Omega 3 Oils

Question: Does anybody know how much Omega 3 oils i should take? I am 26 weeks pregnant and just want to know what mg of omega 3 and 6 is safe during pregnancy?

Answer: Whoa there Darling - careful now.... What kind of omega threes are we talking about? You shouldn't be taking EPA, which is the omega three in fish - reason being its toxic to platelets, so it thins the blood the same way that aspirin does...NOT a good idea before having a baby....'just in case'....you don't want to make doctors worry about bleeding out....seriously. DHA is fine...that essential for the development of your babies nervous system....but if you are going to take it, take one specifically labeled DHA and check the side so that you know it only contains DHA (because in nature, it naturally occurs with EPA in fish oil) GLA I'll get to in a minute Flax seen oil contains ALA - which is one of the short chain omega threes, and LA, which is the short chain omega 6 - and if I were you, that would be what I would go for....your body can make what it needs out of those short chains and build them into the long chains....there are a couple omega 6's that are long chain....GLA, which is non essential but your body will make it, and AA - which IS essential to your baby (and that you can't buy- only you can make it....) - which is why I would take the flax seed - your body is able to do more with it.... And if you try flax seed, go with the liquid, and take a tablespoon a day.... I hope that makes sense.....I just woke up and thought I would have a snack while the house is quiet....Shoot me a line if you need me to clarify something...

Question: What is your source of Omega 3 Oils for your dog who is on a raw diet? My dogs seems intolerant of Salmon Oil. Any ideas of a more gentle product? And, how often.

Answer: A good thing to do which is well known is to give your dog a cod liver oil tablet in the morning like you would have! 95% of them enjoy the taste and its less hassel then serving up a fish platter.

Question: Are the omega 3 oils in canned fish damaged by the heat when being canned? Are the DHA and EPA in canned fish damaged by the heat involved in the canning process?

Answer: No, the omega 3 isn't harmed by the canning process. See info below about canned tuna as a good source of omega 3.

Question: Would taking omega 3 oils while pregnant help make your kids more intelligent ? I know that hyperactive children who take supplements usually have improved behaviour better memory and concentration and consequently higher intelligence scores.

Answer: Yes, one study found that women who took omega-3 oils while pregnant had children with higher IQ scores. Around 4 points higher I believe. Nothing too dramatic, but nothing to discount either.

Question: What is a useful dosage of Omega 3 oils to help people with ADD? I need help for both a 15 year old son and a very adult husband!

Answer: Check out this website. My other half has ADD and I've found this quite useful. http://add.about.com/ I think that's the right link! I should imagine the suggested dose on the pack would work. Perhaps I should try that with my man!

Question: Why don't fish rot when they are alive? Their omega 3 oils are very unstable and the fish still has? free radicals and destructive oxygen flowing through their veins when they are alive. How do they keep the oil fresh?

Answer: Probably because the fish store their fatty acids inside the cells where they are safe from all those free radicals. Incidentally, mammals cannot manufacture fatty acids with double bonds in the carbon atoms past c9 in the chain. That is why these fatty acids are essential in the diet. Fish oil is not the only source of these however they are present in most foods including dairy products and vegetable oils. There isn't much evidence that anyone on a normal diet is likely to be deficient and need supplements.

Question: My son's school has suggested using omega 3 oils? He has been diagnosed with ADHD tendencies and dyslexia. The school has suggested using omega 3 oil. Which ones can I easily get him to take, without him refusing due to the taste. We live in the UK, so I need UK brands -thanks.

Answer: You might be able to add flax seed to his diet...high in omegas. They don't taste that good on their own but you can sprinkle them on cereal, mix into smoothies, etc and they aren't so bad. Similar to the way you would use wheat germ or a fiber supplement powder. They are available whole and milled at most groceries and health food shops, at least that is the case in the US. You have to eat them raw, heat destroys the omegas. There might be other food sources too, in addition to taking pills and liquid supplements. I think salmon is a good one.

Question: what happens when you take too much omega 3 oils? i already know that too much omega 6 can be bad, but i want to know if too much omega 3 is going to be a majorly bad thing or not.

