Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it claims the lives of more than 652,000 people a year. Possibly the only good thing to come of this is that people have become more educated about the primary risks for heart disease and what they can do to prevent them. Attention has been placed on lowering low density lipoproteins (LDL) and raising high density lipoproteins (HDL). One of the ways that you can accomplish both is by eating more fish or by taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements. But can you get too much of a good thing?
Get the Real Thing
Like purchasing any other product, be sure that when you buy omega-3 fatty acid acid supplements you're getting the best quality product available. Many omega-3 supplements you buy come from cod liver. As such, it is stored in the fish liver as vitamin A and D. If the source of the fish has not been through rigorous chilling and distillation, you could be ingesting mercury. To avoid taking lower grade omega-3 fatty acid with mercury, buy name brand supplements.
Fish Burping
If you take omega-3 supplements according to the manufacturer's directions, one of the common side effects you might experience is "fishy" burps that leave the aftertaste of fish in your mouth. This can occur if you buy inexpensive, lower grade supplements. So, buy a quality brand from a known source.
Follow the Directions
The recommended dosage for omega-3 fatty acids is 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams per day. There have been reports of people exceeding the dosage to up to 12 grams a day (over 10 times the recommended dose) and experiencing diarrhea, heartburn, nausea and vitamin toxicity. If the source of the oil is low-grade, there is also the possibility of ingesting industrial pollutants from harbors.
Inform Your Doctor
If you decide to add omega-3 fatty acids to your daily diet, check with your doctor first. There may be reasons why he'd advise against it. There have been rare reports that taking omega-3 fatty acids can lead to nosebleeds, bruising and blood thinning, but these have been by people who have exceeded the manufacturer's recommended dosage.
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