#2 Product – Dr. Sears OmegaRx

Overall Rating: 80.2%

Product Claims:

OmegaRx is a good product because it does contain a good amount of DHA and EPA in its formula. While they claim purity and high standards for the product, there were some added ingredients including; water, canola oil, citric acid and other ingredients. We had to give this product our #2 Spot.

Omega-3 needs to be combined with Omega-6 in a 3:1 ratio. This means we need to take in more Omega -3 than Omega-6. With the amounts listed on the product labeling, you are getting enough to meet your needs. Our only concern was the added ingredients that could dilute the effectiveness of the product. The #1 Product is 100% Pure, with no added ingredients.

This product landed near the top because Dr. Sears is a trusted source for healthy living, diet and products. However, we noticed the website only contained a paragraph of information on the product. There was also no education included on the website about the importance of Omega-3 and how it works.

This product did receive some positive reviews from consumers that bought it stating it didn’t have any side-effects and helped to lower their cholesterol. Our editor’s only noticed 3 consumer reviews and no others. This left us with the question whether anyone bought the product, or if it was effective and impressive enough for consumers to leave a review.

Value:

Dr. Sears OmegaRx retails for $26.95 a bottle. If you go on the “auto-ship” program, you can get the product for $21.56 a bottle. The serving size is 4 gel caps daily, and the bottle contains 15 servings. This means you would need two bottles a month. Also, our editors feel “auto-ship” programs are risky for consumers. They will continue to send you the product and these programs are hard to cancel.

The company does offer a 30 Day Money-Back guarantee on their products. Just make sure that if you are not satisfied, you remember to cancel any “auto-ship” agreements with the company.

Our Conclusion:

Our editors felt that a product endorsed and made by Dr. Sears was worthy of our #2 Spot. Dr. Sears OmegaRx is a good product with a good amount of both EPA and DHA included. It could have made a higher spot if it did not contain filler ingredients. Also, Dr. Sears promotes health but does not include a lot of education about Omega-3 benefits on the product website.

#5 Product – Nature Made Fish Oil 1,000 mg

Overall Rating: 65.8%

Product Claims:

Nature Made Fish Oil 1,000 mg is actually a quite popular product because it is easy to obtain over-the-counter in most drug stores. While this is a popular product, the amount of Omega 3 is much lower than our #1 Product. The recommended serving size is 3 capsules a day in order to get the 1,000mg of Omega 3, which is more capsules than our number one product.

This product does have good standards including; U.S. Pharmacopeia certified, Purified to remove mercury, Yeast/Starch/Gluten Free and No preservatives. While these are all good points, our editors noticed the use of soy in the product. This means it is not 100% Pure like our number one product. While soy does have some good health benefits, some people may not tolerate soy.

Nature Made Fish Oil 1,000 mg contains EPA and DHA 500mg combined and “other Omega 3 fatty acids” 600 mg. The label does not state where the “other fatty acids” actually come from or what type they are. Transparency is important to our editors and our number one product fully discloses the sources of their ingredients.

While this product graces almost every drug store shelf in America, it fell to our #5 Spot because of the low amounts of EPA and DHA. The numbers are far below our top product and the product requires more servings to equal a full daily dose. Also, 1,000mg daily is a commonly recommended amount by doctors, our number one product equals 1,500mg of Omega 3 per serving.

Value:

Nature Made Fish Oil 1,000mg retails for $10.49 a bottle. This is one of the cheaper Omega 3 supplements and value priced for consumers. It is important to be aware that it takes a lot more of the product to reach the same dosage as our number one product. The consumer reviews only gave it 4 stars for effectiveness. This is probably from the low amounts of EPA and DHA in the product. While you may be saving money, the product may not be effective at all. There are no volume discounts and no return policy. Major drugstores cannot accept opened products back for refunds.

Our Conclusion:

Nature Made Fish Oil 1,000mg is a popular product seen on many drug store shelves. It may be sold everywhere and have a value price for consumers, but it actually has a very small amount of Omega 3 as compared to our top product. There are not enough positive consumer reviews to prove it is effective and they could move up a bit if they included more Omega 3 in the product.

