By the time you finish reading this, you’ll have a great understanding of what makes pharmaceutical grade fish oil the safest and most effective fish oil on the market, and why it can be unhealthy to choose otherwise.

The term “pharmaceutical grade fish oil” was coined by Dr. Barry Sears, a staunch advocate for rigorous testing and experimenting involving high doses of ultra-pure omega 3 supplements. His research and findings are nothing short of amazing, and make a very compelling case for the daily use of long-chain omega 3 fatty acids in the diet.

Health Food Grade Fish Oil

This type of fish oil is the kind seen on the shelves in stores. It’s important to know these are not pharmaceutical grade omega 3 oils because of the way they’re manufactured. Often they contain high amounts of toxic chemicals like PCBs, dioxin and mercury which are all extremely toxic to human beings.

As fish exist in the wild, the amount of toxins their skins absorb is directly related to the pollution levels in their regions of the ocean. Often, the manufacturers of health food grade oils don’t do the best job at making attempts to purify them or extract them from good fish sources.

The fish oil supplement standards in the United States are dangerously lax and “allow manufacturers to put whatever they want on a product label as long as it doesn’t promise to cure or prevent a particular disease” (Sears p 95). This is disconcerting to say the least. Over-consumption of health food grade oils can quickly lead to nasty side effects like cramps, GI issues, mercury poisoning and exposure to carcinogens like PCBs and dioxin.

Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil

Based on the downsides of health food grade fish oil, you probably clearly see the need for a purer alternative. What makes an omega 3 oil “pharmaceutical grade”? Simply put, you can define an omega 3 oil as “pharmaceutical grade” once it passes ultra-stringent purity standards. These standards require impurities to be measured and verified by a third party and the results printed on a Certificate of Analysis for public view. Pharmaceutical grade fish oil also needs to be comprised of more than 60% total omega 3 fatty acids and have impurities so low that they’re either nearly, or completely undetectable in order to qualify.

Many different companies who cannot substantiate their purity claims will mark up their products with “pharmaceutical grade” on the labels in an attempt to sell more products. It’s important you see through this, and first check for the company’s Certificate of Analysis. If the company you’re working with cannot, or will not provide this information for you then something is very wrong. Most companies that offer pharmaceutical grade oils have their Certificate of Analysis proudly posted on their websites to prove their claims.

For your reference, and I hope this isn’t too scientific, here are the standards that need to be followed in order to consider a fish oil pharmaceutical grade:

• Total Long-Chain Omega 3 Fatty Acids: More than 60% of the total fatty acids
• Mercury: Less than 10 parts per billion
• PCBs: Less than 30 parts per billion
• Dioxin: Less than 1 part per trillion

So you can see, pharmaceutical grade fish oil standards are literally thousands of times more stringent than the requirements for standard health food grade oil, and it is the adherence to these standards – verified by the Certificate of Analysis – that allows an omega 3 oil to be considered pharmaceutical grade.

Now that you’re armed with this knowledge, it’s time to make your move and start doing some smart shopping for fish oil. You know what to look for and you know what to avoid, and always remember that the Certificate of Analysis is your proof of purity and guiding light to choosing the right products.

To learn more about the pharmaceutical grade fish oil I use daily, please visit my page today.

Let’s face it. When it comes to supplements there is a ton of market hype. Our minds go into overdrive trying to determine what’s real and what’s not, what fact is and what is fallacy. When it comes to fish oil effects, things are no different. However, we can take into account the research that has been conducted with fish oil, and follow in the direction it points toward; the direction of promise, healing, longevity and health.

Fish oil effects are so numerous it would be impossible to discuss them all in one article. I would like to outline for you the best, most prominent ones that have made this supplement so loved by doctors, dietitians and health experts.

Fish Oil Effects and the Brain

Deficiencies in omega 3 fats have been linked to many maladies including, but not limited to: depression, anxiety, mood swings, bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD and ADD. Millions upon millions of people suffer from just these conditions alone. Maybe even you do, or know a loved one who does.

Researchers from institutions as prestigious as the Harvard School of Public Health have shown some of these conditions will greatly improve with increased omega 3 fatty acid intake. Other studies have shown that even if you don’t have any of these conditions, memory and focus can improve with consistent use of fish oil supplements.

