For years when someone would mention that they had found the best fish oil people would just roll their eyes believing that the messenger was simply some kind of health nut pushing another brand of snake oil. But a strange thing happened to this fellow on his way to the natural health funny farm; science started to support his enthusiasm for finding the best fish oil.   Nevertheless, still omega 3 rich supplements such as fish oil and flax oil are being met with a great deal of skepticism. I know this because just the other day I happened to hear a conservation between a couple in their late 40’s or early 50’s that was quite enlightening. The man who was in somewhat poor health, who had a history of heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis, had paid a visit to his long time doctor for his annual checkup. Expecting a new wiz band medication he was shocked when the doctor asked him if he had considered supplementing his diet with the best fish oil he could find. I don’t know what was said between doctor and patient after that but what I do know is what this man said to his wife. Rather than embracing the new side effect free supplementation ideas he rebelled, and was furious that his physician had suggested something like this after all this time. After all he needed help, not some natural fish oil that couldn’t possibly produce any noticeable results. He then mentioned that the doctor must have found this information on the Internet because he had run out of ideas.   The truth here is that this gentleman probably has a very good doctor that keeps up with current research trends rather than staying stuck in the past. Many top cardiologist have are embracing omega 3 rich foods and supplements due to their ability to quell general inflammation.   This benefit found in the best fish oil supplements is thought to be produced by two essential omega 3 fatty acids; docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). DHA is essential for the proper functioning of our brains as adults, and for the development of our nervous system and visual abilities during the first six months of life. In addition, omega 3 fatty acids as a part of a healthy diet plan have a positive effect on existing heart disease, help lower triglycerides,  lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of blood clots, improve artery health, and reduce the amount of plaque in the arteries.   So the doctor was really trying to tell this man what they were doing wasn’t having the desired effect and that perhaps trying the best omega 3 rich fish oil he could find just might improve his overall prognosis.   What Next? Finding the best fish oil or best fish oils involves both purity and high DHA levels. Generally the best fish oil is considered to be pharmaceutical grade and contains fish body oils from cold water fish such as salmon, herring, hoki, and/or tuna. Also, make sure molecular distillation has been used to separate the toxins (mercury etc…) from the fish oil based on molecular weight fractionation.

Did you know the fish oil vitamin, as some people call it, is actually a different kind of nutrient, although the definitions are very similar?  Vitamins are organic compounds required in tiny amounts by an organism. The compounds cannot be synthesized by the organisms, so they must be obtained from the diet.   This definition leaves a lot of gray area that can be downright confusing to the average person.   Sometimes, it is easier to just refer to them all as vitamins, but the term is not generally used to refer to essential fatty acids. Although we think of fat as the stuff that makes people overweight and causes cellulite, fats are also necessary for human health.   They make up cellular membranes and carry nutrients through the bloodstream, passing them from the digestive tract, along to all of the cells of the body. Some dietary fats are more beneficial than others.   According to years of research, the fish oil vitamin or “technically” the essential fatty acids that it contains are the most beneficial. Most oils contain some good and some bad fats.   Olive oil, for example, contains some omega-3s and some omega-6s.   While both are essential for human health, there is an imbalance in the typical Western diet.   Too much of the fat consumed is omega-6, while very little is omega-3.   This imbalance, researchers believe, contributes to chronic inflammation throughout the body, which in turn plays a role in heart disease and cancer. That’s why you will see that the claimed benefits of the fish oil vitamin include a reduced risk of heart disease.   But, in truth, close attention should be paid to the foods that you eat, in order to reduce your intake of omega-6 fatty acids. It may take a little research to do that.   Omega-6s are hiding in some unlikely places.   Bread and baked goods are examples.   In practically all foods there is a higher concentration of omega-6s than omega-3s. Only in flax seed oils and fish oils is the concentration of omega-3s higher than the omega-6.   So, those supplements can be used to tip the balance back in favor of the omega-3s. The fish oil vitamin or essential fatty acid is different from the one found in flax.   Only the fishes provide DHA and EPA, which are essential for normal brain development in infancy, work to lower blood triglyceride levels and help to prevent heart disease. Most people don’t like the flavor of flax oils, which is why they are not generally used for cooking.   The oils with the best balance for cooking are those derived from canola.   They contain only twice as many sixes as threes. But, for supplementation, it is the fish oil vitamin that you want to look for.   Just make sure that you choose one rich in DHA to get the best value for your money.

The flax seed oil benefits pale in comparison with the sheer amount and quality of benefits from the best fish oils. The reason for this is down to the type of omega 3 that flax oil contains. Alpha-Linolenic Acid or ALA is what gives the flax seed oil benefits and while good for the heart and cholesterol, they work differently in the body, produce much more limited benefits and are rarely, if ever, converted into the two main omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. Of these two acids, the best source of which is fish oil, DHA is largely responsible for most of the benefits including prevention of heart attacks and strokes, improved immune system, lower blood pressure and above all, much improved brain health and mental well-being. It can easily be converted into EPA if the body needs it, but this does not work the other way round, making it far more useful and versatile that any other fatty acid. When you realize that over 30% of an adult brain is composed of DHA fats, it’s easy to see why they are so vital, especially as we have to get them from our diets as the body cannot make them. It is estimated today that over ninety percent of the population is deficient in these essential fatty acids and therefore vital that we introduce more of the right kind into our diets. The best way is via a distilled fish oil supplement with high levels of DHA, at least 250mg per capsule and one that has been molecularly distilled to remove all the toxins like mercury, lead, PCB’s and arsenic. With more health benefits being discovered all the time from DHA fats, it makes more sense, unless you are vegetarian, to use the best fish oil supplements instead of just settling for the flax seed oil benefits. If you would like to learn more about the high quality DHA omega 3 supplements I personally take daily, visit my website today.

