prevent arrhythmia, stimulate blood flow, and prevent platelets from sticking together and causing clots.  Omega-3 fatty acids also prevent hardening of the arteries.

It has been evaluated that diets emphasizing traditional native foods were associated with a far healthier fatty acid profile than diets emphasizing Western foods.  The sad thing is that as the Inuits and Yupik people become further influenced by the practices of the West their health has been shown to be beginning to decline.  It is believed that starch and simple sugars may be contributing to the higher incidence of obesity and disease.

So, what does fish oil do for you other than provide you with a healthier cardiovascular system?  DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids are involved in the cognitive development and maintenance of healthy cognitive function also.  They have been proven to have a positive effect on mood disorders such as depression, hostility, and aggression, and have even been shown to have benefits when it comes to treating schizophrenia.

Omega-3 fatty acids have also been found to have a preventative effect so far as Alzheimer’s disease.  It has been discovered that one of the precursors of the development of Alzheimer’s is the formation of amyloid plaques in the frontal cortex of the brain.  It has been scientifically proven that high levels of DHA in the system prevent these amyloid plaque deposits from forming.

Now that you have the answer to what does fish oil do, you have to make that you are getting it into system.  The safest way to do this is through taking a prepared dietary fish oil supplement, rather than trying to eat more fish.  There are often high levels of toxic contamination in fish, which you will not find in a molecularly distilled omega-3 fatty acid supplement.

What does fish oil do?  It guarantees that you will have far better health than you would have without it.  Omega-3 fatty acids simply do amazing things for your body.

Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/what-does-fish-oil-do-really-1370256.html

With the rising cost of healthcare these days, it’s hard to argue with anything that can provide you with better health in a pill that doesn’t come from a prescription drug company. People are rightly paranoid about the side effects of all these drugs, because so many of the drugs that seemed good a few years ago are now being pulled off the market because of dangerous effects.

Research in fish oil has demonstrated that it will improve your quality of life and reduce your risk of chronic lifestyle diseases. That means you can have a better life with a lower risk of becoming dependent on some sort of prescription drug. It isn’t a drug; it’s a supplement. It simply provides your body with something that is essential, and which most people are actually deficient in. Here are some of the many health benefits of fish oil.

Heart Disease

Believe it or not, heart disease and fish oil are commonly linked today. Because heart trouble can be caused by blockages in the arteries, bad cholesterol, and inflammation, fish oil is a perfect supplement to take that can alleviate all of these problems. Studies show that fish oil actually gets rid of blockages and clots because it’s a blood thinner, and if you were in danger of having a heart attack or stroke, the thinned blood would keep you from having one, or reduce the damage from it if you did.

Skin Health

This one might seem farfetched, but it’s not if you understand how the body works. Look at inflammation. When your body detects a foreign invader, it sends white blood cells over to attack. Inflammation is the response from your body when it thinks there’s something to fight off. Unfortunately, sometimes there’s something that you are eating, or somewhere where you’re living, that creates a more permanent level of inflammation, and this is what causes so much chronic disease. If you lower inflammation, you get rid of the need for acne, eczema, psoriasis, rashes, lesions, and all sorts of other autoimmune skin reactions caused by inflammation. As a result, you’ll have moister, younger-looking skin, and you won’t look as unhealthy because you won’t be as unhealthy.

Brain Function

Another of the major benefits of fish oil is the improvement of your brain function. Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to bump up their IQ a few points? In today’s competitive world, having even a slightly higher brain function can be a big boon. Think about it. Fish oil can improve your concentration, memory, reasoning, and focus abilities. That means that you’ll be in a much better position to do a job that requires your whole mind. Your productivity can go up and you’ll owe it to the fact that the oil has an Essential Fatty Acid called DHA, which is what 60% of your brain is made of!

Conclusion

There really are a number of health benefits of fish oil, and the only way for you to experience them firsthand is to go out there and try some pharmaceutical-grade oil yourself!