Fish Oil Effects and the Heart

The American Heart Association has stated, “Omega 3 fatty acids benefit the heart of healthy people, and those at high risk of — or who have — cardiovascular disease.”

One of the best known and studied benefits of omega 3 fatty acids is for heart health. Until recently, this was the number #1 killer in the Western world which has been recently surpassed by cancer. Fish oil effects have been shown to help those with heart disease, and help protect those who don’t, but might be susceptible to it down the line due to family history and genetics.

How does it do this? Well, for starters, omega 3’s can thin the blood. This is helpful since heart attacks occur when a blood clot gets lodged inside one of the coronary arteries. Keeping the blood thin can greatly reduce your chances for developing a problematic clot in your bloodstream.

In addition, fish oil effects can reduce triglyceride levels. These are blood fats that are closely related to cholesterol, and when they accompany high cholesterol, your chances for heart disease can increase dramatically.

Research has also shown that omega 3’s can help reduce or prevent heart rhythm abnormalities by making the electrical system of the heart stronger. This has direct benefits for those at risk of sudden death from cardiac arrest.

Fish Oil Effects and Cancer

As I said earlier, cancer has now overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death in the US. Of course, there are numerous types of cancer. Some exciting recent research is showing that omega 3’s may help prevent cancer from occurring and also help prevent it from progressing if it has already occurred.  Although more studies need to be done urgently in this area, DHA and EPA omega 3’s, found in fatty fish and fish oil supplements, may protect against the following types of cancers: breast, prostate, testicular and ovarian. Breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men, in particular, are so common and claim so many lives that any substance like omega 3 that shows great promise against them should be studied more extensively.

In the meantime, although the studies that have been conducted are not conclusive, it seems increasing one’s intake of omega 3 fats can help in the battle against cancer.

Fish Oil Effects and Pregnant or Nursing Mothers

It’s irrefutable now that for the fetus brain to develop properly, it needs a great deal of omega 3’s.

If you are a pregnant mother, you should strongly consider using a molecularly distilled fish oil supplement so your fetus’ brain has the best chance of developing properly. Of course, speak with a doctor before doing this since fish oil effects or any chemical effects should always be closely monitored by a physician during pregnancy.

If you are a nursing mother, you should also be taking an omega 3 supplement or eating enough omega 3 foods because they are an essential fatty acid. Essential means our bodies need it but cannot manufacture them on its own.

The omega 3 you obtain in your diet is passed along to your baby when you breastfeed.

Even if you are no longer breastfeeding, you should be careful to take in enough omega 3 fat for your own health. If you have young children, adequate levels of omega 3 intake are associated with less attention deficit and hyperactivity and higher IQ’s.

Lastly, fish oil effects have also been shown to help ease menstrual cramps.

Fish Oil Effects and Inflammation

Did you know that a lot of the aches and pains associated with arthritis are due to inflammation? This is why studies have shown that one of the fish oil effects is to help alleviate these pains in those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

The same is true for Crohn’s disease, which is characterized by painful inflammation of the bowel. In one particular year long study, 69% of Crohn’s sufferers who used a fish oil supplement stayed symptom free as opposed to only 28% who were administered a placebo.

Also, if you know anyone who suffers from psoriasis or acne, you know how painful and embarrassing these conditions can be. Maybe you have them yourself. One of the primary problems in these conditions is inflammation. Although fish oils are not going to cure these conditions, its anti-inflammatory properties often help make them much better.

Now that you’re fully aware of the best fish oil effects to date, you can begin to take the steps to choosing the right fish oil supplement for your daily regimen.

To learn more about the fish oil supplements I use daily to maintain optimum health, feel free to visit my page.

This is an interesting topic, and one we haven’t addressed without some serious thought.

The fish oil supplement market is rife with competition, so we completely appreciate the importance of addressing this topic accurately. We’ve been in the same boat, shopping for the safest, most effective and the absolute purest fish oil, and we’re happy to report that we’ve had some success.

The reality is when choosing the best fish oil, you need to consider many things. We’ve listed them all here to help make your journey a little smoother.

