Carlsons fish oil is one of the popular brands on the market. But, is it the best? The company has been around for a long time. They guarantee purity and potency. They provide an array of different supplements, including tablets, liquids and gel caps. So, what’s missing?
If you visit the manufacturer’s website, you will see that they provide a great deal of interesting information concerning the sources of omega 3 oils. What’s missing in many cases, are the details concerning the kind or kinds of fish that are the source of their supplements.
Their standard “super omega” product is supposed to contain Norwegian Oils, but their facilities are located in the US, in Illinois. They guarantee that the oils are regularly tested and found to be free of mercury and other contaminants, but they don’t provide proof. A guarantee is not much good, without proof. We certainly can’t go to the expense of having every bottle tested, ourselves.
Other companies post a copy of their latest results from batch testing. They provide links to the laboratories websites, so that you can be sure that independent testing was conducted. Something else is missing, too.
Carlson’s does not indicate what standards for freshness they adhere to. They add flavorings to many of their products, which could be used to mask the taste or odor of rancid oils. Consuming rancid oils is bad for your health and is the cause of repeating or fishy tasting burps.
Like most brands on the market, the Carlson supplements provide more Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) than Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The reverse should be true. The company states in their marketing material that 10 of DHA is converted within the body to EPA. But, research indicates that DHA is the most important of the long chained fatty acids. It is also the longest.
Low intake of DHA has been associated with learning disorders, attention deficit disorders, depressive conditions and bi polar disorders. It comprises approximately 40 of the brain’s mass and that most be replenished on a regular basis. When they say that fish is brain food, it is because of the DHA content. If it must, the body will convert some other omega 3s to DHA, but the process is very inefficient.
Assuming that 10 of the DHA in Carlson Super Omega 3 is converted to EPA, the supplement provides only 180mg of DHA to the brain. That’s per 1000mg of oils. There are brands on the market that provide a minimum of 280mg of DHA, as well as a substantial amount of EPA and another important fatty acid called DPA or Docosapentaenoic acid.
If there is any DPA in the Carlson brand, it is not listed on their label. We don’t know a lot about DPA, but research is ongoing. It is believed that DPA contributes to overall good cardiovascular health that has been seen in native Inuit populations, because seal oil is rich in DPA.
So, Carlsons fish oil might not be your best choice. There are lots of other brands to choose from, today. Maybe you should do a little shopping around.
Author Resource:
Valerie Rosenbaum knows that taking omega 3 fish oil supplements is the single most effective way to improve your health. Visit her site now to discover the pure, fish oil product she uses and recommends after extensive research: http://www.TakingFishOil.com
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