Allergy and Fish Oil Concerns

"Strengthen you body with omega 3 fish oils and fight allergies!"

Do you have an allergy to fish and wonder if you can use fish oil supplements?

Or do you have allergies and want to use fish oils to cure them?

Allergies can be really bothersome. Itchy eyes, runny noses, sneezing and congestion can really impact your way of life. Even more dangerous is the threat of anaphylactic shock which can lead to puffiness, edema and even swelling of the airway leading to respiratory arrest.

If you're seeking a cure for allergies, or you have an allergy to fish, you may be curious about the health benefits of omega 3 supplements and fish oil products.

The Benefits of Omega 3 Fatty Acid Supplements

Research has shown that fish oils are an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

These omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to offer many health benefits; reducing high triglyceride levels, improving mood, enhancing visual acuity in infants, and most importantly - lowering inflammatory chemicals in the body.

And it's these anti-inflammatory properties that may help if you suffer from allergies.

First of all, What exactly is an Allergy?

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Having an allergy means your body reacts to a specific protein by releasing histamine and other pro-inflammatory chemicals.

This immune system response is an inflammatory-response and can cause mild rashes to dangerous anaphylactic shock; and it's these types of reactions that may be seen in conditions such as allergic asthma.

You may be one of the unfortunate individuals that experiences seasonal allergies like hay fever or you may be allergic to other things, such as certain foods and spices, animal furs and pet dander, latex, fabrics and even medications.

Food allergies are some of the most common allergies; you probably know someone that has a food allergy or you may even have some yourself. Some people are allergic to peanuts, milk, eggs, shellfish and even fish.

Using Fish Oil Supplements for Allergies

Omega 3 fatty acids in fish oils have been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect.

And research has shown that many allergies involve an inflammatory response in the body. With this in mind, can you use fish oils to reduce your risk for allergies?

Currently, there's conflicting research:

A study from the 2009 Issue of Allergy Journal looked at the results of over 3000 articles on omega 3 fatty acids and incidence of allergic disease.

Scientists at the Allergy and Respiratory Research Group of the University of Edinburgh stated:

"...supplementation with omega 3 and omega 6 oils is probably unlikely to play an important role as a strategy for the primary prevention of sensitization or allergic disease."

However, studies on fish oils and pregnancy indicates that omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oils may help reduce the risk for allergic asthma and allergies in newborns.

Personally, I used to suffer from hay fever every summer with itchy eyes, sneezing and runny nose. Since I began supplementing with 2 tablespoons of omega 3 fish oils, I noticed I no longer experience these symptoms. Could fish oil have treated my hay fever? I'm not sure, but I do know that I enjoy my summers a lot more since my symptoms have gone away!

Does your Fish Oil contain Dangerous Proteins?

Fish proteins may cause allergies

One of the primary culprits responsible for allergies to fish oils is fish proteins.

For some individuals, your immune system may be overly sensitive when exposed to the proteins resulting in an allergic reaction.

But what if you're allergic to fish? Can you take fish oil supplements to get the health benefits of the omega 3 fatty acids?

I think this would depend if there are high levels of fish proteins or other substances in the fish oil that can cause an allergic reaction.

Many of today's fish oil supplements are processed using molecular distillation or other high purification methods to almost completely remove any traces of impurities, thereby leaving you highly, purified omega 3 fatty acids.

Does your fish oil contain proteins?

Some omega 3 fish oil supplements, such as Nordic Naturals fish oils, claim to be free of proteins due to their special processing techniques.

However, I think it is possible for any fish oil supplement to contain a small amount of fish proteins left over from the manufacturing process.

If you have an allergy to fish I think you should also be aware of fish oil capsules.

Almost all fish oil soft gels are made of gelatin that's usually made from collagen.

Collagen is made from the fibrous protein found in animal connective tissue, bones and skin. Depending on how sensitive your immune system is, you may still experience an allergic reaction to these types of supplements.

Although side effects from fish oils are rare, an allergy to fish oil is not something to ignore. If you're considering taking fish oil supplements, it's best to consult with your Physician or Allergist before doing so.

Use this Secret Source for Omega 3 Fatty Acids

So what do you do if you want the health benefits of omega 3 fatty acids, but you can't eat fish or take fish oil supplements?

You can try using fish soft gels made from non-animal protein sources.

Vegan Protein-free Omega 3 Supplement

Another alternative is using Algae-based omega 3 fatty acid supplements.

Algae-based supplements are a great way to get your daily dose of omega 3 fatty acids without exposing yourself to dangerous proteins that may cause an allergic reaction.

For example, Minami Nutrition produces a vegan omega 3 supplement made from algae called Minami Nutrition VeganDHA.

While fish oils are a great source of omega 3 fatty acids, you can still get these healthy fats from other food sources.

Walnuts, flaxseeds and flaxseed oil are three excellent sources of omega 3 fatty acids.

One teaspoon of flaxseed oil supplies about 2000 mg. of the omega 3 fatty acid, alpha linolenic acid. One-quarter cup of flaxseeds contains about 7 grams of omega 3 fatty acids while one-quarter cup of walnuts contains about 2.3 grams.

You can find many other food sources of omega 3 fatty acids. The Whole Foods.org website has a chart listing omega 3 content of foods.

Having allergies to fish oil shouldn't prevent you from enjoying the health benefits from omega 3 fatty acids. Aside from whole food sources, you can also choose the option of using plant-based omega 3 supplements.

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