The Omega-3 DHA Fish Oil Supplements from Xtend-Life are by far the best we’ve tried, and for that purpose we fully recommend them. Xtend-Life Fish oil is hands-down the best fish oil for several reasons:

Purity

When looking for the best fish oil, it is important to consider the purity of the oil. What do we mean by purity? Before a fish’s skin is pressed for its oil, it has lived in the ocean for a period of time. During its lifespan, certain impurities like mercury and PCBs can accumulate inside the skin of the fish. While this is entirely normal, it’s not at all desirable because of the concerns that surround mercury poisoning and carcinogens. The Xtend-Life fish oil supplements are put through a process known as molecular distillation. This process reduces impurity levels to near zero and makes the fish oil safe to ingest.

There are four standards of purification levels fish oil supplements must pass through in order to be deemed safe enough to ingest. These standards are:

• International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS)

• Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN)

• European Pharmacopoeia

• Norwegian Medicinal Standard

The Xtend-Life Omega-3 DHA fish oil formula is higher in purity than all four of these standards because of the type of fish they use. This is documented and proven and available for your review on the Xtend-Life site.

When looking for the best fish oil, you also should check the supplier’s Certificate of Analysis (CoA). This is an official statement of the measured impurities in the particular fish oil supplements you’re looking at. Xtend-Life fish oil impurity levels were so low, they were completely undetectable.

How is it that Xtend-Life is able to keep their impurity levels so low? The answer is quite simple. They derive their fish oil supplements from the Hoki fish. These fish are native to New Zealand and thrive in the deep cold waters of the Southern Sea where there is little pollution. These fish are also naturally higher in DHA than most other ocean fish.

Unlike the North Sea which is becoming increasingly polluted, the area where the Hoki are located is nowhere near any shipping lines. The fish and their oil contain no detectable contaminants at all.

Freshness

Freshness is extremely important when considering what the best fish oil is. What people don’t often realize is that as fish oil sits unused, or is manufactured poorly (store grade), it can become oxidized and can actually negate what you’re aiming to accomplish.

When you purchase fish oil supplements, the first thing you should look for is the company’s Certificate of Analysis and check the measured oxidation levels. You should look for the word “TOTOX” on the certificate which is an abbreviation for total oxidation. It is comprised of two numbers: a Peroxide number, and an Anisidine number. It is important to make sure that both of these numbers are present on the certificate since some companies try to show the better of the two and pass the product off as “safe” while the other number that you don’t see is off the charts. If these numbers are near zero, the product is completely safe to ingest. Also, fish oil supplements should never have any rancid odors or smells. If this is the case, avoid that product completely.

Xtend-Life boasts a TOTOX score of 14.3, which is far below the four internationally accepted standards of 19-26, which is yet another reason why we love this fish oil so much.

As an extra measure to ensure that freshness is maintained across the spectrum, each and every batch of Xtend-Life’s Omega-3 DHA fish oil supplements is comprehensively tested by two separate independent government certified laboratories. With these additional, independent quality checks, Xtend-Life’s DHA fish oil formula is truly a verifiable pharmaceutical grade fish oil.

Value

When determining what the best fish oil is, it is important to look at the value you’re getting for your money. Here is how Xtend-Life stacks up against some other popular brands of fish oil:

Transparency

Have you ever had that feeling while browsing a website or visiting a store that the owner wasn’t being 100% honest with you? You may have asked some tough questions that forced the owner to reveal his hand of cards and all of a sudden he’s trying to get rid of you. Well, the chances are the owner had something to hide. We find this kind of behavior quite frequently with different companies. However, one of the other reasons we like Xtend-Life so much is because of their transparency. They document everything so consumers can have their concerns addressed. All of their certificates, customer testimonials, research results and ingredients are publicly posted on their site to review. Basically what this means to us is, “We have nothing to hide.” This went a long way for us on our mission to find the best fish oil to buy.

Customer Testimonials

Simply put, no one wants to buy a product that can’t offer some excellent, credible customer testimonials. No one speaks better truth than one customer to another. Yet another reason we feel that Xtend-Life fish oil is the best fish oil to buy is because Xtend-Life has an extensive list of long-time, happy customers. To see their customer testimonials, click here and on the lower left of the page you’ll see “Customer Comments”. Please take the time to read these and see for yourself.

