The Doctor Answers Your Questions About Fish Oil Supplements

Fish oil is a great source for Omega-3 fatty acids. Most of the fats we eat are omega-6 or other types of fat, but cold water fish, nuts, and seeds contain Omega-3 fats. There are literally hundreds of studies and articles in the medical literature documenting the benefits of fish oil supplements. Of course eating a diet that is naturally high in Omega-3 fats is good, but these foods may be high in calories, which are not good for weight issues, or may contain heavy metals or pesticides, which if eaten too often can be harmful. So the literature recommends fish oil supplements for most people. And if you have high triglycerides, high cholesterol, vascular disease, a previous heart attack or stroke, attention deficit disorder, depression, or any inflammatory condition such as arthritis or colitis, fish oil can be a part of your treatment.

How much fish oil do I take? Well, if you are interested in maintaining good health and not treating any particular condition, the answer seems to be at least 1,000-2,000 mg per day of the Omega-3 fats. This dose reduces mortality from heart attacks, and reduces arrhythmias. Now the dosing can be confusing since each fish oil capsule contains 1,000 mg of fish oil but lesser amounts of the Omega-3 fats. To determine the amount of omega-3 content, you must read the fine print on the back label which will tell you how much EPA and DHA are in each 1,000 capsule. EPA and DHA are the specific Omega-3 fats. It will contain