Question about buying fish oil

[ddaniels]

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts or recommendations about buying fish oil. The array of options is dizzying and can get pretty expensive! When I did a search for fish oil at Netrition I came up with this list of products, and I don't have any idea where to start.

http://www.netrition.com/fish_oil_page.html

And, maybe I should be buying a blend of omega 3's and 6's??? And then there is the oil that comes from different fish???

I'm confused!

Debbie

[lcgrrl2006]

I get it from www.jigsawhealth.com the lemon flavored liquid is more potent than the capsules:
Liquid

More concentrated than other fish oils—with 850 mg of EPA and 550 mg of DHA—so you’ll get all of the heart-healthy fatty acids you need in just one teaspoon a day.
Contains a pure, lemon-flavored fish oil blend of cold-water fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids—sardines, mackerel, and anchovy.
Uses molecular distillation to separate and remove toxic contaminants, yet keep the essential fatty acids intact.
Comes in a natural lemon flavor for a fast and easy way to receive a concentrated dosage.
Whole Foods also has a liquid supplement w/lemon
Denise

[Dodger]

Omega-6s are very abundant in the diet, don't supplement with extra.

I use the fish oil capsules from Costco (Kirkland brand).

[ddaniels]

Thank you very much for your response. I read the following interesting article at the site you suggested,

http://www.jigsawhealth.com/nat.aspx?&chunkiid=21684

summarizing many studies on what fish oil may, and may not help with. As I read through the article it seems like there are studies that seem to suggest fish oil is helpful in various ways, but then many other studies that are quite contradictory or inconclusive.

I'm curious if anyone here has actually noticed any improvements in their own health that they can attribute to fish oil.

[ddaniels]

Omega-6s are very abundant in the diet, don't supplement with extra.

I use the fish oil capsules from Costco (Kirkland brand).

I wondered about that. Something I read here (http://www.jigsawhealth.com/products/omega_3_fish_oil.html)

Essential fatty acids, the omega-3s and omega-6s, are so called because the body cannot make them on its own.~They must come from the diet in a balanced ratio. Unfortunately, our processed, convenience food diets are full of omega-6 fats ~ but seriously lacking in heart-healthy omega-3 fats found in nuts, cold-water fish, and more.~This imbalance in fatty acids may trigger the internal inflammation commonly found in many chronic conditions.

So, if you are not eating a lot of "processed, convenience foods" like many of us are not, does that mean we are NOT getting Omega 6's in our diet?

[cs_carver]

My skin is much healthier with my current blend of oils. In the winter, I get nasty cracks in my fingers without supplemental oils. I take about 10 caps a day.

I buy very expensive fish oil from lef.org, because the cheap ones make me burp fishy taste (or fart, if they're a little more expensive). I HATE fish, so the burp is completely unacceptable.

I take flax oil because it's a little cheaper, and I also toss in a borage oil cap.

I spend a snotload of money on vitamins every year. I figure most of the old-lady diseases/conditions are pretty expensive too, and I hope I'm investing in prevention. With only one rat in the study, it's hard to know if it's really making a difference. Call me in 30 years.

[NYNikki]

Hi ddaniels/Debbie :wave:

Good quality fish oil can be expensive but you can always find a sale at www.puritan.com (Buy 1 Get 2 Free).

They sell a Liquid Fish Oil with Cinnamon - EPA 520mg/DHA 340mg in 2 teaspoons- http://www.puritan.com/pages/file.asp?xs=F5C283B3CC094794BE79FA1EC4566318&PID=5463&CPID=8245&np=1&lbl=1#label Cinnamon is a great substance for glucose control. I haven't tried it myself but I know others that are happy with the FishOil/Cinnamon type. I did try the NOW brand as stated on the website you posted and I had a hard time digesting them. At the moment I’m using Puritan Prides Cholesterol Free Fish Oil and haven't had any issues with it.

*caution* Fish oil has a blood thinning effect so you have to evaluate the mixture of other medicine’s and supplements you are taking at the same time as Fish Oil. Some people find they can't digest fish oil. And although it seems like a great product to get the most of at higher doses - it has been found that lower doses are more beneficial to some people.

I suggest starting at a lower dose and add on little buy little. And keep them in the refrigiater because they can go bad quickly.

Good Luck!

[Nancy LC]

Dr. Eades just posted something about Krill Oil in his blog. www.proteinpower.com

I'm going to try it, it is a bit different from fish oil.

[lcgrrl2006]

I don't have the depression I used to. Don't know if I can attribute that to the fish oil or not....my skin is softer, but I take unrefined, organic coconut oil every day also....Denise

[lcgrrl2006]

Be careful - make sure the cinnamon is water soluble - don't know if that applies to cinnamon in oil though....Hi ddaniels/Debbie :wave:

Good quality fish oil can be expensive but you can always find a sale at www.puritan.com (Buy 1 Get 2 Free).

They sell a Liquid Fish Oil with Cinnamon - EPA 520mg/DHA 340mg in 2 teaspoons- http://www.puritan.com/pages/file.asp?xs=F5C283B3CC094794BE79FA1EC4566318&PID=5463&CPID=8245&np=1&lbl=1#label Cinnamon is a great substance for glucose control. I haven't tried it myself but I know others that are happy with the FishOil/Cinnamon type. I did try the NOW brand as stated on the website you posted and I had a hard time digesting them. At the moment I’m using Puritan Prides Cholesterol Free Fish Oil and haven't had any issues with it.

