Fish oil is a great source for Omega-3 fatty acids. Most of the fats we eat are omega-6 or other types of fat, but cold water fish, nuts, and seeds contain Omega-3 fats. There are literally hundreds of studies and articles in the medical literature documenting the benefits of fish oil supplements. Of course eating a diet that is naturally high in Omega-3 fats is good, but these foods may be high in calories, which are not good for weight issues, or may contain heavy metals or pesticides, which if eaten too often can be harmful. So the literature recommends fish oil supplements for most people. And if you have high triglycerides, high cholesterol, vascular disease, a previous heart attack or stroke, attention deficit disorder, depression, or any inflammatory condition such as arthritis or colitis, fish oil can be a part of your treatment.

How much fish oil do I take? Well, if you are interested in maintaining good health and not treating any particular condition, the answer seems to be at least 1,000-2,000 mg per day of the Omega-3 fats. This dose reduces mortality from heart attacks, and reduces arrhythmias. Now the dosing can be confusing since each fish oil capsule contains 1,000 mg of fish oil but lesser amounts of the Omega-3 fats. To determine the amount of omega-3 content, you must read the fine print on the back label which will tell you how much EPA and DHA are in each 1,000 capsule. EPA and DHA are the specific Omega-3 fats. It will contain x amount of EPA and y amount of DHA. You must add these 2 numbers together to get the total amount of Omega-3 fats present in each fish oil capsule. If these numbers add to 300, a relatively low amount of omega-3 fats, then it will take 4-7 capsules a day to get at least 1,000-2,000 mg of omega 3 fats. This is the amount needed for those wishing to prevent certain problems long term but not treating any particular condition.

If you are trying to treat a specific condition, you need at least 2,000-7,000 mg a day of Omega- 3 fats. This may require 7-24 caps a day, which is too many for most people. So you must find a fish oil supplement that has more Omega-3 fats than 300 mg per capsule. Occasionally pharmacies such as Walgreens or CVS will carry them, but more often you must go to a health food store, a vitamin store, or find it on the internet. There is also a prescription fish oil called Omacor, which is high in Omega-3 fats, containing 840 mg per capsule of omega-3 fats. Four capsules a day will provide 3360 mg a day and is recommended for lowering triglyceride levels. Some doctors will recommend up to 7,000 mg a day of the Omega-3 fats for certain things, but you should do this only on the advice of a physician familiar with high doses of fish oil. Fish oil does thin the blood so that cuts will bleed a little longer than usual, but holding steady pressure on a minor cut for 5-10 minutes usually will stop the bleeding.

It is also important to buy a fish oil that is microfiltered to remove all the heavy metals. Salmon and other cold water fish are near the top of the food chain, and their fat accumulates any toxins, such as heavy metals, that are in the algae or smaller fish that they eat. We accumulate the same toxins in our bodies that we consume, so to avoid this, the fish oils are treated to remove such toxins. Also, salmon, or fish oil derived from farm grown fish, has been shown to have higher levels of pesticide residues from food and fertilizers in the water, so farm derived fish oil should be avoided. Ideally a pharmaceutical grade supplement is best if you choose not to take the prescription form. There are several good such supplements available. Ask your doctor for advice if you are not sure what to purchase.