We are all budget-conscious these days, and I too love the savings available on many quality products at the Big Box Stores. But how do you judge quality? Let’s look at the details so you can be assured you’re getting a product that provides the benefits you’re looking for. (Be sure to read to the end for a very special offer)!
Specifically with Omega 3 fats, these are the things you need to look for:
Natural Triglyceride Form
All fish oils are processed to remove impurities, during this processing the molecular form changes from it’s original natural triglyceride form into an ethyl ester form. Most companies leave it at that. But the latest studies show that the altered form is 70% less bio-available. And worse, it appears that this altered molecular form may contribute to fatty liver disease. The line I carry, Nordic Naturals, takes the extra step to move the oils back into the natural triglyceride form so your body can digest and get all the benefits you’re wanting from the omega 3 oil.
Dyerberg J, et al. Bioavailability of marine n-3 fatty acid formulations. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2010 Sep; 83(3):137–141.
Rancidity?
Bite into your fish oil gel cap and see how it tastes! You may be surprised at how awful it tastes and smells. Omega 3 oils go rancid very quickly with any exposure to oxygen and/or heat. (This is why you want to look at the expiration dates and store your oils in the refrigerator). A high quality fish oil will have a light fishy taste, but not be over-whelmingly disgusting. Most of the oils I carry are also flavored with real lemon or orange, making them very pleasant tasting. I have samples and I’m always happy to do a comparison test with you.
Do They Come Back in Burps?
This is another sign that your body isn’t digesting the oil. And those burps can be pretty nasty if it was a low-quality, rancid oil to begin with. Remember we take these oils to make healthy cells, rancid oil has an unpleasant aroma and acrid taste, and its nutrient value is greatly diminished. I’m happy to refund purchase cost on any oils I sell if they don’t digest well for you (I’ve done this once in the past 10 years).
Toxicities
Many of our seas are polluted with mercury, PCB’s and other environmental contaminants. Does the company do independent lab testing to check for oil purity? I was surprised to learn that there are NO governmental standards in the US for fish oils. I got this from the Nordic Naturals website:
Governmental fish oil quality standards do not exist in the United States. To ensure consistent quality, Nordic Naturals adheres to and exceeds the stringent European Pharmacopoeia Standard (EPS) as well as the voluntary standards set by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3 (GOED) for all of our oils. These standards guarantee quality products by setting maximum allowances on peroxides, heavy metals, dioxins, and PCBs.
Sustainable Sources
Regulated Fishing—To prevent overfishing, 100% of Nordic Naturals fish is sourced in compliance with the Norwegian fisheries management system, which has been a model of sustainability for over 30 years.
Bycatch Prevention—They use responsible fishing gear—including purse seine nets, sorting grids, and large meshes—to protect against bycatch of unintended species.
Waste Reduction—100% of fish sourced is used for human or animal consumption.
Habitat Protection—Nordic Naturals use line and net fishing methods to prevent the
seafloor and ecosystem damage caused by methods such as bottom trawling and dredging.
Marine Pollution Prevention—Up to 80% of marine pollution is caused by land-based sources such as runoff, sewage, and waste. Our coastal processing facilities are industry leaders in minimizing pollution and conserving resources. Nordic Naturals uses only wild-caught, sustainably sourced fish.
So to sum up, are you really saving money on low-quality products that don’t do what they’re intended to and may actually cause you harm? Call us today and come in for a free omega oil functional evaluation (503) 668-7631, you’ll be amazed!
You can be assured that at Pearl Acupuncture we offer the best quality omega 3 oils at the best prices. We only sell what we use ourselves!
