Peruse the shelves of your neighborhood pharmacy or health food store, and you’ll likely see bottle upon bottle of omega-3 fish oil supplements. Over the course of the last 10 years, these supplements have skyrocketed in popularity, especially in individuals at risk of developing heart disease. While some supplements are pure trend, fish oil has a wide variety of proven benefits – both for healthy individuals and those with conditions like heart disease. But what is fish oil, and why is it such an effective health supplement? Additionally, how can you find the right supplement for you?
Benefits of Fish Oil
Omega-3 fish oil is naturally produced by fish and is especially prominent in fish like salmon, herring, lake trout and tuna. Fish oil contains both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), both of which are essential nutrients that serve a variety of important purposes, including reducing the chance of cardiac arrest and slowing the progression of heart disease:
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduce triglycerides
- Slow the development of plaque in the arteries
- Reduce the chance of sudden cardiac death in individuals with heart disease
Symptoms of Omega-3 Deficiency
Omega-3 has a host of health benefits. Unfortunately, it’s not naturally produced by our bodies, which means it’s easy to become deficient. Unless you’re getting omega-3 from your diet or fish oil supplements, you may experience certain deficiency symptoms:
- Poor circulation
- Dry skin
- Dry eyes
- Joint pain
- Higher risk of cardiac event or heart disease
- High cholesterol
Sources of Omega-3
As mentioned above, omega-3 fish oil is naturally produced in fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring and lake trout. While small amounts of fish are perfectly fine – in fact, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends eating fish twice a week – increasing your fish intake can expose you to high levels of mercury and other contaminants. That’s especially true in fish like mackerel and tuna. Ultimately, fish oil supplements are your best option to consume proper amounts of fish oil without exposing yourself to toxins. Proper supplementation is especially important if you’re at risk of heart disease.
What to Look For In a Fish Oil Supplement
The fish oil boom has produced a lot of great omega-3 supplements. Of course, not all supplements are created equal. It’s important to distinguish between types of fish oil to determine which is best for your body. For example, many fish oil supplements are made with compounds called ethyl esters, which do have several health benefits. Unfortunately, ethyl esters are also extremely challenging for the body to digest. Instead, we recommend a fish oil supplement that contains EPA and DHA in their natural triglyceride form for easy absorption.
If you’re interested in incorporating a fish oil supplement into your routine, stop by Kare Health and Wellness. We offer an Orthomolecular supplement called Orthomega to naturally boost omega-3 levels. The supplements are created using fish oil sourced from the Chilean Coast, providing both EPA and DHA in a natural triglyceride form for better absorption. These supplements have also been purified, vacuum-distilled and independently tested to ensure the least amount of pesticides, heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). They also typically do not give a fishy taste after consumption.
Ready to take the next step in your wellness journey through holistic medicine in Springfield Missouri? Reach out to Kare Health and Wellness at 417-881-4994. Our goal is twofold: to improve your immediate health and prevent future health issues through functional medicine in Springfield Missouri. We offer a variety of supplements and expert coaching to help you feel your best. We can also help you navigate wellness trends, helping you determine which are genuinely beneficial and which are pure quackery.