Price

Try to find a premium, pharmaceutical grade fish oil for what Xtend-Life is charging, with the same attention to quality control processes, purity, freshness, customer satisfaction, public documentation and transparency, and we’ll be amazed. Many times companies that cannot substantiate their claims about purity and freshness will charge up to twice as much for their product. “Why do they do that?” you ask. One would think that the worse a product is, the less expensive it would be. Well, it’s an old marketing trick that’s been used many times very effectively. Our minds tend to equate spending more money with achieving higher quality. Many people tend to think, “Hey, I’m spending $2,000 on this television, therefore it has to be amazing.” Not so fast! Often, higher prices mask hidden downsides. Don’t fall for this. Your health is far too precious. It is important to do your due diligence when looking at fish oils.

When purchasing anything that plays a direct role in your health, always ask for proof of effectiveness and purity. Have the manufacturer show you the product is healthy by sharing public information with you. If there is nothing to hide, it should be a simple purchase.

We sincerely hope this information was useful for you, and that you understand why out of all the competitors we feel Xtend-Life fish oil is the best fish oil to buy. You can see all of their public documentation by visiting their website.

If you’d like more information on the fish oil we use daily to maintain optimum health, feel free to visit our page.

By the time you finish reading this article, you’ll have an excellent idea of what to start looking for with the best fish oil supplements.

What are the best fish oil supplements to go with?  I get asked this question often, so I decided to dedicate this brief article to answering the market’s demand for relevant information on this topic.

Purity

When looking for fish oil supplements to buy, it is important to consider the purity of the oil.  What do I mean by purity?  Before a fish’s skin is pressed for its oil, it has lived in the ocean for a time.  During its life, certain impurities like mercury can accumulate.  While this is entirely normal, it’s not at all desirable because of the concerns that surround mercury poisoning.  You’ll want to make sure that the fish oil supplements you consider have been put through a process known as “molecular distillation”.  This process reduces impurity levels to near zero and makes the fish oil supplements safe to ingest.

There are four standards of purification levels fish oil supplements must pass through in order to be deemed safe enough to ingest.  These standards are:

• International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS)
• Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN)
• European Pharmacopoeia
• Norwegian Medicinal Standard

Ideally, the fish oil you consider should have standards greater than, or equal to, all four of these standards depending on where you are buying your fish oil supplements from.

When looking for the best fish oil to buy, you also should check the supplier’s Certificate of Analysis.  This is an official statement of the measured impurities in the particular fish oil supplements you’re looking at.  You’ll want to aim for fish oil supplements that offer verified, non-detectable levels of pollutants.  Certain oceans are known for having low pollution levels due to the absence of commercial activity in nearby areas.  When choosing fish oil supplements, you’ll want to verify where they were made.  Bonus points should be given to companies that manufacture their oil from fish in the South Seas.

Freshness

Freshness is extremely important when considering the best fish oil supplements to buy.  What people don’t often realize is that as fish oil sits unused, or is manufactured poorly, it can become oxidized and can actually negate what you’re aiming to accomplish.

When you purchase fish oil supplements, the first thing you should look for is the company’s Certificate of Analysis and verify the measured oxidation levels.  You should look for the word “TOTOX” on the certificate which is an abbreviation for “total oxidation”.  It is comprised of two numbers and it is important to make sure that both of these numbers are present on the certificate as some companies try to show the better of the two and pass the product off as “safe” while the other number that you don’t see is off the charts.  If these numbers are near zero, the product is completely safe to ingest.  Also, fish oil supplements should never have any rancid odors or smells.  If this is the case, avoid that product completely.  The acceptable standard for TOTOX scores are typically 19-24.  Anywhere in this range is acceptable, although if you can find products lower than 19, the better off you are.

It is also noteworthy to look at whether the purity the fish oil supplements was verified by external sources.  While this is not essential, it certainly doesn’t hurt.

