Fish Oil Supplements: A Guide

Why should you consider adding fish oil supplements to your daily nutrition routine? This popular pick has benefits galore. But if you're not sure why to include fish oil, how to use it, or if you really need it, take a look at the top questions about this supplement.

What Are Fish Oil Supplements?

This type of dietary supplement is filled with omega-3 fatty acids. The two primary fatty acids fish oil contains are eicosapentaenoic acid (also known as EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (also known as DHA). Both of these omega-3s are naturally in some of the fish you may eat, such as oysters, mackerel, trout, salmon, mussels, crab, and trout.

Why Do You Need To Add a Supplement?

If omega-3 fatty acids are naturally in some types of fish, why would you need supplements? Some people may not need extra omega-3s. But it isn't always easy or possible to get a consistent dose of these fatty acids from food sources. If you don't like the taste of fish, don't have access to fish as a food source, or can't eat enough fatty fish to get enough omega-3s, you may want to take a supplement.

What Are the Benefits of Fish Oil?

Why are omega-3 fatty acids important for your health? Even though omega-3s have the word fat in the name, these fatty acids are healthy. The type of fat (polyunsaturated fat) in omega-3 sources can boost heart health. But the benefits don't stop there. Omega-3s help your body's cells to function properly. These acids provide structure to cell membranes and help cells interact with each other.

Specific benefits of omega-3 fatty acids include raising HDL cholesterol (the goof type of cholesterol), lowering blood pressure, lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, and reducing the risks of some types of blood clots.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, some research has found that omega-3s can reduce the risks of some types of cancers, Alzheimer's disease or dementia, and age-related macular degeneration. The Mayo Clinic also reports that omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil supplements could help people with rheumatoid arthritis to feel less pain, tenderness, and morning stiffness in their joints.

Not only can omega-3s help people with chronic health conditions, but these fatty acids may help you heal from a temporary infection. A 2022 study in the International Journal of Environmental Research found that improving omega-3 fatty acid intake may help to decrease the severity of COVID-19. But more research is necessary for this area to determine whether supplements or eating fatty fish foods help with COVID symptom reduction.

How Much Fish Oil Do You Need?

The answer to this question depends on a few factors. If you already eat fatty fish or some types of shellfish regularly, you could take a lower amount or lower dose of a supplement. You need to consider your overall omega-3 intake and not just how much you get from a pill or liquid oil. Along with dietary sources of omega-3s, you will need to consider your body size and weight.

Talk to your medical provider about fish oil and dosage before you start a new supplement. Your doctor or other healthcare provider can help you to choose a dosage that meets your needs. Not only can your doctor help you to choose a dosage, but they can also advise you on possible interactions with other medications (prescription, over the counter, and other supplements) that you may take.

According to the Mayo Clinic, fish oil supplements may possibly interact with some anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications and supplements (or herbs), medications and supplements that affect blood pressure, contraceptives, weight loss drugs, and vitamin E. Your healthcare provider can help you to learn more about these and other possible medication interactions.

Looking for a new fish oil supplement? Learn more about our Beyond Health Fish Oil Supplement and its benefits.