Answer: Hi tash. Very high intakes of omega-3 oils without adequate body levels of antioxidants can result in lipid peroxidation of these and other polyunsaturated fats. The resulting lipid peroxides can be very damaging to DNA, cell membranes, proteins and other cellular molecules. To protect yourself, be sure to choose omega-3 supplements that also contain vitamin E. This protects the oils from damage before you ingest them. Also take substantial doses of nutrients necessary for the 'Antioxidant Network'. These would include: vitamins C, E and niacin/niacinamide (B3), Lipoic Acid, Glutathione/NAC, Zinc, Selenium, etc. It may also be wise to have your antioxidant status tested once a year to be sure you are in 'good shape'. Hope this is helpful. Best wishes.

Question: How many of you are taking Omega 3 oils?

Answer: I do take 2 - 3 capsules of Omega 3 oil every day and I recommend it to people for its health benefits. It is true, that you can have fish to eat also, but do you do that every day? I certainly don't. So the sure way is: take the capsules.

Question: Is tin tuna in sunflower oil any good for you or is fresh tuna the one for Omega 3 oils?

Answer: I buy the one in brine, and I stock up when it's on special offer as we use it a lot in our house.I prefer fresh salmon to tinned, and it's high in Omega 3.I take fish oil tablets most days too as I have damage to my heart after cancer treatment.I tend to eat more fish than meat as it's supposed to be healthier.It's quicker to cook than meat too.

Question: At what dosage should Omega-3 oils be taken in order to have an effect on bipolar disorder?

Answer: my doc put me on that a month ago along with cerefolin heavy vitamin b and also i found out from my biochem doc that we need vitamen e, the length of time is long before it has a noticed efeect so start now. you aint got nothing but time and trials to deal with. hey more pills but less pcych medicine with side effects..dosage i just take one of each i think themgs are the same everywhere for otc brands, buy bulk at samsl

Question: What do Leviticus's dietary guidelines say about getting enough omega 3 oils in your diet?

Answer: "If a man lies with a mankind as he lies with a womankind, they both have committed an abomination, their blood shall be upon them"..... I think...? (It's hidden somewhere in that verse I know it!)

Question: Omega 3 oils....are they all the same? It has been suggested to me to try Fish oil/omega 3 to help my daughter with her learning/processing and concentration difficulties at school and I was wondering if the $80 bottles of 1000 capsules were as effective as the $20 bottles....is it all the same and the price difference only a matter of brand name not quality???

Answer: Hi VMMC. Please 'ignore' the 'advice' from the first answerer, it is less than accurate. Your question is simple, but the answer is not. There can be a difference in the quality of fish oil products. A good product meets the following criteria: 1) It comes in a dark/opaque bottle because light can damage unsaturated oils like fish oils. 2) It contains Vitamin E to protect the oils from lipid peroxidation. 3) The bottle has an expiration date. Those are the 'simple' tests you can do. If the product fails any of them, do not buy it. Here are some additional issues you cannot easily evaluate and therefore, you are dependent on the reputation of the manufacturer. 1) The fish oils should be regularly tested by an independent laboratory to be sure the fish oil is free of mercury and other toxic contaminants common in fish. 2) The fish oils actually contain the amount of specific oils listed on the label. An important issue for your daughter is that she may need fairly high doses of the 'active ingredients' (EPA and DHA) in the fish oils. This is not only expensive but also requires her to swallow a lot of pills. Therefore, you may want to find a 'concentrated' product that has been processed to produce high levels of EPA and DHA per capsule. These cost more per capsule, but less overall for the amount of ingredients provided. The 'processing' also insures the purity/safety of the final product. Good sources of quality fish oils include: 1) Nordic Naturals 2) Carlson Labs 3) Thorne Research I believe you can purchase these products through a great supplier in N.Y. called "NEEDS". They usually sell their vast variety of nutritional products at a discount from retail pricing and they offer great assistance in helping you choose the right product. Their number is 1-800-634-1380. Lastly, flaxseed oils provide alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) the 'precursor' to DHA and EPA. Unfortunately, studies have shown that only small amounts of EPA and DHA are synthesized in the body from the flaxseed source. Therefore, this product may not be adequate for your daughter's needs. I know I have given you a lot to think about and absorb. This is an important issue for you and your daughter. There are many fine books on this subject that would be worth your time to read to learn more. Amazon, your local health food store, and NEEDS are good sources of educational books on fish oils/omega-3 fatty acids. Best wishes and good luck.

