Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplements To Lower Cholesterol

Fish oil is a great source of omega-3 essential fatty acids. Most fish oil contains large amounts of Eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahaenoic acid, or DHA, two omega-3 oils that have been found to be particularly helpful for lowering cholesterol.

Fish Oil Benefits

Fish oil supplements produce three beneficial effects on cholesterol levels. According to David Rowland in his book "The Nutritional Bypass," fish oil can both decrease total cholesterol and increase the healthy HDL cholesterol levels. Medline plus says that fish oil can also reduce triglycerides, which are unhealthy fats that are thought to elevate cholesterol levels.

Krill Oil

According to Dr. Joseph Mercola on his website mercola.com, krill oil is the best fish oil supplement for lowering cholesterol. Krill are small shrimp-like creatures that are not only high in EPA and DHA, but are also high in antioxidants, which most fish oils are devoid of. The antioxidant benefit on cholesterol is twofold. First, a high level of antioxidants in the body can help to reduce bad cholesterol, according to Dr. Elson Haas in his book "Staying Healthy with Nutrition." Secondly, fish oils are very perishable and Dr. Mercola says that they require antioxidants to prevent them from going rancid in your body and causing damaging free radicals. Since krill oil contains antioxidants it is less likely than other fish oils to go rancid.

Research on the Benefits of Krill Oil

NCBI says that scientific research done at McGill University showed that 1 to 3 g of krill oil taken daily can significantly reduce total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides and increase HDL levels. In fact, the study found krill oil to be significantly more effective than fish oil for lowering cholesterol. A final benefit of krill oil is that it is less likely to be contaminated with heavy metals and mercury then other fish oil sources, says Dr. Mercola.

Alternatives to Krill Oil

The biggest drawback of krill oil is that it can be expensive. If you cannot afford krill oil, other fish oil supplements will also provide cholesterol lowering benefits if chosen correctly. David Rowland says in his book "The Nutritional Bypass," that EPA is nature's anti-freeze substance, and it works to prevent the fish's body from stiffening from cold water. Therefore, fish that are found in cold water naturally contain higher levels of the beneficial EPA than do other fish. He states that the best sources of fish oil thus come from: salmon, mackerel, cod, herring, haddock, trout, and whitefish.

What to Look for in a Fish Oil Supplement

When choosing a fish oil, Medline Plus recommends looking at the label and choosing a fish oil supplement that contains 1,800 to 2,100 mg of EPA and 1,200 to 1,400 mg of DHA. Medline Plus also recommends choosing a fish oil that contains some vitamin E. The vitamin E will act as an antioxidant and prevent the oil from going rancid. Finally, you should choose a supplement that claims to be "molecularly distilled" or "certified free from contaminants" to make sure that you are not getting any toxic heavy metals that are often found in fish these days due to pollution.