Transparency

Have you ever had that feeling while browsing a website or visiting a store that the owner wasn’t being 100% honest with you?  You may have asked some tough questions that forced the owner to reveal his hand of cards and all of a sudden he’s trying to get rid of you like you have the plague.  Well, the chances are the owner had something to hide.  I’ve seen this kind of behavior quite frequently with different companies.  You’ll always want to purchase fish oil supplements from a company that is transparent.  The ideal company will document everything so consumers can have their concerns addressed.  All of their certificates, customer testimonials, research results and ingredients are publicly posted on their site or inside the store to review.

Customer Testimonials

Simply put, no one wants to buy a product that can’t offer some excellent, credible customer testimonials.  No one speaks better truth than one customer to another.  When considering fish oil supplements, work with a company that can prove customer satisfaction to you by showing you several examples of testimonials.  The testimonials should be genuine and specific.

Price

Many times companies that cannot substantiate their claims about purity and freshness will charge up to twice as much for their product.  “Why do they do that?” you ask.  One would think that the worse a product is, the less expensive it would be.  That’s exactly why they do it.  It’s called “perceived value”.  If I tell you the price is low, you’ll think it’s a bad product.  If I tell you it’s expensive, you’ll think it’s a premium product.  This is an old marketing trick that’s been used many times very effectively.  Our minds tend to equate spending more money with achieving higher quality.  Often, higher prices mask hidden downsides.  Don’t fall for this.  Your health is far too precious.

To learn more about the premium fish oil supplements I use daily, feel free to visit my page.

You may have taken a look at the title of this article and thought, “What in the world does fluidity in the brain have to do with my daily health, or life for that matter?” Well, now that you’re here, we should probably discuss why brain fluidity is so essential to your well being, and talk more about how fish oil supplements can help keep your brain working at peak potential.

It might be hard to grasp the idea that one nutrient such as omega 3 can play so many vital roles in everyday bodily functions. These roles range from mood regulation and weight loss to managing thought disorders and cholesterol levels. Yet, this is what remarkable research continues to point toward.

Of the many positive benefits fish oil supplements and omega 3 have on the brain, there is perhaps none more important than its effect on brain fluidity. It may sound disgusting to think of it like this, but the brain cells work best when they’re in an environment swimming with nutrients. A fluid environment inside the cranium is needed to keep neurons firing optimally, maintain proper transport of vital nutrients the brain cells need to function, and to ensure blood flow is free from obstruction to provide oxygen to every brain cell.

Optimal brain fluidity is essential for the electrical signals within our cells for chemicals to bind properly. Let’s take serotonin for example, the brain chemical that regulates sleep, appetite and mood. Serotonin bonds with proteins in brain cell membranes where it is metabolized and begins to play its role inside the body. If we didn’t have fluidity in our brains, it is easy to see that it would be “harder” for the serotonin to get to its point of destination to serve its purpose. It would encounter viscosity and interference along the way delaying it from doing its job. When brain fluidity degrades, so does brain function. We then begin to see the effects when we get depressed, forgetful and foggy. When you add omega 3 fish oil supplements into your daily routine, you are essentially adding “oil” to the brain’s “door hinge” and helping the brain’s cell membranes to work properly and efficiently.

Omega 6 Intake

High intake of omega 6 in our diets can break down brain fluidity. If you’re unfamiliar with the common sources of omega 6 fats, they are cereal, eggs, poultry and avocado. I’m not saying these foods are bad for you, but they need to be properly balanced with omega 3 intake to maintain proper brain fluidity. Omega 6 fatty acids can quickly become harmful to your bodily processes if not properly balanced with omega 3 sources like fish oil supplements.

Saturated fats

It is also a well-known fact that saturated fats are bad for humans. Not only do they contribute to atherosclerotic plaque buildup in the arteries, but they have also been shown to harden the brain cell membranes, thus impeding and even destroying their function.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is another well-known culprit we hear so much about. We typically associate “high cholesterol” with heart attacks, strokes and heart failure. While this is true, it is not mentioned often enough that cholesterol produces a nasty hardening effect on the interior walls of brain cells. Daily intake of omega 3 reduces the level of bad cholesterol in the blood and in brain cell membranes leading to better fluidity.