Question: EFA's and Omega 3 oils's effect on health.? Hi guys. I know that Essential Fatty Acids can help lower cholestrol levels, but I am talking this supplementation made up of: Natural Omega 3 fish oil (400mg) Evening Primrose Oil (300mg) Linoleic Acid (210mg), and Linseed (Flaxseed) Oil (300mg). 1.) Any anyone tell me the uses of the other 2 oils and acid, other than lowering cholestrol? 2.) Does this supplementation help with metabolism, or slows down carb/fat metabolism, lower saturated fats in your body, or anything? (just random ideas.) I would like to know. 3.) Can taking these oils help with a weight management program, or worsten it, or hav no effect? thx ppl!

Answer: If I were you I would take the Fish Oil only and nothing else. The reason why is because I have heard that Flaxseed Oil taken as a supplement can cause kidney damage, and Evening Primrose can exacerbate symptoms of epilespy. I take Fish Oil all by itself for mental health as well as weight loss, and it's amazingly effective and safe. The best place to buy it is Wal-mart.

Question: Do they need to kill the fish to get the omega 3 oils form it?

Answer: Of course they kill the fish,how else would they get the oil? Do you think that the fish has a bag of it it's collected,ready to give it to the fish oil industry? Anything that comes from animals,know that the animal is killed or horribly treated. You don't need to take fish oil to get your omega 3.-http://www.vegsoc.org/info/omega3.html http://www.vegetarian-dha-epa.co.uk/ I'm surprised that fish oil still exists. It taste awful and the thought of it is so disgusting. Oil form a FISH??? Geez,just eat the whole fish and be done with it! Also,for omega 6 and 9-http://www.veganstore.com/now-omega-3_dash_6_dash_9-liquid/Page_1/907.html http://www2.healthyimmunity.com/Omegavega-Vegetarian-Omega-3-6-9.html http://www.vegetarian.org.uk/factsheets/fishfactsheet.html

Question: Is Cod liver oil the same omega 3 oils if not what is the difference?

