How to Find the Purest Fish Oil
Here’s a really simple way to find the purest fish oil. It should be easy! Right? Every company should provide the utmost in purity. They should also provide proof. But, most companies don’t.
The proof that you are looking for in this case is a certificate of analysis (COA) from an independent laboratory. Manufacturers do not have the necessary equipment to test for impurities at their own facilities.
If impurities are found, it is necessary to use molecular distillation or another technique to remove them. With molecular distillation, all detectable levels of an impurity can be removed.
So, you might say that the purest fish oil is one that has been molecularly distilled. But, molecular distillation apparently removes some element from the natural triglycerides that are responsible for the oil’s anti-inflammatory activity, according to laboratory studies.
Researchers have compared the anti-inflammatory activity of a standard supplement, a concentrated one and a blend that contains natural triglycerides. They found that the blend containing the triglycerides had more anti-inflammatory activity. They just can’t explain why.
It was thought that the anti-inflammatory activity was due solely to the omega-3 content. But, the concentrated supplement had the highest percentage of omega-3s.
In other studies, it has been shown that omega-3s are converted within the body into hormones that are less inflammatory than those hormones produced from omega-6s. It has also been shown that omega-3s stimulate the production of anti-inflammatory molecules. But, those findings still did not seem to explain the amount of inflammation relief that has been seen in arthritis studies.
The additional anti-inflammatory activity of the natural triglycerides does seem to explain the reduction in morning stiffness and pain that has been seen in those studies. Volunteers in the studies have been able to reduce the amount of pain-relieving medications that they take every day, which is a bonus for their livers.
So, is it possible to get the purest fish oil and the best anti-inflammatory benefits? It is possible if companies are selective about the species that they select.
The north Atlantic is obviously polluted, heavily. The Pacific is becoming that way, too. The cleanest waters are found off of the coast of Antarctica. So, fish that swim in that area will have the least amount of contaminants in their tissues and organs.
Contaminants are most highly concentrated in the liver. So, Cod liver oil is not a great choice. The purest fish oil is pressed from the flesh, not from the liver.
One species of coldwater fish that is gaining in popularity is called the hoki. The hoki has a large strip of fat running through each filet. It helps to keep the hoki warm in the cold deep waters that it inhabits.
The fat is rich in Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA, which is somewhat unusual. Most species have a higher concentration of EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) than DHA. While both are good for us, DHA seems to be most important, according to clinical trials.
Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health. Article Source: