There are many different omega-3 supplements out there. Grazing through the supplement aisle can often leave you with a headache, wondering which fish oil is best for you. Thankfully, we’ve put together this guide to help you sort through which product is best for you and how you can choose the greatest quality supplement available!
1. Purity in triglyceride form.
2. EPA + DHA is important.
3. Take enough omega 3.
4. Keep it fresh!
Purity at its finest!
Think all omega-3’s come from the same source? Think again. Omega 3’s can be found in processed fish, reformed triglycerides, natural fish or fish oils. It’s probably not surprising that staying away from processed fish oil is the way to go. This is because processed fish oil is made up of ethyl esters. Compared to natural fish oil, whole fish or reformed triglycerides, these components are not as easily absorbed in the body, and don't deliver the same level of benefit and anti-inflammatory response your body needs for wellness and ultimate recovery!
EPA vs. DHA: Please explain...
Omega-3’s are primarily made up of three types of fatty acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acids, Docosapentaenoic Acid and Alpha-Linolenic Acid. We like to call them EPA, DHA, and ALA to keep us from getting tongue-tied. EPA and DHA both come from animal sources, and ALA is found in plants. ALA is a precursor to EPA and DHA, and your body has to convert it to either EPA or DHA (at a miserably low rate of 1%-10%). The American Heart Association recommends taking in EPA and DHA to prevent cardiovascular events, since ALA has not been proven to reduce heart disease.
How much fish oil should you take, really?
Many brands trick you into having to take a handful of pills to reach the intake stated on the label. Break out your spy glass and look at the serving size to make sure you don’t need to take 10 pills, wasting piles of money in the process, just to get the recommended dosage stated by the FDA, recommending 3000mg as of 2017. For many brands, 3000 mg of omega 3 can be up to 6 -10 pills. Coromega MAX squeezes are 2,400 mg per serving!
So fresh and so clean.
Usually checking the "sell by" date is the way to go for assessing freshness of pills. Unfortunately, a study by Benjamin B. Albert et al. showed no association between sell by dates and the rancidity of supplements. This is because fish oil supplements can expire and go rancid during transport and storage. Coromega’s supplements are packaged in multi-layered film and kept oxygen free during the entire manufacturing process - all to prevent spoiling or oxidation. When fish and fish oil spoils it releases a strong, fishy scent. If your fish oil pills smell fishy or taste questionable, odds are they are old and oxidized. Look for a supplement with no smell and a fresh taste to know you’re product is up to date.