How to Tell Which Fish Oil to Take

The American Heart Association recommends people eat fatty fish at least twice a week. The omega-3s in fish are good for everyone as well as those at risk for or who have cardiovascular disease. Omega-3s are linked to protection from stroke and heart attack, better brain function, less depression, improvement in symptoms of ADHD, and reduced risk of breast, colon and prostate cancer. Ideally your omega-3s should come from eating fish, but you can take fish oil supplements. Not all fish oil supplements are the same, so you'll need to determine which one to take. Most information you'll need to compare them will be printed on the label.

Instructions

• 1

  Choose a fish oil supplement that contains EPA/DHA omega-3 fatty acids, not just fish oil.

• 2

  Determine what waters the fish oil came from. Fish oil should come from less polluted waters such as New Zealand's Southern Ocean.

• 3

  Determine what kind of fish the oil comes from. Rich fish oil sources include salmon, tuna, sardines and anchovies.

• 4

  Choose fish oil that has not been molecularly distilled. Distillation removes toxins, but alters the oil from its natural state. Unpolluted fish oil should not require molecular distillation.

• 5

  Find out if your fish oil is tested. Testing done by independent laboratories verifies content and contaminants. Fish oil not meeting standards is discarded.

• 6

  Choose a supplement that guarantees the fish oil to be 100 percent pure. Fish oil should be free of toxins, heavy metals and pesticides. Fish used for fish oil should be screened for diseases, and fish oil should only come from those fish that are disease-free.

• 7

  Add the omega-3 fatty acids on the label to determine if they equal the total amount of oil contained in the product. If not, there are unlabeled added fillers in the fish oil.