Guide to Buying Fish Oils

Buying fish oils supplements? Walk into any health food store and you'll be greeted with a multitude of different brands, dosages and formulations.

Like any savvy consumer, you should know exactly what you want before stepping into the store.

Here's a few things to consider when shopping for fish oils:

• Do you know the difference between fish oil tablets or liquids?
• How much EPA and DHA are you getting?
• What's the fish source?
• Pharmaceutical-grade?

Below is more detailed information on the various aspects of buying fish oils and what to look for.

Liquid or Tablets?

When you buy fish oils, you can get them in two forms, liquid or soft gel/capsules.

There are many advantages and disadvantages of both forms.

Liquid fish oils

Usually provide a higher concentration of omega 3 fatty acids per dose.

The only disadvantage is a single bottle of liquid fish oils may have a higher upfront cost than a bottle of fish oil capsules. But when compared on a cost-per-gram basis, you'll find liquid is cheaper than capsule.

Learn more from my Guide to Liquid Fish Oil Supplements.

Fish oil capsules

Offer a convenient way to take fish oils. Pop a few in your handbag or gym bag and you can take them when ever you want.

Capsules also help keep the oil from going rancid and they're tamper-proof.

There are other advantages and disadvantages of using fish oil capsules. You can learn more about capsules with my Guide to Fish Oil Capsules.

The higher concentrated levels of omega 3 fatty acids in liquid fish oils is the main reason people use that form.

When buying fish oils, you'll have to decide what form you wish to take them and judge accordingly. A general rule of thumb is the higher amount of omega 3's per dose, the higher the cost for a stronger potency.

One company that offer a variety of forms is Carlson Labs Fish Oils.

Amount of Omega 3 per Dose

Most fish oils come in 1000 mg. dosages as a soft gel or tablet.

The bottle label should indicate the amount of omega 3 fatty acids (EPA or DHA) you're getting per soft gel or dose. This can be indicated in milligrams or percentage.

When buying fish oils, it's important to read the label to know exactly what you're getting. Some brands of fish oil will offer you a higher amount of omega 3 per dose than others.

As stated above, liquid fish oils will give you a higher amount of omega 3 fatty acids per teaspoon, compared to soft gels or capsules.

Generally, the industry standard is around 30% of omega 3's per dose.

This means a 1000 mg. soft gel will contain about 300 mg. of omega 3 fatty acids. The rest is usually 'fish filler'.

Is there a fish oil that offers you even higher amounts of omega 3's than the industry standard?

Yes there is!

My webpage on Getting The Best Fish Oils offers a special report on a fish oil with over 60% omega 3 fatty acids per dose!

This highly purified, pharmaceutical-grade fish oil has been rated by an independent lab to have the highest levels of omega 3's and the lowest parts per trillion of contamination.

When you compare this premium fish oil on a cost-per-gram basis, you'll see that it's actually more cost effective as you get more omega 3 fatty acids per gram.

Fish Sources Used for Oil

Not all fish are equal in omega 3 fatty acids. Some are higher than others.

Fish highest in omega 3 fatty acids are:

• salmon
• herring
• mackerel
• sardines
• anchovies

Avoid fish oils made from Sole and Yellowfin tuna. They have very low levels of omega 3's. Unfortunately, you'll find some labels don't even list the source of fish.

Pharmaceutical-Grade Fish Oils

Are you worried about getting mercury, heavy metals and PCBs when buying fish oils?

You won't get any of these toxic compounds if you buy pharmaceutical-grade fish oils.

Pharmaceutical-grade fish oils are like the Rolls-Royce of fish oils. You're buying fish oils that are highly purified with the highest amounts of EPA and DHA.

Fish oils must meet the following criteria to be called 'pharmaceutical-grade':

• Must be made according to strict "pharmaceutical standards" to help ensure the oil is free of contaminants, such as heavy metals and other harmful substances.
• Must provide at least 60% of the important omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.

Learn the other factors that will determine if you're using a pharmaceutical-grade fish oil by visiting my webpage on Pharmaceutical Fish Oils.

One brand that meets these criteria are fish oils produced by Dr. Barry Sears.

Dr. Sears created a specialized high-dose fish oil called Zone Labs Omega 3 Concentrates. These fish oils are highly purified and offer the highest concentration of omega 3 fatty acids for maximum anti-inflammatory control.