| How much EPA and DHA can you take? Should | | | | oil supplements that are available that are both |
| you take? Many people get bored by the subject | | | | safe and potent. Here is what to look for. |
| and do not understand what these two omega 3 | | | | 1] Molecularly distilled - this process removes the |
| fatty acids are - much less the proper dosage. | | | | contaminants by weight and allows the fish oil to |
| Let 's try to make this more interesting. | | | | be concentrated into a soft gel capsule. |
| They are the most important types of omega 3 | | | | 2] Look for the potency - 50% is good. A one |
| fatty acids that are found in fish oil. They are part | | | | gram capsule should have about 500mg of omega |
| of every cell membrane in our bodies and help | | | | 3s in it. |
| regulate what goes in and out of each cell. They | | | | 3] Look for the ratios. This part can be confusing. |
| make up 25% of our brains and part of the | | | | You want a fish oil product with the right omega |
| retinas in our eyes. They circulate through the | | | | 3 proportions. Why? |
| blood and are necessary in regulating hormones | | | | - DHA has 22 carbon bonds. It is the most |
| and our immune system. These are vital to your | | | | complex. |
| health. | | | | - EPA has 20 carbon bonds. If there is a shortage, |
| How is this more interesting? | | | | it is easy for DHA to drop 2 carbon molecules. |
| Ok, sorry. In short, omega 3s help in heart, brain, | | | | - If your body has a DHA shortage, it is difficult |
| joint and eye health. The real question is how | | | | for EPA to "manufacture" 2 carbon molecules. In |
| much EPA and DHA can you take and in what | | | | reality, this doesn't happen and you have a |
| proportions? | | | | deficiency. |
| Until recently, some of the healthiest people in the | | | | What does this mean? |
| world lived in coastal areas where their daily diet | | | | You want a fish oil supplement that has roughly |
| consisted of cold water fatty fish like salmon, | | | | twice as much DHA as EPA. Most of the products |
| tuna, sardines, mackerel and various types of | | | | out there have it backwards because it is |
| shellfish. One pound of this at lunch or dinner | | | | cheaper. |
| would mean as much as 10 grams of omega 3s | | | | The question was, how much EPA and DHA can |
| per day. | | | | you take? If you are a reasonably healthy adult, |
| Unfortunately, in today's polluted ocean | | | | then 1 to 1 1/2 grams per day of omega-3s |
| environment, we would be slowly poisoning | | | | should be plenty. That should cost around $16 to |
| ourselves with mercury, lead and other heavy | | | | $20 per month. That is what I do and I believe it |
| metals - so says the FDA, EPA and World Health | | | | is the cheapest health insurance I own. For more |
| Organization. | | | | detailed information, please visit my website. |
| There is good news. There are some quality fish | | | | |