Emile Jarreau, aka, Mr. Fat Loss is fascinated by health, nutrition and weight loss. For more great info about fish oil for losing weight and keeping it off visit http://www.MrFatLoss.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/the-health-benefits-of-fish-oil-1373353.html

Simple answer is yes, they are. I am not saying that if you don’t take fish oil and anxiety will attack you. But in most cases the deficiency of Omega 3 fatty acids had been listed as a major cause of anxiety.

Anxiety is nothing but a psychological state of mind in an individual. In this condition mood swings very rapidly without knowing the reason that triggered it. It can originate because of various factors like fear, worry, stress, discomfort, and nervousness. Anxiety can be accompanied by physical symptoms like sweating, heart palpitations, trembling, nausea, stomach aches, chest pain, trouble breathing, etc.

Our brain has numerous nerve cell membranes and membrane fluidity. Any change in levels of fluidity can affect our behavior and lead to anxiety or depression. Omega 3 fatty acids boost the healthy formation of these brain cell membranes and help us fight these occasional mood swings and bouts of depression.

It was observed in many researches that people suffering from anxiety have lower levels of DHA and EPA. Both these fatty acids are responsible for uninterrupted blood flow to brain. Lack of either one of them results in usage of some other fatty acids by the brain. Since these replacement fats are not meant for this job, we experience mood fluctuations and anxiety.
Fish oil being rich in both DHA and EPA, is beneficiary for proper functioning of brain, thus resulting in better memory, concentration and low levels of depression.

Fish oil and anxiety are related in a subtle way that if you are having a regular dose of fish oil you will be better able to fight the bouts of anxiety. In a study published in news paper recently, a set of 1000 people were exposed to uncomfortable situations one by one and those who were on a regular dose of fish oil supplements were better in coping up with the situation.

You must be very cautious while selecting your supplements. A bad quality can do more harm than good. Effective fish oil should be pure, have lower levels of toxins like mercury and lead, should not have any rancid odor and should smell like ocean water. Recent study proves that a mixture of oil from tuna and hoki fish doubles the anti-inflammatory properties; thus suppressing the mood swings.

Trust me on this – If you get regular anxiety attacks then consult your physician; start using a high quality fish oil and anxiety will be a thing of past for you. Visit my website to know more on <a target=”_blank” href=”http://omega3brief.com”>omega 3 benefits</a> and how to conclude on effective fish oil supplement.

Chuck Blake is an active researcher and consumer of fish oil products.Visit his website http://omega3brief.com today to learn more about the powerful benefits of omega-3 fish oils.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/fish-oil-and-anxiety-are-they-related-1363608.html

In the quest for searching the best quality fish oil products most of us rely on known quality standards. Most popular one is IFOS, International Fish Oil Standard.
But have you ever given it a thought that what exactly is it? Who they are? How to they test? What are the parameters?

With the growing popularity of omega 3 more and more people are demanding these supplements and therefore more and more players are entering the market. With recent scientific studies reporting high contamination levels in sea water and hence in all marine by products it becomes all the more important that there should be one central agency that regulates the standards so that there is not room left for cheap or ineffective products.

IFOS is an international program that tests the omega 3 health supplements for various safety standards as mentioned by World Health Organization and Council for Responsible Nutrition so that these supplements are safe for human consumption.

This standard is different from ISO and Good Manufacturing Practices because both these standards concentrate more on the process where as International Fish Oil Standard focuses on the purity of end product. If a company follows an ISO 9001 process it means that the process to manufacture is well documented and followed every time. They do not deviate from the process but that does not guarantee best quality of the end product. It may be useful to a certain extent but it can no way tell you about the level of toxins present in the end product.

IFOS tests products on four parameters -

Concentration
This is a one to one comparison of level of DHA/EPA present in the product vs. as claimed on the label. If you examine the label of any fish oil you will see that presence of DHA is mentioned like 200mg per 1000mg. These tests make sure that manufacturer is not supplying misleading information to the customer. If the product is IFOS compliant then you can find the true levels mentioned in the product report.

Purity and Safety
This checks for the levels of harmful chemicals like Mercury, PCBs and Furans.According to CRN standards the level of Mercury and PCBs should be 90ppb and 100ppb (ppb = Parts Per Billion) respectively and as per WHO standard Furans should be 2ppt (Parts per Trillion). If you take a look at the safety report of the product you will come that if your product is actually following safety standards or not.

