| When you are buying fish oil supplements, there | | | | you don't have to use confusing marketing terms. |
| are a variety of things that you should be looking | | | | There are two forms of omega-3 supplements |
| at. These things include how much of the | | | | sold - softgel supplements and enteric coated |
| important omega-3 fatty acids are included, what | | | | tablets. The oil must be encapsulated since it |
| type of fish is used, the purity of the product, | | | | remains in a liquid form, albeit concentrated. Either |
| how the supplements are made and of course, | | | | type of capsule can maintain the quality of the oil, |
| how much it will cost you. Price is obviously | | | | if done correctly and right away. Softgel tablets |
| relative to the quality received so should not be | | | | are much better for you, though. That is because |
| your main criteria in choosing a fish oil supplement. | | | | the nutrients in the fish oil should be consumed in |
| Since the primary purpose of buying this type | | | | the stomach in order to get the most benefit. |
| supplements is due to the health benefits of the | | | | When the capsules are enteric coated, this puts a |
| omega-3 fatty acids, you want to be sure that | | | | stop to the oils from being digested in the |
| you are getting what you pay for. Some of these | | | | stomach. Instead they are partly absorbed in the |
| product brand names use unfavorable fish that | | | | intestines - but much of the nutrition is passed as |
| doesn't have as much of these important | | | | waste. There is no logical reason to put an enteric |
| nutrients as they should. The best companies | | | | coating on the supplements. The companies that |
| make sure they use fish that is high in omega-3s. | | | | do this say that it makes the tablets easier to |
| What type of fish plays a important role in the | | | | consume but softgel capsules are the simplest to |
| omega-3 content as certain fattier, cold water | | | | swallow. Another "reason" they use is to keep the |
| fish have much more of these vitamins and | | | | oil more fresh but, again, this simply isn't true. |
| minerals in their oil. However, that is not the only | | | | As mentioned in the beginning of this article, cost |
| reason to be concerned as to what fish the | | | | is the last aspect you should consider but for |
| company is using for their supplements. Another | | | | most of us, cost is still a factor. The cheapest fish |
| major concern is what else could be in your fish | | | | oil supplements shouldn't even be attempted, |
| oil capsules - contaminants. The world's bodies of | | | | though. Without exception, the low-priced |
| water are so polluted after many years of | | | | products are made with unnamed fish oils and the |
| unregulated industry that most fish have at least | | | | consumer has no way of knowing which kinds |
| some contaminated substances in the flesh. Some | | | | were used or where they were harvested. With |
| fish are so full of toxins like mercury that their | | | | contamination such a danger, it just doesn't make |
| consumption is recommended to be limited for | | | | sense to not know exactly what is in anything |
| safety's sake. | | | | you use as a health supplement. High price doesn't |
| The purity of the actual fish oil used is another | | | | mean they are better, however. |
| thing you should be looking at. The various | | | | The only brand we've found that offers the very |
| manufacturers of supplements use different | | | | best of each aspect is Xtend-Life. Their fish oils |
| methods to remove any impurities from the oils | | | | are gathered from some of the cleanest waters |
| before encapsulating them. Most companies | | | | in the world, off the coastline of New Zealand. |
| perform a molecular distillation process that takes | | | | Xtend-Life's Fish Oil Supplements are through their |
| away most impurities and concentrates the fish | | | | own patented process before going through the |
| oil. A few companies do other purification | | | | industry standard molecular distillation and they are |
| procedures. | | | | never enteric coated. They use only two types |
| However, there is absolutely no meaning or value | | | | of fish to extract their oil - hoki and tuna. Those |
| when companies use terms like "double distilled" or | | | | are both among the richest sources of omega-3 |
| "extra distilled". That is simply marketing lingo to | | | | fatty acids, as well as two of the least |
| trick consumers into thinking there is something | | | | contaminated sources. Xtend-Life is also $10-20 |
| exceptional about their supplement when there | | | | lower in cost than it's two closest competitors. |
| isn't. Keep in mind, that if you provide real value, | | | | The choice is evident, isn't it? |