Understanding The Details Of Omega 3

Omega 3 in Detail

The key to understanding the details of Omega 3 is looking at all the different facets of this essential nutrient. Omega 3 is made up of three separate chemicals that each has its own job in body functions. There is; DHA, ALA and EPA. Let’s take a look at each component and the specific role it plays in your health:

DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) – DHA is responsible for the growth of important cells in the eyes, the brain, and nervous system. It also directly affects our emotional and mental health. Our bodies do not make DHA, and it must come from the foods we eat or a supplement. Good sources of DHA are: cold water wild caught salmon, fish oil, and shellfish.

EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) – EPA may reduce the levels of inflammation and reduce incidence of mental disorders. It has shown to be helpful in schizophrenia and ADHD. Babies can get EPA from mother’s breast milk, but older children and adults need to get it from dietary sources. Good sources of EPA include: seaweed, algae, fish, and fish oil supplements.

ALA (a-lnolenic Acid) – ALA keep your cardiovascular system in tune and might have some healthy effects on depression in females. We don’t produce ALA on our own and cannot convert ALA from and to DHA and EPA, because we are missing the necessary enzymes. Good sources are vegetable oil and seed products. Vegetarians can eat sources of ALA because it is plant based.

The Right Balance

Since we cannot produce any of the components of Omega 3 fatty acids by ourselves we must get it from diet or supplements. Now about the balance. Our typical diet today is lower in Omega 3 fatty acids and higher in Omega 6. Omega 6 fatty acids are necessary, but too much of them are not good for you. You need to eat more Omega 3 and less Omega 6 and have just the right balance between the two.

Omega 6 comes from vegetable oil, corn products, and animals fed strictly grain diets. We get Omega 3 from animals fed on grass, cold water wild caught fish, nuts, soy and flax. Getting the right balance helps Omega 3 work better in our bodies. Think of the two as a team. You have to have a 3 to 1 ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 to get the full benefits of these essential nutrients. Problem is these days, we eat way too many foods that are high in Omega 6. Too much Omega 6 cancels out the healthy benefits of Omega 3.

Conclusion

Understanding the details of Omega 3 can help you add more of this nutrient into your diet and get the full benefits of this essential fatty acid. Knowing that it works together with 3 different components will help you make better choices when shopping and preparing meals. When you get the right combination down you will be well on your way to better health!

#4 Product – Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega

Overall Rating: 73.3%

Product Claims:

Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega has some good qualities like; a good informative website, good standards for quality and purity and sustainable fishing practices. The reason this product fell to the #4 Spot was the amounts of DHA and EPA are even lower than our number one product and the other products on our review page.

This product includes 650mg of EPA and only 450mg DHA, which is lower than our number one product. The website is very informative and welcoming to consumers. They even include several studies on the benefits of using Omega 3 in general. There are not actual studies or testing results on the effectiveness of the actual product. Our editors would have liked to see that the product is working for consumers to give it a higher ranking.

Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega gives a good testimonial on global responsibility and sustainable fishing practices to protect the North Atlantic Cod. These are good practices, but there was no evidence of any consumer reviews on the website for consumers to see if this product is actually effective.

Value:

This product retails for $27.95 a bottle. The recommended serving size is 2 gel caps daily, and the bottle contains 60 gel caps. While this is a good price, this product has no proof of effectiveness from studies or consumer reviews. Our editors also could not find a money-back guarantee on the product or certification seals.

This product is also made outside the United States, so there is no guarantee on quality, freshness or purity.

Our Conclusion:

Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega 3 is a good product that pays attention to sustainability and the protection of North Atlantic Cod against overfishing. It took the #4 Spot because the amounts of Omega 3 in the gel caps is considerably lower than our number one product. Our editors could not find evidence of a money-back guarantee or any consumer testimonials.

#3 Product – Purity Products Ultra Pure Omega 3

Overall Rating: 76.1%

Product Claims:

Purity Products Is a good product with a good informative website. While they include good marine based sources of Omega 3 fatty acids, they also include added fillers. We placed this product in the #3 Top Product spot because while they included both EPA and DHA, the dosages are lower than the number one product.

This product contains both EPA and DHA which are important essential fatty acids to help with brain cell formation, heart health, building healthy cells and improving memory. Our number one product contains 800mg EPA and 600mg DHA, while Purity Products Advanced Omega 3 contains 650mg EPA and 500mg DHA. This is lower than our number one product.

