If you are planning to take fish oil supplement from an online supplement store and are confused about how to start, you’ve landed on the right page.
Fish oil is by far the best source of biologically active & heart health boosting omega 3 fatty acids, which include EPA and DHA. Together these fatty acids play a major role in protecting and preserving the blood vessels from becoming narrow and thick due to the hardened deposits of minerals and fats. According to research, omega 3 exerts its cardio-protective influence by a series of mechanisms, like by inhibiting the release of inflammatory compounds which are responsible for promoting the formation of plaque in the arteries, by lowering the triglyceride levels in the blood stream and by interfering with the coagulation process of blood platelets.
Who Should Buy Omega 3 Health Supplements Online?
Omega 3 is one the two essential fatty acids which cannot be produced by our bodies and therefore must be obtained from our diet. Animal sources, such as the fatty fishes are the best means to obtain omega 3 fatty acids. However, for people who do not enjoy omega 3 rich fishes, such as mackerel, sardines, salmon, lake trout or anchovies, or the ones who simply don’t eat these foods regularly – taking fish oil supplements may be the best option.
If you are considering purchasing fish oil supplements online and are not sure how to go about it, read on –
- Before you buy supplements online consult to your doctor to learn about the ideal dose that can match your therapeutic goals
It is very important for you to consult your health care provider to learn the safest and most appropriate omega 3 doses for you. Your doctor is the best person to know your health profile, medical history and the medications you are using. Since omega 3 can have blood thinning effects at higher doses, it might increase your risk of bleeding, if you are taking certain other medications with similar effects.
If you are not eating 2 servings of fatty fish every week, then an equivalent dose would comprise to be around 400-500 mg of omega 3 fatty acids, EPA & DHA per day. This is the standard recommended dosage for healthy adults, who do not have a history of any type of heart disease. So when you are buying omega 3 health supplements online, choose a brand that offers standard amounts of omega 3 fatty acids, unless your health care provider advises you to take higher doses.
- Be smart to decode the supplement fact sheet available at online supplement store
Almost all nutraceutical brands selling health supplements online are supposed to provide the supplement fact sheets of all their listed products. This helps the consumer read about all the ingredients present in the particular product as and when he decides to buy supplements online. When it comes to fish oil, two of the most significant numbers you should read on the supplement fact sheet are – the actual content of EPA and DHA present in per serving and total number of pills in the serving size.
The dosage of fish oil supplements is based on the actual content of omega 3s – EPA & DHA present per serving of the product. This means, to learn about the actual omega 3 content of the product, you’ll have to read the supplement fact sheet and add up the listed milligrams of EPA and DHA to learn what doses you’ll be getting. Here you need to be very cautious when you buy fish oil supplements online as these numbers are rarely listed on the front side of the label.
- Only select a reputable brand when you buy supplements online
Fish oil is no different than any other health supplement online and can be easily subjected to inaccurate claims made on the labels as well as contamination. In fact, according to a recent testing report, conducted by an independent lab, it was revealed that almost 30 of the leading fish oil supplement brands selling their supplements online, showed that on an average omega 3 content varied by 24% compared to the claims made on the label. This means that although online supplement stores offer a greater convenience of shopping for health supplements online, but you need to be extra cautions as you buy supplements online.
Do complete homework from your end, research about every product you intend to purchase, compare the ingredients of each product, and study the customer feedback to learn about the product and the company manufacturing that product and only shop from a reputable brand selling their product from the best online supplement stores.