Answer: What -- Exactly -- is Omega 3? Omega 3 essential fatty acids were discovered in the 1970's, and have been studied in thousands of clinical trials. There is overwhelming evidence that they are important for good health and protecting against disease. Unfortunately, few people understand what they are, what they do, why some sources can be harmful, and where you can find pure Omega 3. Omega 3 fatty acids are a form of polyunsaturated fat -- which is one of four types of fat that our bodies derive from food. (The other three are cholesterol, saturated fat, and monounsaturated fat.) Omega 3 (and Omega-6 well) are called essential fatty acids ( EFAs ), because they've been shown to be essential for good health. Unfortunately, our bodies cannot manufacture these EFAs, so they must be obtained from outside sources -- from the food we eat or the supplements we take. According to most experts, many ailments can be traced to a shortage of Omega 3 (more below). There is absolutely no shortage of Omega 6 in the typical Western diet. In fact, just the opposite is true. Plus, the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega 3 is important -- and because of a severe deficiency of Omega 3, this balance is seriously out of whack for most people The optimum ratio of Omega-6 to Omega 3 is 3:1. Since Omega-6 is available in many cooking oils, over the last couple of decades this ratio is now estimated to be 20:1 -- or even as high as 50:1 -- for most Westerners! That's why getting more pure Omega 3 has become so important. The 3 Types of Omega 3 Fatty Acids... There are three main types of Omega 3 fatty acids. The first two, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexanoic acid), are both found in cold-water fish, such as salmon, tuna and mackerel. Fresh seaweed is the only plant food that contains much EPA or DHA. The third type of Omega 3, called ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), is found in flaxseed oils, dark green leafy vegetables, and some vegetable oils. Although it is possible to get DHA and EPA from plant seed oils such as flaxseeds, you may in fact not actually be getting these valuable substances -- even if you take flax seed oil every day! This is due to one important biological fact, which is... The Omega 3's in flaxseed oil and other plant oils do not contain DHA and EPA, although they contain the precursor to DHA and EPA in the form of alpha linolenic acid (ALA). In order for your heart and brain to get the benefit of DHA and EPA your body must be capable of converting the ALA to DHA and EPA. Sadly, unless all your organs are functioning smoothly, this conversion more than likely will not happen. This is very much the case for elderly people or anyone whose health is a little suspect. Even if your body is in peak condition, you will only convert less than 20% of the ALA to these important substances. So, the only way to ensure that you get the benefits of DHA and EPA is to take it directly in the form of fish oil. Cod liver oil comes from the liver, whereas fish oil comes from the body of the fish. Cod liver oil is very high in Vitamin A -- and if you take it, you should be very careful to do so in limited quantities since it is very easy to overdose in Vitamin A (with possible negative implications for your bones). The Eviromental Risks of Taking Fish Oil In spite of the importance of adding Omega 3 to our diets, until recently, there were significant risks associated with taking fish oil supplements. This is because fish oils that haven't been molecularly distilled and may contain high levels of dangerous contaminants. This is especially true for fish harvested in the North Atlantic Ocean and farmed salmon. Even the North Atlantic around the Artic circle is notorious for producing fish that have high levels of heavy metals, such as mercury, as well as PCB's and dioxin. These risks still exist today... in many fish oil supplements. Plus, many fish oils on the market today are actually a mixture of all types of fish from all around the world -- and many, may unfortunately, come from polluted waters. Now, molecular distillation by a competent manufacturer should remove these contaminants. So don't get the cheapest brand. Shop around and find a good, reliable pure Fish Oil. Cod liver oil, as its name suggests, is an oil extracted from cod livers. It is a nutritional supplement, in the past commonly given to children. Cod liver oil is one of the most effective providers of omega-3 fatty acids and is widely taken to ease the pain and joint stiffness associated with arthritis but has also been clinically proven to have a positive effect on heart, bone and brain health, as well as helping to nourish skin, hair and nails. As well as being an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin D, it is also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA). Depending on the quality of the oil, the flavor and aroma range from a mild sardine-like flavor, to an intense and obnoxious odor of rotten fish and rancid oil. High quality cod liver oil is "a pale-yellow, thin, oily liquid, having a peculiar, slightly fishy, but not rancid odor, and a bland, slightly fishy taste." It has recently become popular to flavor cod liver oil with citrus or mint essence to make it more palatable. People who grew up in Asia and other parts of the World often have terrible childhood memories of being force-fed Scott's Emulsion (a popular brand of cod liver oil supplement) until the orange-flavoured version was released. Cod liver oil is made by cooking cod livers with steam and then pressing/decanting the cooked livers to extract the oil. By contrast, fish oils are extracted from the cooked whole body tissues of fatty fish during the manufacture of fish meal. Cod liver oil and fish oil are similar but have a somewhat different composition: fish oil has a much lower content of vitamins A and D compared to liver oils. Because the body naturally produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, a common way to benefit from both oils while avoiding a vitamin D overdose is to take cod liver oil during late fall through winter, and fish oil during spring through summer. The ideal dosage and timing of consumption depends on your seasonal sun exposure (and therefore natural vitamin D production). The only way to be certain of any possible vitamin D deficiencies or overdosing (from supplements) is to have your levels checked. In 2005 researchers at the University of California reported that Vitamin D may lower the risk of developing different types of cancers, cutting in half the chances of getting breast, ovarian, or colon cancer. Vitamin A Toxicity: oo much vitamin A can be harmful or fatal, resulting in what is known as hypervitaminosis A. The body converts the dimerized form, carotene, into vitamin A as it is needed, therefore high levels of carotene are not toxic compared to the ester (animal) forms. The livers of certain animals, especially those adapted to polar environments, often contain amounts of vitamin A that would be toxic to humans. Thus, vitamin A toxicity is typically reported in arctic explorers and people taking large doses of synthetic vitamin A. The first documented death due to vitamin A poisoning was Xavier Mertz, a Swiss scientist who died in January 1913 on an Antarctic expedition that had lost its food supplies and fell to eating its sled dogs. Mertz consumed lethal amounts of vitamin A by eating the dogs' livers. Just 0.3 grams of the liver of the polar bear contains the upper intake level.[2] If eaten in one meal, 30 to 90 grams is enough to kill a human being, or to make even sled dogs very ill. Excess vitamin A has also been suspected to be a contributor to osteoporosis. This seems to happen at much lower doses than those required to induce acute intoxication. Only preformed vitamin A can cause these problems, because the conversion of carotenoids into vitamin A is downregulated when physiological requirements are met. An excessive uptake of carotenoids can, however, cause carotenosis. The carotenoid beta carotene was interestingly associated with an increase in lung cancer when it was studied in a lung cancer prevention trial in male smokers. In non-smokers, the opposite effect has been noted. Before starting any diet or vitamin regimen. Consult your doctor.