Balance

A proper balance of omega 3 is essential for brain function. Researchers believe that many disorders ranging from depression to schizophrenia are linked in some way shape or form to an omega 3 deficiency. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association recommends that patients with “mood, impulse-control, or psychotic disorders should consume 1 gram of EPA + DHA per day” (Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 67).

Now that you’re armed with this information about brain fluidity, you can begin to embark on your quest to find the best quality fish oil supplements available. With the recent decades showing increasing levels in mental illness, heart disease and depression, evidence strongly suggests this is related to our declining intake of omega 3 in our diets. It is important we get back on track to maintain our health for the years to come, especially our mental health.

If you’d like more information about the fish oil I use to keep my brain swimming in fluids, feel free to visit my page.

The topic of fish oil and ADHD has been often discussed lately in the news, magazines and on the internet.  By the time you finish reading this, you’ll have a better understanding of how the use of fish oil impacted a group of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and also why fish oil and ADHD are so often used together in the same sentence.  From the findings of this research you will be able to draw your own conclusions on whether fish oil is an effective means of treating ADHD and if it is a course of action you would want to take in your own life either with yourself, or a loved one.

ADHD has perplexed many researchers, doctors, behaviorists, therapists and dietitians for decades.  It has received growing attention in recent years as the estimated number of affected children has been estimated to be 3-5%.  Most notably, the condition has reached epidemic proportions with American children.  It is thought that ADHD is caused by low levels of the brain chemical dopamine, and that if levels of this chemical could be restored either by synthetic or natural means, the condition could be reversed or at the very least, controlled.  Ritalin has been the preferred method of treatment for many doctors over the years, and its effectiveness has been attributed to increased dopamine levels the medication causes.

I will refer to something called the AA/EPA ratio in the next few paragraphs.  Essentially what this measures is the ratio of the harmful omega-6 acids to the beneficial omega-3 acids.  The lower this number is for a person, the better.  It has been found that many people with brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s, dyslexia, stroke and multiple sclerosis have higher ratios than those that don’t, leading doctors and researchers to believe that omega 3 deficiency and higher levels of omega 6’s in the diet is the cause, or at the very least a contributing factor for many of the brain disorders and chronic conditions we see today.  Such findings are directing many in the medical profession to pay closer attention to the subject of fish oil and ADHD.

Researcher Dr. Barry Sears and colleague Rene Espy engaged in a research experiment where a group of children with ADHD were given high doses of fish oil (10-20 grams) while simultaneously controlling insulin levels in all children for eight weeks.

The results were astounding.  After a period of only a few weeks, it was noted that “these children’s ability to concentrate increased dramatically” (Sears 145).  It was also noted that there were “positive changes in behavior both in school and at home” (Sears 145).  The children’s blood was measured at the start of the experiment and it was determined that the average AA/EPA ratio was around 22.  It should also be noted that Japanese children have AA/EPA ratios of around 1.5.  Why the comparison to Japanese children?  The reason is because Japanese children have a much higher intake of omega 3’s from fish in their diet than their American counterparts, and the average AA/EPA ratio for them is 1.5.

After the eight week experiment the children’s blood was measured again and it was found that the average AA/EPA ratio was as low as 3, leading the researchers to believe the reduction in ADHD symptoms of lack of concentration and poor focus were directly due to the high levels of fish oil used in the diet.

Dr. Sears also noted that at the end of the eight week experiment, most of the children resorted back to their old eating habits, stopped taking fish oil, and then rapidly deteriorated back to their previous conditions.

The findings demonstrated that a lower AA/EPA ratio is achieved by reducing omega 6’s in the diet, and increasing omega 3’s via fish oil.  The conclusions to draw from this experiment are that a lower AA/EPA ratio is likely responsible for a reduction in ADHD symptoms and that if the fish oil was to be continuously administered every day, the symptoms of ADHD would either be more manageable or nonexistent.

These results beg the question:  If the children continued on the regimen beyond the eight week trial, would the benefits have persisted?