Let’s face it.   There are probably some of you out there that are a little confused when it comes to the fish oil VS flax seed oil debate over which one is the best source of omega-3 fatty acids.   Both of these sources are beneficial to your health, and they are effective at treating some of the same things.   It all comes down to which of these nutritional supplements offers you more overall. The primary omega-3 fatty acid in flax seed oil is alpha-linolenic acid, which can also be found in fish oil.   There are not a lot of plant oils that have a high level of alpha-linolenic acid.   Most plant oils are much richer in linolenic acid, which is an omega-6.   Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids compete for positions in cell membranes, and they have very different effects on your health. Alpha linolenic acid shouldn’t be a figure in the discussion of fish oil VS flax seed oil, because since both have it you are getting the same benefits.   What alpha-linolenic acid does is lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.   It is still unclear whether the protective effect against cardiac arrhythmia comes from alpha linolenic acid, or from the fatty acids EPA and DHA. What is known is that both EPA and DHA are factors in treating far more than just cardiovascular disease.   They have an effect on allergies, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, visual function, cognitive development, brain function, arthritis, and gout.   These two omega-3 fatty acids even play a role in the prevention and treatment of certain types of cancer. When it comes to the discussion over fish oil VS flax seed oil the supporters of flax oil are always quick to point out that the body can transform alpha-linolenic acid into EPA, and EPA is capable of a metamorphosis into DHA.   This series of conversions is far less efficient than simply absorbing the EPA and DHA that is naturally found in fish oil, so to talk about these conversions as though they were a benefit of some kind is a poor argument for flax seed. One of the other things that flax seed oil has going against it is that it has a very short shelf life.   Even when kept under cool conditions this oil only has a few weeks before it becomes rancid.   When oil becomes rancid it contributes to the formation of free radicals, and may even become carcinogenic.   Do you really want to take a chance on an oil this highly oxidative? When it comes down to it the issue of fish oil VS flax seed oil is not even arguable, because the contest is not even remotely close.   Forget about flax oil, and get yourself the highest quality fish oil supplement that you can possibly find.   There are some companies with very good products out there, but a few of these formulas stand out from the rest. Now nobody has to be confused over fish oil VS flax seed oil, because it is fish oil by a mile.

Omega-3 is found in many different forms. Dr. Sears discusses the best available sources on Breakfast TV.

I am starting to use animal cuts now. I saw a bottle of this fish oil, flax seed oil and some other oil combination at walmart. I was just wondering if it would have an effect (good or bad) with my animal cuts supplements? Im sure it wont but I just need clarification on it.

I have grief-induced depression that my doctor doesn’t think is serious enough for antidepressants but should be treated, and she suggested taking fish oil everyday because apparently it’s been helpful for teens who are mildly depressed. The problem is that I am a vegan, so I don’t want to take fish oil, especially since they come in gelatin capsules. I’d like to take flax oil instead, but I don’t know if it would be beneficial. Please let me know. Thanks! : )

The fish oil vs. flax seed oil debate is something that has been going on for years now. Proponents of fish based oil say that it is the best health supplement and proponents of flax seed oil say that it is the best health supplement. To be fair to both these groups, I have read some very convincing articles written by people from both sides. Now, the question is ? which one is better and why? Let us take a detailed look. The whole debate of fish oil vs. flax seed oil started when health experts around the world acknowledged the numerous health benefits of n-3 fatty acids, which are more commonly called omega 3 fatty acids. The most important omega 3 fatty acids include docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and alpha linolenic acid (ALA). What is so special about these omega 3 fatty acids? Let me tell you. Various studies have confirmed that a regular consumption of omega 3 fatty acids can significantly reduce the risks of various health problems like coronary artery disease, cancer, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, varicose veins, depression, anxiety, varicose veins, Alzheimer?s disease, Parkinson?s disease, and more. A regular dose of these health supplements is known to improve brain health in the long term. Also, omega 3 fatty acids can boost the immune system and improve the disease resistance capacity of a person significantly. Now let us come back to the fish oil vs. flax seed oil debate. Fish oil ? It is rich in both DHA and EPA ? the two most important omega 3 fatty acids. So, without a doubt, it is very good for your health. To get the best results, go for fish based oil made from clean water fish like hoki which is rich in DHA. Since these types of fish are found only in very few areas in the world where there are no threats of mercury contamination and other types of sea pollution, they are clean and good for your health. Flaxseed oil ? It is rich in ALA. When you consume flaxseed oil, the ALA present in it is converted into DHA and EPA. So, proponents of this oil, who are mostly vegetarians who do not eat fish based products for obvious reasons, claim that it is just as good as fish oil. However, there is a small problem with this theory when it comes to the fish oil vs. flax seed oil debate. Let me tell you what it is. Like I already said, the ALA present in flax oil gets converted into DHA and EPA by the body. However, this conversion process is not very effective as the DHA molecule is a lot more complex than the ALA molecule. So, only a fraction of the ALA present in flax oil is converted into DHA. As a result, your body does not get the amount of DHA and EPA it wants. So, fish oil, which is a direct source of DHA and EPA, is a better alternative than flaxseed oil. In my opinion, that seals the fish oil vs. flax seed oil debate.