Numerous studies in recent times have called attention to the value of omega-3s for wellness. Our bodies cannot produce omega-3s, so we must obtain them in our food. The most common way that people consume omega-3 is by eating fish. However, this guide shall illustrate the difficulty with acquiring omega 3 fatty acids from fish, and then will explain what to look for in fish oil supplements.
Fish Is No Longer a Secure Source of Omega-3
Prior to fish oil supplements, eating fish was the only way to get omega-3s in our diet. This was an effective method, but the truths of an industrialized planet means increased water pollution. The consequence is that fish have become contaminated with all kinds of toxins like PCBs, mercury, arsenic, dioxins and heavy metals. These toxins have been implicated in a wide array of chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, blindness, birth defects and even death.
Omega-3 Supplements Are Also At Risk of Contamination
As a result of these complications, more and more people are looking to fish oil supplements as a solution. However, fish oil supplements are affected by the same risks, despite the fact that the majority of fish oil makers claim that their products are clean. A recent study by the UK’s Food Standards Agency instigated the retraction of several fish oil brands because of extreme levels of contaminants!
Also, think about this surprising report from Greenpeace about OmegaProtein, the biggest manufacturer of fish oil products in the world. Their investigation reveals that OmegaProtein’s fish oil wares were found to be contaminated by poisonous amounts of flame retardants! However, probably we should take this information with skepticism considering Greenpeace’s ideological stance, but supposing it is accurate, it is extremely alarming!
So now that you are aware of some of the risks inherent in fish oil supplements, what can be done about it? Luckily, there are a handful of guiding principles that make it simple to evaluate an omega-3 supplement for potency and safety.
The Gold Standard: The International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS) Certification Program
The ideal method to know if an omega-3 product is a sound, quality supplement is by choosing one that’s been consistently certified by the International Fish Oil Standards program, or IFOS. The IFOS program is a voluntary 3rd-party certification organization that evaluates fish oil supplements along 5 guidelines:
- Passes All Testing Categories by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and World Health Organization (WHO)
- Greater than 60% Omega-3 Fatty Acid Concentration
- Levels of Oxidation Lower Than 75% of Council for Responsible Nutrition Requirement
- PCB Amount Less Than 50% of Council for Responsible Nutrition Requirement
- Dioxin Amount Less Than 50% of WHO Requirement
These standards were chosen because the standards used by the CRN (Council for Responsible Nutrition) and WHO (World Health Organization) were not rigorous enough to let larger doses of omega-3 fish oil. To get the rewards of omega-3, one must regularly consume much more than simply the 1 gram a day that has been typically recommended. The basis for why only 1 gram has been recommended, however, is due to adulteration risks. This is plainly not a issue if you’re ingesting an IFOS-tested brand.
If you aren’t consuming an IFOS-certified brand, you are certainly more in danger of ingesting toxins. Chances are, despite the fact that your omega-3 brand may assert to be purified by “superior molecular distillation” (a marketing phrase), it may not be harmless to take. Since the International Fish Oil Standards organization reports the results of their studies on their website, you can research the best brands of fish oil supplements available.
Brittany M. Wallace is a health and nutrition expert.