So, what’s your goal?  Your goal is to determine where you stand on the topic of fish oil and ADHD. Also, to use this information to determine if using fish oil could possibly improve your quality of life or the quality of life of a loved one by reducing or eliminating the effects of ADHD.  Although the experiment is far from conclusive, the results are astounding and shed tremendous light on the miracle of fish oil in the treatment of ADHD.  It should also be noted that there have been many similar experiments conducted with comparable results.

To learn more about the fish oil I use daily to keep my AA/EPA ratio number good, feel free to visit my page.

Let’s face it, when we start looking at new supplements we’ve heard are beneficial, the dosages are typically shrouded in mystery.  How do you determine fish oil dosage?  Can we treat it like medication and simply use body weight and age, or is there more to the picture than that?  Is there even a need to define a dosage when it comes to fish oil supplements?  Is there such a thing as “too little” or “too much” fish oil?

The question of determining fish oil dosage needs to be answered not in terms of age and weight, but rather in terms of eicosanoid balance.

Eicosanoids (Eye-ko-sun-oids) and You

Eicosanoids can be generally defined as signaling molecules within the body that play vital roles in nearly every bodily process.  They are derived from omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids and can either work vastly in your favor to promote longevity and freedom from chronic illness, or they can work against you in the exact opposite manner causing early mental and physical breakdown.

Good Eicosanoids

Good eicosanoids are derived from omega 3 fatty acids typically found in fresh fish, walnuts, fish oil supplements, flax seeds, sprouts, algae and kale.  The “good” eicosanoids will provide your body with tremendous benefit.  For example:

• Blood thinning and clot reduction
• Dilation of the arteries increasing blood flow to the body and more importantly, the brain.
• Reduced physical pain and inflammation
• Decreased rates of cell division
• A stronger immune system
• Improved brain function due to better blood flow

Bad Eicosanoids

Bad eicosanoids, as their name implies, are not helpful in the least.  We can treat them as doing the exact opposite of what the good ones do.  If the bad eicosanoids present in your body are not sufficiently counteracted with daily intake of omega 3, you will experience inflammation, memory problems, fatigue, depression and a whole host of other chronic conditions.

So, what does this all have to do with fish oil dosage?  Well, the goal we want to focus on is maintaining proper balance between the “good” and the “bad” eicosanoids.  The “bad” are created directly from omega 6 sources like soybean oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, saturated fats and trans-fats.  You should avoid these as much as possible to keep your bad eicosanoids to a minimum.

The “good” on the other hand come from daily intake of omega 3 fatty acids.  The best source for this is undoubtedly high fish oil dosage supplements, but you can also get your intake from pumpkin seeds or flax.  Since the concentration of omega 3 in these sources is relatively low, you would need to consume large quantities to get the proper amount.  This is why high fish oil dosage supplements are so desirable.

Back to the Dosage Question

So, exactly what fish oil dosage do we need to consume on a daily basis?  Well, the answer is not in your weight, or age.  The fish oil dosage question can be answered by taking a good look at how you feel and what your overall health is like.

• Are you always tired?
• Do you have body aches and inflammation?
• Are you feeling like you have diminished mental capacity?
• Are you having trouble focusing?
• Do you have a short attention span?
• Do you have hypertension?

There are many other maladies bad eicosanoids can cause, but if you answered “yes” to most or all of these questions, you should start on 3-4 grams per day.  In some people with more severe forms of chronic diseases, it is not uncommon for the fish oil dosage to be close to 10g.  At the same time you should start to reduce your intake of foods that contain omega 6.  Remember, the goal here is to boost the good eicosanoids with omega 3 and reduce the bad eicosanoids by reducing omega 6.

If you are on any type of blood thinning medication like Coumadin, you should speak with your doctor before ever ingesting fish oil supplements.  Since fish oil supplements thin the blood, it is important to consider how this effect combines with the blood thinning effects of Coumadin.

On the other hand, if you answered “yes” to one or two of these questions you’re probably still in the first 2-3 decades of life and in great shape.  You should only take about 1-2 grams daily for maintenance and prevention of chronic conditions.  Your body will thank you later.

You also want to make sure that the fish oil you use is molecularly distilled.  Molecular distillation removes mercury and contaminants from fish oil making it a very safe and cost effective way of getting your daily omega 3 intake.

