Omega-3 fish oil supplements are a simple way to add essential fatty acids to your diet. Essential fatty acids are nutrients that your body needs each day in order to function properly. When choosing a fish oil supplement, pick a product that has been molecularly distilled to remove potentially harmful toxins and tested by a credible third party.
Health Benefits
University of Maryland Medical Center states that omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish oil decrease inflammation and reduce the risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease, arthritis and cancer. The Harvard School of Public Health adds that omega-3 fatty acids may also help control the symptoms of lupus, eczema and rheumatoid arthritis.
Essential Functions
In addition to the health benefits associated with purified omega-3 fish oil, your body uses the omega-3 fatty acids for a variety of essential functions. Some key functions that omega-3 fatty acids are involved in include the production of hormones, the regulation of blood clotting, proper cell membrane physiology, brain function and in the relaxation of artery walls, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.
Purification
To be sure that your fish oil product is pure do some investigating. The manufacturer should submit its product to a third party for testing. Look for the purity-test label on the bottle. Testing checks the ingedients' integrity and measures levels of PCB, mercury, heavy metals and oxidation in accordance with the Council for Responsible Nutrition safety standards for fish oil. The council states that companies that submit products for testing voluntarily adhere to a strong code of ethics, dosage recommendations and manufacture dietary supplements to high quality standards under good manufacturing practices.
Considerations
The Harvard School of Public Health recommends that you eat fish at least two times per week to get the full benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. If you take a purified fish oil supplement, you can take it daily, but you should not take more than 3 g from capsules per day without the supervision of a health care provider, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Even though fish oil is a natural substance, you should talk with your doctor before starting a daily regimen of fish oil if you are on medications to avoid any interactions.
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