Purity Products Advanced Omega 3 is certified by the NSF which is an outside auditor that makes sure a facility meets GMP standards. We could not find a seal on the website that shows this company is GMP Certified. While their products may be quality products and Pure, the number one product shows a certification seal with the GMP.

Value:

Purity Products Advanced Omega 3 retails for $36.65 a bottle. The serving size is 2 soft gels daily and the bottle contains 30 soft gels. Because the dosage for each serving is lower than the number one product, you may need more servings to get the same results as the number one pick.

This product does come with a 60 Day Money Back Guarantee which is always a plus with our editors and shows that a company stands behind their product. We check in on the customer reviews and while they did receive some positive reviews, there were also reviews that the dosage was way less than the consumers physician ordered them to take for their health condition and that the product didn’t seem effective.

Our Conclusion:

Purity Products Advanced Omega 3 is a good product with a reasonable price and a money-back guarantee. This product fell to our #3 Spot because of the low amounts of EPA and DHA. The only certification they have for purity and quality is NSF and the product is made out of the country. Just a little bit higher dosage and we could probably move the product up the list.

Your Brain Needs Omega 3

How Omega 3 Helps Your Brain

Healthy brain cells depend on DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid). This converted form of Omega 3 fatty acid is necessary for good memory, clear thinking and emotional health. Your brain needs Omega 3 to function properly, and if you don’t get enough in your diet, you may need supplementation. This is because Omega 3 fatty acids come from our diet alone.

The brain cells are made up of nearly 15 to 20 percent Omega 3/DHA. This important nutrient soaks into the very nerve fibers in every brain cell. It feeds the tiny neurons that actually cause the brain cells to fire and communicate with the rest of the body. First and foremost, this action regulates things like; moods, memory, cognition, and learning. This is why Omega 3 is so important from infancy through adulthood and beyond.

Omega 3 fatty acid is found in foods like: salmon, free-range chicken eggs, flax, sardines, walnuts, and soy products. Our diet is seriously lacking in many of these foods today, but your brain depends on it. The Mediterranean and Japanese diets contain higher amounts. Here in America, we eat mostly Omega 6 foods.

We need to try to enrich out diet with more Omega 3 foods. Even foods with Omega 3 added are better than no Omega 3. The best diet is one high in seafood, flax oils and seeds, and DHA fortified foods. We need to be adding these foods to our diet at least two to three times weekly to rebuild our stores of Omega 3.

Monaco And Japan Have Less Evidence Of Alzheimer’s

According to World Life Expectancy.com, Monaco in the Mediterranean has an Alzheimer’s and Dementia rate of 0.0. The Japanese have a rate of about 2.5. In the United States, the rate is an extremely high 24.8.

So, why is this you ask? It may possibly be that our diets are significantly lower in Omega 3 fatty acids, while the diets in these countries are mostly foods that contain higher amounts of Omega 3 fatty acids. They eat diets higher in fish, and fish oil is one of the highest sources of Omega 3 fatty acid.

These statistics are alarming and something needs to change. The United States has a higher incidence of brain dysfunction, emotional disorders, and poor cardiovascular health compared to these countries and the solution is very obvious. We cannot ignore this any longer.

Omega 3 and the Growth of Healthy Brain Cells

Studies show that people who have had a traumatic brain injury actually show some signs of recovery after being given Omega 3. Since Omega 3 is a building block of the brain cells, there may be a chance that Omega 3 fatty acids can help the brain grow healthy new cells later in life. It is quite possible that taking Omega 3 can help your body repair damaged brain cells. While this has not been proven yet, scientists are hard at work in studies, and are finding some pretty positive evidence on Omega 3 use and the brain.

Omega 3 and Infants

Some studies show that mothers who use Omega 3 supplements during pregnancy, breastfeed, and/or use Omega 3 fortified formula have babies with higher IQ’s. The control groups in these studies were given non-fortified formula without Omega 3 and there was evidence of lower IQ’s in this group. With your doctor’s recommendation and monitoring, there are supplements to help boost your Omega 3 during pregnancy to help benefit healthy brain cell growth in your unborn baby.

Children also need more DHA and can suffer from vision issues if Omega 3 intake is inadequate. When a child has low levels of Omega 3, they can suffer from poor vision and poor learning.

