What Is Fish Oil Granulate?

Studies show that increasing the intake of omega-3 fatty acids can help to reduce a number of health problems. The most common way to add omega-3 fatty acids to your diet is to eat more fish, including tuna, salmon and sardines. Doing so, however, also adds a high level of calories and fat. Granulated fish oil, more often marketed as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) powder, is a micro-encapsulated oil that forms a free-flowing powder that can be combined with everyday food preparations to increase omega-3 fatty acid consumption without all the calories.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

• Omega-3 fatty acids, also known as essential fatty acids, are not produced in the body and must be consumed. Two types of essential fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA, which can be found in varying concentrations in a variety of fish. According to the American Heart Association's website, the recommended combined daily dose of EPA and DHA from fish oil is 1g. People taking fish oil supplements to treat an illness can take up to 5g daily. Due to an increased risk of bleeding, though, no one should take doses over 3g without a doctor's supervision.

Forms of Fish Oil

• Most fish oil can be purchased in three forms: liquid, gel capsule (pill) and granulated. While pills and oils have a higher concentration of EPA and DHA per serving than granulated, a person may have to take at least three pills per day to meet the recommended daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, the pill version tends to cause burping and leave a "fishy" taste. Granulated fish oil can be measured to meet the daily dose requirements without adjusting recipes; after mixing, it does not cause burping or an aftertaste.

Source Concerns

• Fish oil is derived from a variety of fish, including mackerel, anchovies and sardines. Because of concerns about heavy metal and pesticide contamination in the products, the Environmental Defense Fund compiled a list of 75 U.S. companies and rated their purification standards. The list is linked in the References section.

Consumption

• Unlike pills that are often large and difficult to swallow, granulated fish oil can be added to daily cooking to supplement intake of omega-3 fatty acids. The powder can be added to mixes for cakes, cookies and breakfast foods. It also can be added to beverage mixes but may cause the liquid to appear cloudy.

Benefits

• Omega-3 fatty acid consumption has been linked to lowered risks of heart diseases, cancer and arthritis. Studies also show it may have a positive effect on such varied diseases as depression, diabetes, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). DHA has been linked to neurological development in children; so pregnant women are often advised to begin taking fish oil supplements by the second half of pregnancy. Continued use throughout breast-feeding increases the level of DHA in breast milk, and some studies show that DHA may be beneficial in reducing postpartum depression.