As society becomes more and more conscious about healthy living, there has been a marked increase in the interest in fish oils and their numerous benefits to our health. What makes fish oils so healthy is the fact that they are loaded with Omega-3 acids which boasts numerous benefits to our health. A few examples of the benefits Omega-3 fatty acids are prevention of heart disease and depression, and some even claim that they bring about weight loss.

Our Diets Are Lacking

Lately, the diet of the average person has been moving away from fish and more into other meats, such as beef and pork. As a result, the average person is not getting enough amounts of the healthy Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, and missing out on the healthy benefits. Even if you decide to switch your diet around and start consuming large amounts of fish, you would be doing so at a very high risk of food poisoning and contamination. Because our environmental policies have not been able to address the pollution in our waters, it is very likely that you will be consuming a large amount of contaminated fish to be able to get the Omega-3 acids your body needs.

Fish Oils: The Solution

The simple solution here is to use fish oils. Fish oils boast Omega-3 as their active ingredient, so you can get all your Omega-3 needs from them. Not all fish oils are the same, though. Let’s try to walk through a few different kinds of fish oil.

Natural Fish Oil

Natural fish oils have a concentration of about 30% Omega-3s. This means that for every 1000mg of natural fish oil, you get 300mg of Omega-3. The downside to this is because it’s all natural, there is some risk of natural fish oils being contaminated with toxins.

Pharmaceutical-Grade Fish Oil

An option for those who want to eliminate the risk of toxins is to use pharmaceutical-grade fish oil. These fish oils are concentrated and purified. This means that you get more Omega-3s and you’re sure that there is no contamination. Just how much more Omega-3s are we talking about? Pharmaceutical-grade fish oils contain an Omega-3 concentration of at least 60%. That’s almost double what you get from natural fish oils.

Cod Liver Oil

Now some people might make the mistake of thinking that cod liver oils are basically the same as all other fish oils. While cod liver oil is in theory, a fish oil, there are some serious things you should know before taking it as a supplement. Basically, there have been studies that show that the Vitamin A in cod liver oil (which comes in the form of retinol) can actually be detrimental to your health. A few of these unwanted effects are hip fractures, joint aches, and hair loss. Besides, cod liver oil smells and tastes awful. There are better ways to get your Omega-3s.

Salmon Oil?

Salmon oil is one of the latest to join the fish oil bandwagon. Now I happen to like how salmon tastes, whether grilled or pan-friend. As a fish oil supplement though, you could do better. Because salmon are pretty high up in the food chain, there is a markedly higher risk of contamination from toxins. It wouldn’t hurt to get your fish oil supply from fish at lower risk of contamination, such as sardines and anchovies.

Fish oils have made getting your recommended daily allowance of Omega-3 fatty acids easier than ever before. With the wide variety of fish oil capsules around, it shouldn’t be a problem to find one that will suit your purposes and your budget. There is no excuse to not get your daily dose of Omega-3s anymore.