Getting enough Omega 3 in pregnancy, infancy and childhood may be a very important key to improving the brain function in our society. Some children may refuse fish in their diet, but there are other ways to get this nutrient, and children’s supplements are available. Always seek the advice of your pediatrician before using an Omega 3 supplement in babies and children.

Conclusion

Your brain needs Omega 3 to function optimally, and a diet that contains adequate amounts is the best way to meet your daily requirements. Omega 3 converts to DHA, which is a very crucial nutrient involved in the health function of your brain cells. It can help both with memory/cognition as well as your emotional health.

Studies show that adequate Omega 3 from pregnancy, birth, and on into adulthood can help the brain grow healthy new cells, possibly heal itself, and function properly. Rather than use stimulants, prescription drugs, or allow the decline, why not try a natural supplement to support brain health? Omega 3 is safe to take under a doctor’s supervision with few side-effects and easily obtained over-the-counter. Start feeding your brain what it needs today.

Reducing Inflammation With Omega 3

Using Omega 3 to Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation occurs when our body gives off chemicals that respond to injury. Inflammation is also experienced by those who have heart disease and auto-immune diseases. When inflammation is chronic, it is our body having an over-reaction to something and attacking itself for no apparent reason. Many people need to turn to powerful anti-inflammatory medications or steroids to halt the process. Researchers are now finding a way of reducing inflammation with Omega 3.

Studies of Omega 3 and its role in inflammation, show that it has capabilities to reduce that inflammation. Since Omega 3 has a role in neuro-transmissions, it tells the body to release chemicals that stop inflammation and other chemicals that keep inflammation from coming back.

People who have enough Omega 3 in their system show signs of these anti-inflammatory chemicals.

Studies are ongoing and haven’t quite found the answer why, but researchers found that when they gave study subjects higher dosages of Omega 3, an extra chemical known as resolvin helped reduce inflammation and helped blood vessels heal after open heart surgery.

In auto-immune disorders, the body attacks itself instead of an illness or injury attacking it. This causes high levels of inflammation anywhere in the body. In a separate study of people with auto-immune disease, subjects were tested for Omega 3. The people who had enough Omega 3 in their system produced a powerful chemical known as polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFA. This chemical blocked auto-immune responses by the body.

Omega 3 Requirements for Inflammation

The key to using Omega 3 to help reduce inflammation in the body is to eat a healthy diet with enough Omega 3 foods. Omega 3 foods include; fish, grass fed animal protein, flax seed and flax oil, soybeans, walnuts, and winter squash.

One healthy diet to follow is the Mediterranean diet that is full of nuts, olive oil, fish, and other high Omega 3 foods.

Another good diet to follow is a Japanese type diet. This includes large amounts of healthy fish. You can also take an Omega 3 supplement from 1,000mg to 3,000mg daily.

Omega 3 has been found most effective for inflammation at right around 3,000mg daily. This is the upper recommended limit, so it is important to consult a physician before taking Omega 3 for inflammation. It can have side-effects and a drug interaction with blood thinning medications. You can eat 2 to 3 servings of fish weekly and each serving is about 1.5 grams of Omega 3.

After cardiac surgery, doctors may prescribe up to 4,000mg of Omega 3 to promote healing and reduce inflammation around the heart. This must be monitored by a physician, especially if you are on a blood thinner. For those who do not have health conditions, there are usually no side-effects. Any reported side-effects only involve the digestive system and are alleviated if taken with food.

Some Omega 3 sources may cause allergic reactions, so use caution in choosing a source.

Some fish oil supplements can cause an allergic reaction in those allergic to fish and shellfish. Tree nut allergies cause an allergic reaction to sources made from walnuts. There are many sources so make sure to find the right one for you.

Conclusion

Studies show promising results in reducing inflammation with Omega 3 intake. Omega 3 causes the body to produce chemicals that tell the body to “turn off” the inflammatory process. This reduces the need for powerful anti-inflammatory medications and assists the body with healing. This has already been shown to be helpful in recovering from cardiac surgery. The best way for Omega 3 to help with inflammation is to make sure you are eating enough Omega 3 foods in your diet. You can also add an Omega 3 supplement to your daily routine safely with very few side-effects. Always speak with your physician about adding Omega 3 supplements and stay within the recommended guidelines. You may be able to say goodbye to chronic inflammation and benefit your body in many ways!