*caution* Fish oil has a blood thinning effect so you have to evaluate the mixture of other medicine’s and supplements you are taking at the same time as Fish Oil. Some people find they can't digest fish oil. And although it seems like a great product to get the most of at higher doses - it has been found that lower doses are more beneficial to some people.

I suggest starting at a lower dose and add on little buy little. And keep them in the refrigiater because they can go bad quickly.

Good Luck!

[ddaniels]

Wow, you guys are very knowledgeable- thanks for the input!

That article on krill oil was really interesting. I think I may check that out.

[gryfonclaw]

Yes, I am considering krill oil instead of fish oil now...

[ddaniels]

I don't have the depression I used to. Don't know if I can attribute that to the fish oil or not....my skin is softer, but I take unrefined, organic coconut oil every day also....Denise

That's interesting, as I've heard more evidence for the use of fish oil in treating depression- and know of someone whose psychiatrist is having her use fish oil as an adjunct to her other medications.

[Laura W]

I just read that about krill oil from Dr. Eades yesterday and was wondering about that as well. Has anyone done any investigating as to amounts recommended? Lowest cost? I started looking a bit yesterday, but got side tracked.

[NYNikki]

I know several people who have switched from Fish Oil to Krill Oil and now prefer the Krill Oil to Fish Oil. I'm told a good Krill Oil should contain 100% Antarctic Pure Krill Oil. A general price is 500mg/60 softgels/$20.89 and it's lower in calories and cholesterol.

http://betterhealthinternational.com/nko.asp

[mirielle]

Some doctors are trying fish oil as mood stabilers in bipolar disorder. I do fish oil every day. I don't think it makes a difference in my mood.

[Nancy LC]

I know several people who have switched from Fish Oil to Krill Oil and now prefer the Krill Oil to Fish Oil. I'm told a good Krill Oil should contain 100% Antarctic Pure Krill Oil. A general price is 500mg/60 softgels/$24.00 and it's lower in calories and cholesterol.

I'm about to make a vitamin order and will adding this to my list. :thup:
I think there's only one company in the world that produces Krill Oil, according to what Dr. Eades wrote.

My arthritic symptoms have been a bit less, but it is highly variable. We shall see!

[Nancy LC]

I just read that about krill oil from Dr. Eades yesterday and was wondering about that as well. Has anyone done any investigating as to amounts recommended? Lowest cost? I started looking a bit yesterday, but got side tracked.

Dr. Eades takes... remembering... 1 gram of KO and a couple grams of Fish oil, just to save money.

[ddaniels]

I did some checking on prices for Krill oil. For a 60 count bottle of 500mg capsules I've seen it as low as $21 and as high as $35, so there is quite a range. Some places are doing buy 2 get one free deals, etc. so you just need to do your homework. If you have a favorite vitamin supplier, I'm sure they have it, although I went to a health food store today and they didn't carry it. Here are a few places I found with a range of options and prices:

http://www.sourcenaturalscatalog.com/essential-fatty-acids-neptune-krill-oil.html

http://www.papanature.com/store/ProductsList.aspx?c=Herbs&cid=neptune_krill_oil&gclid=COGx9v7HtYYCFRSgWAodFxinOA

http://betterhealthinternational.com/nko.asp

http://mt-naturals.com/vitaminstore/index.php?action=item&id=607

http://www.vitaminlife.com/search.php?nodecode=true&search_term=krill+oil&brand=&submit=Search&gclid=CInQiP_KtYYCFQ2tWAodfj_CTw

And at Froogle:

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=krill+oil&hl=en&lr=&client=safari&rls=en-us&sa=X&oi=froogle&ct=title

[jbrennsk]

Hey ddaniels...

Hope it's not too late to chime in with my .02 about fish oil. I have been using Carlson's Cod Liver Oil (Lemon Flavor) for about three years now. I've tried others but they were too fishy tasting. Carlson's has no fish taste at all. It is available from Carlsonlabs.com directly or from the Vitamin Shoppe stores. It isn't cheap.

I started taking 1 TBSP of it every morning, originally because I read that it helps to raise HDL cholesterol. I was plagued with low HDL numbers for years (23, 25, 27). My HDL has improved significantly now to 56 (which still is somewhat low but in the normal range).

And I swear that it helps prevent colds, sniffles, sinus infections. Can't prove that, but I am inclined to believe it from my experience.

My .02

Joe

[ddaniels]

I started taking 1 TBSP of it every morning, originally because I read that it helps to raise HDL cholesterol. I was plagued with low HDL numbers for years (23, 25, 27). My HDL has improved significantly now to 56 (which still is somewhat low but in the normal range).


Joe

Wow, that's really interesting! I know that sometimes I hear people in the forum here who are disappointed that they aren't experiencing the improvement in their cholesterol numbers like they expected they would after switiching to low carb. Perhaps this is the piece they are missing.

My husband has interstitial cystitis, which is how I got interested in fish oil in the first place, because I heard it might help with inflammation. He also has trouble with elevated cholesterol. I had bought him some fish oil capsules to take but they were a cheap-o brand and I was concerned they they might not have enough fishy "goodness" in them to to the job.

Now I'm wondering if the different types of fish oil might be good for different things. Is cod liver oil, for example, great for raising HDL and maybe a different fish oil, like the Krill, is better for something else.

Debbie