Stability
This tells about the oxidation levels of the fish oil gels. These are core chemistry related details; instead of getting into details let us just keep ourselves limited to understanding that the lower the oxidation the better it is for us.

Presence of Heavy Metals like Lead, Arsenic, Nickel etc.
All these are toxic chemicals that are very very harmful for human beings. If the level of these chemicals should be below the safety limit as suggested by WHO only then the fish oil is considered safe for human consumption.

Companies that produce omega 3 can enroll in this program and get their product tested for purity and freshness. The certificate from International Fish Oil Standard is a clear indication of credibility.

If you are looking for a healthy omega 3 supplement for your family then make sure that the products that you buy follow IFOS or a standard which is stricter than them. You can find all this information on the website of the company.

This is the easiest way to stay away from the cheap products and select the best and effective supplements that give long lasting results to you and your family. If you want to learn more about omega 3 supplements and there benefits; visit my <a target=”_blank” href=”http://omega3brief.com”>website</a> where I have listed them in detail.

Chuck Blake is an active researcher and consumer of fish oil products.Visit his website http://omega3brief.com today to learn more about the powerful benefits of omega-3 fish oils.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/lets-take-a-closer-look-at-international-fish-oil-standard-1363618.html

Researchers had believed that one of the benefits of fish oil might be a reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration, the primary cause of blindness in the elderly.  Because preliminary research looked promising, multiple studies were conducted.  The results of the latest were recently released.

Increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce your risk of both the wet and dry types of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by as much as 38%.  Improving your nutritional intake in other ways may further reduce your risk.

For example, many researchers have been interested in the benefits of increased intake of lutein and zeaxanthin for the prevention and the treatment of AMD.  Lutein and zeaxanthin are antioxidants found in leafy green vegetables.  The best known sources are kale and collard greens.

Kale is a member of the cabbage family, but it does not form a head.  Collard greens are a member of the same family of vegetables.  It’s a dark leafy green that is particularly popular in the southern US.

Researchers began to look at the benefits of lutein and zeaxanthin, because they are major components of the retina, which is the light gathering mechanism inside of the eye that connects to the optic nerve, which is connected to the brain.  If everything goes well with that connection, we see.  In AMD, the retina and specifically a small area of it called the macular, loses its ability to transmit the signals.

In dry AMD, there are yellow plaques that fog the retina and the macula.  In wet AMD, there is damage to existing blood vessels and growth of new ones.  The new ones are weaker.  So, they burst very easily.  Bleeding behind the retina causes it to detach.  The result can be blindness.

In both types of AMD, the eventual result can be blindness.  Usually, the central vision is lost first.  In almost all cases, some peripheral vision is retained.

Wet AMD is sometimes a complication caused by diabetes, due to the damage that is done to small blood vessels in the disease.  Dry AMD is sometimes hereditary.  Other risk factors include high cholesterol levels, high intake of dietary fats, high blood pressure, obesity, cigarette smoking, oxidative stress and overexposure to sunlight.

There are five primary causes of cellular aging throughout the body.  The first four are glycation, oxidation (free radical damage), inefficient methylation and inflammation.  Those eventually lead to the fifth, which is DNA damage.  Each of those factors are interrelated and related to the risk factors of AMD.

In diabetes, there is glycation and inflammation.  In oxidative stress, cigarette smoking and overexposure to sunlight, there is free radical damage.  High cholesterol, high blood pressure and high intake of dietary fats are often associated with obesity.  In obesity, there is glycation, inflammation and free radical damage.

Increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids, as well as your intake of fruits and vegetables, including kale and collard greens, while increasing your level of physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can lower your risk of all kinds of age-related diseases.

Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/discover-the-benefits-of-fish-oil-1365559.html

Face it.  The connection between fish oil and cholesterol in the bloodstream can be complicated and difficult to understand.  The information here should help you understand a little more about the subject.

What is Cholesterol, Anyway?