The Importance Of Omega 3 And Women’s Health

Omega 3 and Women’s Health

Women lead busy lives today, many with careers outside the home. Even if you are a homemaker, there is often too much going on to cook and eat healthy nutritious meals. The trend in diet has turned to processed and fast foods, and this has caused women’s health to suffer. There are little or no foods containing Omega 3 fatty acids, and we need to understand the importance of Omega 3 and women’s health issues today. Omega 3 is an essential nutrient that helps reduce the risk of heart disease, inflammatory conditions, memory decline, and depression. Omega 3 plays a large role in reducing depression and anxiety in women, yet we are not eating adequate amounts.

Diets have largely turned to mostly processed foods and carbohydrates. This in turn robs the nervous system and brain of needed nutrients to function properly. In addition, too many carbohydrates and the wrong kind of fats can cause us to gain weight. Omega 3 fatty acids is an important nutrient, and increasing the amounts eaten can reverse some health conditions or reduce their symptoms.

Omega 3 fatty acids are found in foods like: cold water wild caught fish, flax and flax products, canola oil, walnuts, and fish oil supplements. Food companies are catching on to the importance of this nutrient and including it in foods such as; orange juice, margarine, yogurt, granola cereals, and breads. With the addition of Omega 3 to these foods, it is easier for women to get what they need.

There is another fatty acid lurking out there, and we are eating far too much of it. Omega 6 is a by-product of grain fed animals and corn. Omega 6 needs to be eaten in lesser amounts than Omega 3 to get the right absorption. At this time, we are eating about 30 parts Omega 6 and 1 part Omega 3. This needs to be reversed. We should be eating 3 parts Omega 3 and 1 part Omega 6 in order to get the proper balance of the two.

Omega 3 Benefits for Women

Omega 3 benefits women’s health and condition by working directly on the cells, nervous system transmissions, and helping the body produce inflammation reducing chemicals. The health conditions Omega 3 benefits are:

Inflammation

Increase in Metabolism

Boosts Memory

Reduction of PMS and Menopause Symptoms

Lower Risk of Female Reproductive Cancer

Increased Fertility With PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)

Lower Rates of Depression/Anxiety

Increased Focus and Attention; reduction of ADHD
(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

Improved Heart Health, Lower Blood Pressure,
Reduced Blood Clots

Improved Fetal Brain Development During Pregnancy

As you can see, the health benefits from adequate Omega 3 from women are numerous. Getting adequate amounts in the diet or through supplementation improves total body health and reduces the risks of a number of women’s health conditions.

Omega 3 Dosage for Women

Research shows when a certain culture eats large amounts of fish, the evidence of certain diseases are lower. Cultures like: the Japanese, Mediterranean countries, and Eskimos in Alaska eat large amounts of fish. The rate of heart disease, high blood pressure, blood clotting disorders and memory disorders, is much lower in those areas. The American diet is very low in fish, and there are many prevalent health conditions related to low Omega 3.

It is recommended to eat at least 2 servings of wild caught cold water fish every week. Fish should be wild caught with the lowest mercury levels possible. Mercury prevents our body from absorbing Omega 3 properly. Eating too much Omega 6 also reduces the proper absorption of Omega 3. If your diet isn’t quite balanced enough, supplements are a good way to get enough Omega 3. If you choose to use an Omega 3 supplement, The American Heart Association recommends taking 1,000mg to 3,000 mg a day. There are some people that must take more than 3,000 mg of Omega 3 daily. Take such an amount only under the advice of a physician.

There may be mild side-effects from the recommended dosage. These include upset stomach and diarrhea but can be reduced by eating along with the supplement. Major side-effects include low blood pressure and risk of bleeding, but these only occur at higher doses, or if you are on blood thinning medications. This is why it is important to check with your doctor before using Omega 3.

Conclusion

Every woman should know the importance of Omega 3 and women’s health. Awareness of Omega 3 and how to get more in our diets reduces many health conditions that affect women today. Omega 3 reduces the risk of heart disease, mental disorders, and keeps our memory sharp. If you get enough of this every day, you’re doing a great thing for your health!

