Are you taking fish oils to reduce inflammation and/or pain? It is known that the EPA component of the fish oils is anti-inflammatory so can lessen your pain by reducing the inflammation.
But fish oil supplements are not all created equal! Do not be fooled by the label on the front as 1200 mg of fish oils may not be what you think it is.
As I was reviewing what a therapeutic dose is, I looked up their brand. Hopefully this will help you on how to pick your fish oil supplements.
Fish oil is a dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids. Your body needs omega-3 fatty acids for many functions, from muscle activity to cell growth.
Omega-3 fatty acids are derived from food. They can’t be manufactured in the body. Fish oil contains two omega-3s called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Dietary sources of DHA and EPA are fatty, cold-water fish, such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring and trout, and shellfish, such as mussels, oysters and crabs. Some nuts, seeds and vegetable oils contain another omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). (from Mayo Clinic.com)
A therapeutic dose is at least 2000 mg of just the EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), sometimes up to 4000 depending on symptoms and other considerations. When I say therapeutic, it is the amount shown to lower inflammation. According the Metagenics, that amount can be up to 4000 mg per day based on symptoms and desired outcome.
When I asked my client what she was using, she told me she buys Puritan’s Pride. Puritan’s Pride is a common, not-too-expensive brand of supplements. I am not saying it is good or bad, but as I reviewed the differences between that brand, and another I suggest when helping others choose fish oil supplements, the difference was pretty apparent.
The label says 1 softgel is 1200 mg, but it only has 318 mg if EPA. So a therapeutic dose would be 6 softgels. Yikes.
I know I would not want to take 6 pills per day even if it were ‘the right thing to do’.
But Puritan’s Pride is inexpensive at only $35 for 90 sofgels. That’s $.78 per gel x 6 = $4.67 per day.
I recommended the Metagenics brand –
1 – because I use that brand myself and have for over 23 years even before I became a health practitioner and whole body health nutrition coach!
2 – Metagenics GMP certified and have 3 verifications before packaging and shipping. Plus they have a guarantee on all of their products if you have an adverse reaction or the bottle breaks in shipping.
3 – Their fish oils have more EPA per sofgel – 710 mg to be exact in this OmegaGenice 1000.
4 – They have a variety of fish oils to choose from including straight DHA (for brain and nerve function), SPM fish oils to resolve inflammation plus ones specifically targeted for cardiovascular health or inflammation.
When I did the actual math today, the OmegaGenics, although similar price if you buy 90….
you’ll pay $4.67/ day using Puritan’s Pride vs $1.75-2.25 with the OmegaGenics because you’re taking 2, maybe 3 pills instead of 6 daily.
The OmegaGenics 1000 label indicates that each softgel has 710 mg of EPA. Plus no additional mixed tocopherols (Vit E) and only 100 mg of additional Omega-3 fatty acids. The Puritan’s Pride had 600 mg of additional mixed tocopherols in every softgel.
Too much Vit E could cause no harm but occasionally muscle weakness, fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea occur. (merck.com)
With this OmegaGenics 1000, each softgel costs $.75. Taking 2-3 daily for the therapeutic dose would be $1.50-2.25 per day – almost half of the Puritan’s Pride!
Please…
Be aware of what you are taking. How to choose your fish oil supplement often is as simple as reading the actual label to verify what it is you are getting.
You may think you are saving money or getting the right amount when you really are not.
Plus, if you are not taking a therapeutic dose to lower inflammation, you may not notice any difference in pain or discomfort levels.
If you want a better fish oil, go to jchodorowska.metagenics.com/omegagenics-epa-dha-1000 or come see me and we’ll find the right one for you!
Fish oil supplements are not all created equal!
Hopefully this will give you enough information to help you choose better.
If you have questions about your symptoms or supplements, please reach out by email and we’ll help you choose what is best for you. And don’t forget to check out my blog on the fatty fish with the highest amounts of EPA, too – but I doubt you’ll want to be eating 1-2 pounds of fish per day, which is why fish oil supplements may be much easier than the food version 🙂