Choosing The Correct Omega-3: All Fish Oils Are Not Created Equal!

Ever since Susan started getting such incredible relief from the symptoms of her Rheumatoid Arthritis by taking high doses of Omega-3, I feel like we both have become “experts” on the topic of Fish Oil! With 14 years experience in the industry of nutritional supplements and wellness, the one common theme I like to share with people is this – be picky, even snobby, about the brand of products you choose! In an unregulated industry, food supplements vary widely in quality and, therefore, the benefits we receive from them!

-Dennis Sandler M.D.

I’m all for saving money on food and household goods by shopping at discount warehouses like Costco – after all, we are Executive Level members! The same does not hold true for where we spend our money on nutritional supplements. Especially when it comes to Omega-3 Fish Oil. The benefits of supplementation from Omega-3 Fish Oil are well documented in the medical literature.

The American Heart Association recommends daily fish oil use to lower triglycerides, reduce mortality from heart attacks caused by arrhythmias, and treat hypertension. The strong anti-inflammatory effects of Omega-3 Fish Oil are now being seen by people using higher doses to reduce symptoms from a number of auto-immune diseases and arthritis conditions. Newer studies are now showing an effect from Omega-3 on reducing symptoms from depression, ADD, and ADHD! Dermatologists are also recommending supplementation to improve the skin and hair health. I could go on and on about the benefits, but for those of you that want to research the subject feel free to go to this site: www.OmegaPhysician.com

But beware – all Omega-3 Fish Oils are not created equal. I would not recommend going to your local vitamin store and buying fish oil in bulk at the lowest price possible. This is one area where the old adage definitely applies – you get what you pay for! The 2 most important aspects to consider when choosing an Omega-3 supplement are –

1. Purity – it is always important when choosing any supplement to realize that not all manufacturers adhere to FDA guidelines when it comes to labeling and quality/consistency controls. I would never recommend using a supplement unless it was pharmaceutical grade. Purity is also a problem with just eating fish to get your daily Omega-3… most fish sources are highly contaminated with toxins like Mercury and PCB’s!

2. Concentration – Omega-3 Fish Oil products can vary in the actual amount of Omega-3 in the product – anywhere from 20% (many of the cheaper stores carry these –  yes, this means Costco!) to a maximum of 90% (there is only one prescription brand available that reaches this high of a concentration – it necessitates a doctor’s prescription and is very expensive!)

WINOmeg3complex is the brand that Susan and I use and recommend for daily use. It is 88% concentration, manufactured in one of the only FDA labs approved for manufacture of pharmaceutical-grade fish oil, and it (like all of the products we use and endorse) is listed in the non-prescription PDR (Physicians’ Desk Reference).

WINOmeg3complex is the highest quality Omega-3 available without a prescription! It is 15-18% higher in concentration than the any other fish oil on the market and 50-60% higher than some store-bought brands! Susan takes 6 a day as a baseline and increases to 12 a day when her RA flares. I take 2 a day for long term health and prevention of cardiovascular disease. The AHA recommends 1 gram a day of EPA (one type of Omega-3) which you can get in 2 capsules of WINOmeg3complex!

Tagged as: Fish Oil, Omega 3, omega 3 fish oil, Rheumatoid Arthritis, winomeg3complex