To learn more about the high dosage fish oil supplement I use daily to maintain good eicosanoid balance, feel free to visit my page.

I don’t know you, but I am willing to bet that if you or a loved one is depressed right now, you’d be willing to take a look at the possible remedies available to you.  This topic strikes a personal chord with me as depression runs in my family.  Can fish oil for depression work?  I absolutely believe it can.  However, don’t take my word for it.  Read the research and the rest of this article, and you’ll be able to determine if in fact fish oil for depression is a viable option.

It seems like every time we turn our heads, there is some new medication, fad, gimmick or supplement claiming it’s the magic bullet cure for chronic conditions like depression.

The reality is, very few are able to live up to their claims.  The good news is that some actually do deserve tremendous praise.  Fish oil supplements are one of them.

If you’ve been depressed, you know that it’s one of the worst things you can experience.  Getting out of bed in the morning is a chore in itself.  Most days it feels like you have to put in three times the effort just to stay on task.  You can’t focus, you barely eat (or eat too much), you lose your motivation, your sex drive is nonexistent and life just seems pointless.  Not to mention crying spells, anger and isolation.  Any hope for brighter days and an exciting future seems to completely diminish.  I’ve been there.

It is estimated that 14 million (5%) of America’s population struggles with depression in various forms and severity.  It is interesting to note that the incidences of depression have increased over the same time period there has been a decrease in fish and fish oil consumption.  Is this just a coincidence?  I don’t think it is.  It has been well-documented that high doses of long-chain omega-3 fish oil supplements have a boosting effect on the serotonin levels in the brain.  This is a known fact.  In some older studies involving giving high dosages of fish oil supplements to dogs, it was found that there was an increase in serotonin in the frontal cortex.

The Japan Factor

The number of depressed people in Japan is only a fraction of what we would find in America or other countries with low fish consumption.  One key difference to note other than the numbers is the fact that the Japanese eat a tremendous amount of fish daily in comparison to those countries with growing numbers of depressed citizens.  Is it that they have better genes?  It’s possible, but impossible to conclude at this point.  Is it that there has been some nondisclosure of depressive episodes in Japan in comparison to America?  This is also possible due to cultural differences.  The likely reason is that the Japanese simply have a higher and more continuous intake of omega-3 in their diets.  In addition to this, Japanese diets are considerably low in omega-6, which has been shown to have negative effects on mental and physical health when not balanced with omega-3 intake.

The Harvard Experiment

You may have heard of Andrew Stoll and his fish oil for depression experiment carried out at Harvard University.    The experiment involved giving one group of patients with bipolar depression high doses of fish oil supplements, and giving the other group an olive oil placebo.  The experiment was set to last nine months.

The Results

After four short months the experiment was halted because the differences between the group taking the fish oil for depression and the group taking the placebo were so vast it was deemed unethical to continue.  From these results it was concluded that the group taking the fish oil supplements experienced an increase in serotonin and an increase in blood flow to the brain which would provide a better distribution of nutrients like oxygen and glucose leading to better mental function and capacity.  It was concluded that fish oil for depression was indeed a viable option in this particular scenario.

Were the fish oil supplements to thank for this tremendous success?  Although the answer will differ with opinions, it wouldn’t seem ludicrous to think that it was.

In a more recent study conducted over a two year period it was “found that both a high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fat and a low level of DHA in the blood predicted suicidal behavior in people with major depression” (Tribole p 100).

In other words, if you’re depressed, your goal is to decrease your omega-6 intake and increase your omega-3 intake.  You can do a fast search on the internet for the common sources of omega-6 fats, and you already know that fish oil supplements are hands down the best way to get omega-3.

Now that you’re armed with this information, you should be able to determine if fish oil for depression is a good alternative for you.  In my personal experienced with depression, it sure beat the synthetic medication alternatives.  Either way, you should consult with your doctor before beginning any treatment or taking fish oil for depresson.  Even though it is impossible at this point to conclusively determine that fish oil supplements are responsible for decreases in depression, the evidence seems to overwhelmingly point in that direction.

To learn more about the fish oil supplements I take daily to help my depression, feel free to visit my page.