Top 5 Omega 3 Supplements

#1 Product – Omega 3 Premium

Overall Rating: 98.2%

Product Claims:

Omega 3 Premium is our #1 Top Product for omega 3 supplements. The makers of this product bring you the best out there for supplementing omega 3 fatty acids. Our bodies need essential fatty acids to build healthy cells and for us to have a healthy nervous system. They are also helpful in reducing inflammation in the body and reducing the effects of heart disease. In order for omega 3 fatty acids to benefit our body, it has to be a pure form that has been tested for mercury and PCB’s. Plus, contain enough DHA and EPA to be effective. Omega 3 contains Over 1,500 mg Omega 3’s Per Serving.

This product stands above the rest because it is made in an FDA Registered laboratory that is GMP-Certified. This means they maintain strict standards for quality and purity. Omega 3 Premium is guaranteed 100% Pure and PCB FREE. The manufacturer also gives you a formula that contains 800mg EPA and 600mg DHA. This supplement Complies with the U. S. Pharmacopeia’s Standards for quality and purity. It is all of this that makes this product #1 above all the rest.

Value:

Omega 3 Premium offers a deal that cannot be beat. This product retails for $49.95 a bottle. The company offers a deal, 6 bottles for $138.00 a bottle, which brings the price down to $23.00 a bottle. This amounts to Buy 3, Get 3 Free. They also offer a 90 Day Money-Back Guarantee.

No questions asked, just return the product and they will give you your money back.

Our Conclusion:

Our editors gave Omega 3 Premium the title of #1 Product based on all the things this company does to bring you the best Omega 3 supplement. Omega 3 Premium clearly stands above the rest and it shows in the customer reviews and the high certifications they receive for their high quality and standards.

#2 Product – Dr. Sears OmegaRx ™

Overall Rating: 80.2%

Product Claims:

OmegaRx ™ is a good product because it does contain a good amount of DHA and EPA in its formula. While they claim purity and high standards for the product, there were some added ingredients including; water, canola oil, citric acid and other ingredients. We had to give this product our #2 Spot.

Value:

Dr. Sears OmegaRx ™ retails for $26.95 a bottle. If you go on the “auto-ship” program, you can get the product for $21.56 a bottle. The serving size is 4 gel caps daily, and the bottle contains 15 servings. This means you would need two bottles a month. Also, our editors feel “auto-ship” programs are risky for consumers. They will continue to send you the product and these programs are hard to cancel.

The company does offer a 30 Day Money-Back guarantee on their products. Just make sure that if you are not satisfied, you remember to cancel any “auto-ship” agreements with the company.

Our Conclusion:

Our editors felt that a product endorsed and made by Dr. Sears was worthy of our #2 Spot. Dr. Sears OmegaRx is a good product with a good amount of both EPA and DHA included. It could have made a higher spot if it did not contain filler ingredients. Also, Dr. Sears promotes health but does not include a lot of education about Omega-3 benefits on the product website.

#3 Product – Purity Products Advanced Omega-3

Overall Rating: 76.1%

Product Claims:

Value:

This product does come with a 60 Day Money Back Guarantee which is always a plus with our editors and shows that a company stands behind their product. We check in on the customer reviews and while they did receive some positive reviews, there were also reviews that the dosage was way less than the consumers physician ordered them to take for their health condition and that the product didn’t seem effective.

Our Conclusion:

#4 Product – Nordic Naturals® Ultimate Omega™

Overall Rating: 73.3%

Product Claims:

Nordic Naturals ® Ultimate Omega ™ has some good qualities like; a good informative website, good standards for quality and purity and sustainable fishing practices. The reason this product fell to the #4 Spot was the amounts of DHA and EPA are even lower than our number one product and the other products on our review page.

Nordic Naturals ® Ultimate Omega ™ gives a good testimonial on global responsibility and sustainable fishing practices to protect the North Atlantic Cod. These are good practices, but there was no evidence of any consumer reviews on the website for consumers to see if this product is actually effective.

Value:

Our Conclusion:

Nordic Naturals® Ultimate Omega 3 ™ is a good product that pays attention to sustainability and the protection of North Atlantic Cod against overfishing. It took the #4 Spot because the amounts of Omega 3 in the gel caps is considerably lower than our number one product. Our editors could not find evidence of a money-back guarantee or any consumer testimonials.

