How to Choose Fish Oil

Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which have numerous benefits for cardiovascular health including lowering risk of arrhythmias, lowering triglyceride levels and reducing the buildup of plaque in the arteries, according to the American Heart Association. Both healthy people and those at high risk of heart disease need them in their diet. A variety of fish oil supplement products have popped up on the market promising to supply these necessary nutrients. Follow these steps to cut through the flashy, and sometimes fishy, claims and choose a fish oil supplement that both promotes heart health and comes at the best value.

Things You'll Need

• Pen and paper
• Calculator

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Instructions

• 1

  Talk to your doctor about adding a fish oil supplement. Discuss your dietary habits and ask your doctor to set a daily target of how much omega-3 fatty acids you should be getting through the supplement. Your target also will vary depending on whether you already have coronary heart disease or need to lower triglyceride levels. Mention any other supplements and medications you already are taking, particularly blood thinners.

• 2

  Familiarize yourself with what to look for on a fish oil supplement label. Always look for circle on the label that says USP. This indicates that the U.S. Pharmacopeia, and independent lab, has tested and verified the label's claims. You'll also be looking for the acronyms EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid, and DHA, docosahexaenoic acid. These are the key omega-3 fatty acids you'll want from fish oil.

• 3

  Visit your preferred vitamin store, grocer or online health retailer to research supplements. Make a note of the price, the recommended dose of each supplement, the amount of EPA and DHA in each dose and the number of doses contained in each bottle. Sizes of pills can be deceiving, as the supplements often contain many other nutrients besides these acids.

• 4

  Using your doctor's recommended dosage, write out a chart comparing the effectiveness and value of each supplement. Calculate how many doses per day of each product you would need to follow doctor's orders and how long each product's supply would last. If a product was a few dollars cheaper but would require twice the dosage to meet your needs, it is not a better value.

• 5

  Buy only one bottle of the supplement you determine to be the best value. Fish oil supplements can cause unpleasant side effects, such as nausea or constant burping, so you don't want to stock up too heavily until you're sure it's a supplement that will work for you. Save the bulk deals for after you've given them a test run of a few weeks.

• 6

  Always check the label before purchasing your desired brand to make sure their composition hasn't changed. Some brands might vary the levels of essential acids in their product.