They are waxy hormones found in the body’s cellular membranes and transported through the bloodstream to areas of need.  It is essential for all life, because it is necessary to maintain the integrity of the cellular membranes and for the absorption of some of the essential vitamins.

It is transported within the bloodstream inside of “lipoproteins”, a combination of fats and proteins.  High blood levels of low and very low density lipoproteins are strongly associated with an increased risk of heart and vascular disease, specifically with atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries.

On the other hand, high levels of high density lipoproteins are associated with a lower risk of heart disease.  So, we have good HDL and bad LDL and VLDL in our bloodstreams.

One of the connections between fish oil and cholesterol balance has to do with the supplement’s ability to increase HDL levels.  HDL can remove cholesterols from the cells and from existing plaques in the arterial walls.  LDL and VLDL, on the other hand, contribute to the formation of those plaques, which are the cause of an age-related heart disease called atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.

What are Triglycerides?

At the same time that your doctor tests your blood for HLD an LDL particles, normally, you will also be tested for total triglycerides.  Triglycerides are a combination of fatty acids and glycerol.  They are a major component of LDL particles.  High blood triglycerides are believed to be a risk factor for atherosclerosis.

Another connection between fish oil and cholesterol reduction has to do with the supplements ability to lower total blood triglyceride levels.  The question is this.

How much effect does the supplement have and how much do you have to take to see the effect?

Results have varied in clinical trials.  Modest or small to high decreases have been seen.  The reason for the different results has yet to be explained.  There are many possible explanations.  Here’s one of them.

A person that has high triglycerides and low HDL levels, but does not want to take the mainstream medical approach, which includes the use of statin drugs, might do a number of different things to improve their health, while participating in a clinical trial concerning fish oil and cholesterol.

For many years, doctors have recommended lowering one’s intake of total fat and dietary-cholesterol, which is found in a variety of foods.  Adding physical exercise to that approach has proven to be beneficial in recent years.

1. Learn more about what you can do to lower your triglycerides and reduce your risk of heart disease.

Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/the-positive-connection-between-fish-oil-and-cholesterol-1365564.html

Let’s face it.  The search for the best fish oil supplements can take you all over the internet, bouncing around from one website to the next, reading one claim after another, some of which are conflicting.  So, before you continue on your search, take a few moments to read this article.  You should find the information helpful.

Concentrated Esters or Natural Triglycerides

Which is better?  Actually, the answer is “both”.  The concentrated esters have a higher concentration of omega-3 fatty acids, which are the nutrients of primary benefit.

When a species is use that is contaminated with mercury or PCBs, the manufacturer must distill the oils, before they can be used in a supplement.  When molecular distillation is used, the result is a concentrated ester.  So, it stands to reason that a concentrated ester would contain lower levels of contaminants.

However, there is some evidence that the natural triglycerides have more anti-inflammatory activity, although researchers have yet to explain why that might be.  If the triglycerides are tested for and found to be free of contaminants, it is possible to use them in a supplement, without molecular distillation.

So, the best fish oil supplements on the market, today, contain both.  50% of the supplement is a concentrated ester, because that increases the omega-3 content.  50% is a contaminant-free natural triglyceride, because that has the highest level of anti-inflammatory activity.

Complies With the IFOS, the CRN or other Standards for Freshness

Freshness is important, because rancid or oxidized oils can make you sick and because they contain free radical molecules, which are causes of cellular aging.  Once the oils are encapsulated there is no further oxidation.  But, there is always a risk associated with the liquids.

The CRN allows for total oxidation levels of 26.  The IFOS allows for 19.5.  Some manufacturers allow no more than 17 TOTOX.  The European Pharmacopeia and the Norwegian Medicinal Standards do not have a maximum total oxidation level.

Only the maximum peroxide value is defined, which can be as high as 10mEq/kg.  The CRN says a maximum of 5 should be allowed.  IFOS says a maximum of 3.75 is okay.  The best fish oil supplements have a maximum peroxide value of 2.5mEq/kg.

Not all manufacturers will disclose what their standards are for purity and freshness.  It typically takes a bit of detective work to find out what standards they adhere to.

Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/searching-for-the-best-fish-oil-supplements-1365577.html