#5 Product – Nature Made® Fish Oil 1,000 mg

Overall Rating: 65.8%

Product Claims:

Nature Made® Fish Oil 1,000 mg is actually a quite popular product because it is easy to obtain over-the-counter in most drug stores. While this is a popular product, the amount of Omega 3 is much lower than our #1 Product. The recommended serving size is 3 capsules a day in order to get the 1,000mg of Omega 3, which is more capsules than our number one product.

Nature Made® Fish Oil 1,000 mg contains EPA and DHA 500mg combined and “other Omega 3 fatty acids” 600 mg. The label does not state where the “other fatty acids” actually come from or what type they are. Transparency is important to our editors and our number one product fully discloses the sources of their ingredients.

Value:

Nature Made® Fish Oil 1,000mg retails for $10.49 a bottle. This is one of the cheaper Omega 3 supplements and value priced for consumers. It is important to be aware that it takes a lot more of the product to reach the same dosage as our number one product. The consumer reviews only gave it 4 stars for effectiveness. This is probably from the low amounts of EPA and DHA in the product. While you may be saving money, the product may not be effective at all. There are no volume discounts and no return policy. Major drugstores cannot accept opened products back for refunds.

Our Conclusion:

Nature Made® Fish Oil 1,000mg is a popular product seen on many drug store shelves. It may be sold everywhere and have a value price for consumers, but it actually has a very small amount of Omega 3 as compared to our top product. There are not enough positive consumer reviews to prove it is effective and they could move up a bit if they included more Omega 3 in the product.

Fish Oil Omega 3 And PCB’s

Omega 3 and PCB Contamination

Because Omega 3 from fish oil has a very healthy reputation, many people forget that some fish can contain toxins that are potentially dangerous to your health. PCB’s, Polychlorinated Biphenyl,, were used from 1920 to 1970 in the making of: plastic, paints, fluorescent lights, and insulation. Because PCB was very strong, it didn’t decompose and can still be found in our soil and water today even though it is no longer used. It was banned from use in the U.S. in the 70’s, but traces of it can still be found in the water supply.

Fish that swim and live in water high in PCB’s absorb the chemical into their bodies. Not all fish absorb it, but some have high levels. A good Omega 3 product will note on the label that the product has been tested for PCB’s. Some products have been found to have high levels of PCB’s. This is why it is important to check PCB labels before purchasing Omega 3. The manufacturer must note that PCB levels are within Proposition 65 limits.

Proposition 65 Limits for Fish Oil Omega 3 Supplements

According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) the acceptable level for PCB’s is 2 parts per million/2 nanograms. This is minimal compared to the the 90 nanogram limit when PCB’s can cause cancer in the body. A manufacturer that produces a supplement of fish oil has to have strict production and testing standards.

It is important to know that every fish has a small amount of PCB regardless of FDA standards, and there is no such thing as “PCB Free” fish. Manufacturers must test every batch to make sure that it contains the lowest amount of PCB’s allowed under the Prop 65 standards.

When shopping for an Omega 3 fish oil supplement, find a product that has the “FDA Registered Facility” seal. The FDA holds these facilities to high standards of quality. FDA registered is not the same as FDA approved, but the manufacturer upholds a set of standards prescribed by the FDA for supplements and health products.

Find the Purest Omega 3

Pollution is getting worse, and the environment contains synthetic chemicals in our water, air, and food. There are traces of chemicals in just about everything, everywhere, and it is almost impossible to remove them. Products must be sold as clean and pure as possible to protect you, the consumer.

The best way to have the purest Omega 3 possible is with molecular distillation of the fish oils to flush out toxic chemicals. With this process, the fish oil can be almost 100% Pure.

The way this is done is the fish oil is put into a vacuum and heated slightly. This causes evaporation of the toxins and lets them be separated from the fish oil. The process removes both heavy metals and PCB’s while leaving just the natural fish oil and beneficial contents. This leaves the purest product possible that maintains high quality and is safe to take.

Conclusion

It is important to understand the importance of Fish oil Omega 3 and PCB. Fish oil is one of the best ways to obtain this necessary nutrient, and all the health benefits it has to offer. If you want to use a fish oil based Omega 3 supplement, check your labels. Look for things like “FDA Registered Facility” and mention of “Proposition 65 Standards.” Your safety is important, as well as getting a quality product.