How to Choose a Fish Oil Product?

Fishing for Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet? What to look for in a fish oil supplement can prove to be a dilemma, especially when there are a number of products out there all claming to be one better than the other. How do you choose? Before we move to answer that, let’s see what omega 3 fatty acids are and why they are so essential to our diet.
There are two broad categories of fat—polyunsaturated fat and saturated. As against saturated fats which remain hydrogenated at room temperature, polyunsaturated fats remain liquid at room temperature or refrigerated. What does the type of fat we eat have to do with our body and the way it functions? Our cell membranes are composed mainly of fatty acids. The cell membrane is semi-permeable and responsible for allowing proper nutrients to enter the cell, and expelling waste matter. It is believed that a diet high in saturated fat intake produces membranes which are hard and lack permeability. Cells are unable to function properly and eventually die, causing a number of degenerative diseases. Diets rich is omega 3 fatty acids produce cell membranes with a high degree of fluidity, thus helping to maintain optimum cell functioning. Increasing our body’s ability to maintain good health at the most basic level subsequently increases the proper functioning of our vital organs and our overall health!
While there are a chain of omega 3 fatty acids, the two important omega 3 fatty acids are – eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The other omega 3 fatty acids are sufficiently obtained from a normal diet. EPA and DHA are the ones that play a role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Precursors of EPA and DHA are found in flax, walnut, and soybeans. Supplements containing these are usually not as effective as fish oil supplements as it depends on the individual’s ability to absorb precursors in the body to produce EPA and DHA. This differs, depending on individual health.
EPA and DHA are directly found in cold water fish like mackerel, salmon, lake trout, sardines, tuna, halibut, and herring.
Research in the field of cardiovascular and related heart disease shows that these omega 3 fatty acids:

• keep blood from clotting excessively,
• lower the amount of lipids (fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides) circulating in the bloodstream,
• decrease platelet aggregation, preventing excessive blood clotting,
• inhibit thickening of the arteries, increases the activity of another chemical nitric oxide, which causes arteries to relax and dilate,
• reduce inflammatory response associated with atherosclerosis.

• healthy people,
• those at high risk of cardiovascular disease
• those who have cardiovascular disease.

• An omega -3 supplement derived from actual fish fat and not from synthetic sources.
• Make sure the label tells you which fish was used and preferably which waters it comes from. Farm-raised fish can be unhealthy because of the crowded farming conditions and the necessity of injecting fish with antibiotics and pesticides.
• The fish oil supplement should be made of pharmaceutical grade fish oil. Farm raised fishes are known to be mercury contaminated. Consumption of such fish oil can increase the cardiovascular related risks.
• It should pure and rich in omega-3 contents.
• It should contain highly concentrated levels of DHA and EPA. Minimum 300mg EPA and 300mg DHA is safe for consumption.
• It should be prepared by molecular distillation process. This process guarantees the purity of the product. This process does not disturb the overall constitution of the product.
• The product is from a reputed manufacturer and follows the established standards laid down by the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration laws.

Article Source: http://www.orbitaloc.com/

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