Do we really need to be taking fish oil?
For most people, it is better to use fish or pasture-raised egg yolks to get omega-3s. But there are specific reasons to use cod liver oil, fish oil, or krill oil. More details in the video!
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I’m vegan and had 2 AFib episodes last year, about 6 months apart. Both times I went to the ER, first time got metoprolol drip, second time got cardizem drip. Both times heart rate decreased and sinus rhythm reestablished. I’ve been taking algae oil. I haven’t been able to afford to take it every day. I hate to do this, but I think I’m going to have to switch to krill oil. I have questions about coagulation and anticoagulants that I’m having trouble getting answers to. With the NOACs it appears that one size fits all and no testing is done for clotting factors before or during treatment. This concerns me. I’m taking the algae oil for anticoagulant purposes. Will taking a NOAC on top of the algae or krill oil be too much of a bleeding risk? I understand that there is no bleeding antidote yet for the NOACs. I am wondering if the algae oil is sufficient. I read one comment online from a woman who said algae oil or fish oil caused her brain to bleed. I wish doctors would answer these questions.
I don’t know the answer to this, I’m sorry.
well said. the quality of the fish oil is important. a test for good quality is, put capsules in a freezer. the next day check them. if they froze mostly water a poor quality. where they get the fish oil is important. home work needed to find a good source.
That is not a good way to test. The best absorbed fish oil is the one without any concentration, so pure the oil. So this will also contain some saturated fats. They may turn hard in the freezer, but that’s not a problem. But I don’t even use capsules, since they are only needed if the oil is already oxidized. My oil is one that I can drink, without the fishy tast, since there is hardly any oxidation. Best absorption and with measurable effect.
Hello Chris,
This is a disappointingly too-low potency suggestion for EPA-DHA intake, for adults, in general. “…limit the fish oil to 250 milligrams of EPA and DHA combined when you take it…”
This is in disagreement with Dr. Andrew Stoll, MD of Harvard, as we see in his book, The Omega-3 connection. Also, published studies continue to first get approval from IRB’s to provide 3,000 mg/day of EPA/DHA because it’s safe and the researchers know what dosage range will produce the best study data.
My chronic atrial fibrillation (Afib), for which I was having 10-15 serious “events” a year, quit happening after I read enough data to guide me to take 3,000 mg of EPA/DHA a day. If I take 1,500 mg a day the Afib returns. It’s a 1 to 1 correlation and has been for over a dozen years now.
As one of 3/4 Irish genetics, my Afib was/is probably simply a deficiency of omega-3’s, as my ancestors lived with high consumption of fish.
The average American is grossly deficient in omega-3’s and many other essential nutrients. We need science-based recommendations for appropriate supplemental amounts because this is easier than depending on people to drastically improve their diets.
You’ve done incredibly well in providing progressive science-based information about many food topics that push the status quo to re-think positions, especially about eating fat.
Please consider upping your game related to potency recommendations for dietary supplements. The dose comparison effect is thoroughly documented in the published literature in about 20,000 studies. https://www.supernutritionusa.com/images/pdf/SPN_potency_matters.pdf
The efficacy of 2,000 to 3,000 mg of EPA/DHA at creating bigger, healthier babies is graphically seen in https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2621042/.
Further, high omega-3 babies had higher scores for eye and hand coordination and other such barometers of mental acuity.
Drug addicts given 3,000 mg a day experienced an over 60% decrease in anxiety and feelings of anger. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2275606/pdf/nihms-41356.pdf
Perhaps we would have fewer alcoholics and even anxiety-riddled people if more people were getting plenty of omega-3’s.
As is true with all nutrients, too little produces “failure to thrive.” Optimal potencies produce optimal effects.
Thank you for reading this.
Michael Mooney
I completely agree with you, Michael. The really high doses of unoxidized omega-3 oil work miracles for my patients. With them people with similar symptoms like you had. After 3 months all disappeared and they could go off the meds they were using for the last 15 years. They used over 2000 mg Omega-3, mostly DHA. I always check ratio but also Index. A higher index, above 8 but better 12, brings a larger hippocampus which is really beneficial for people who have a highly intensive brain function.
Thank you for inspiring us with a confirmation of what you see in your patients, Eric-Alexander. I note that having worked in the dietary supplement industry for over 40 years, the most expensive fish oils are not necessarily the best. Additionally, encapsulating fish oils allows manufacturers to place rancid oils in consumers’ mouths. Thus, we hear people say they don’t like the fishy burp that they experience, so they avoid taking fish oil that might change their lives. Having had much “insider” experience with experimenting with products and knowing the background, I found Carlson brand The Very Finest Fish Oil liquid to be the cleanest oil. No fishy taste and it stops my Afib, while it costs much less than encapsulated products because we don’t have to pay for encapsulation. After I do my personal experiential research I check in with two healthcare practitioners that I have known for 30+ years to see what they think. They each told me that the Carlson liquid product was their favorite before I told them what I thought. I know the background and internal history of the company that grew to become the number one selling fish oil in the US and their oil has a slight fishy taste, indicating oxidation/rancidity, and the resulting fishy burps. There are numerous “best-seller” products that are simply not the best product on the market. They arrived at their number one status by clever “marketing.” Buyer beware. Just my dos centavos. To confirm – I have no connection, financial or otherwise with Carlson.