Fish Oil 101

This short, information packed sh oil buyer!s guide will give you all
the information you need to choose the very best sh oil
supplement to optimize not only your health, but the health of your
friends and family too.
If this is your rst time researching sh oil, or you!ve made the
wrong choice in the past and want to nd out how to choose a
quality sh oil; this guide is denitely for you.
Throughout this guide you will learn what sh oil is, where it comes
from, the many, many (many) ways that it benets your health,
common side effects to look out for and I!ll also give you a quick
checklist you can use to evaluate sh oil before purchasing to make
sure it!s right for you.
Most importantly, this guide is designed to cut through all the
marketing and false promises many sh oil companies use to sell
you their brand. There is no sell here - only free advice on how to
use sh oil for to improve your health based off my own personal
experiences.
I hope you enjoy the guide and I wish you a very happy and healthy
life. :)
Ian Nuttall
FishOilAdvice.org
What is
sh oil?
It!s oil that comes from sh. ;)
Seriously though... sh oil is a hugely popular supplement
throughout the world and is the most potent source of omega-3
fatty acids.
The health benets of sh oil stem entirely from these omega-3!s
that the human body is unable to produce on its own.
Fun fact: sh don!t actually produce omega-3!s themselves either.
They just store it in their fat like humans do with pizza and ice
cream. So if they don!t make it, where do they get it?
From eating other sh. :D
Those sh get their omega-3!s from eating micro-algae. You know,
that green, slimy stuff found in the ocean.
That algae produces half the oxygen in the Earth!s atmosphere and
its the primary source for marine life. It!s an incredible and
important food source!
There are other sources of omega-3 too. From green plant leaves,
grass and phytoplankton to seaweed.
Problem is, you can!t eat grass, and even if you did, the version of
omega-3 you get isn!t the same as the version you get from sh.
Fish convert omega-3 from alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) into the more
potent and anti-inammatory eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
The science isn!t really important to many people. You probably
don!t care how omega-3!s convert in sh to become so powerful!
Just know that 50% of the human brain is made up of DHA, which
makes the conversion by sh so important.
This is why you can!t get the same omega-3 benet from grass fed
beef, axseed or other sources of oil.
Fish oil is the best source of omega-3!s in the potent EPA and DHA
forms. Nothing else compares.
There is a heck of a lot more I could go into on the science side of
this process, but I!ll save those for my exclusive newsletter that I
send out every couple of weeks. Stay tuned on that one...
Next, we!ll look at common sh oil side effects (usually from a poor
supplement choice) and how you can avoid them.
Fish oil
side effects
With a supplement so heavily marketed and advertised it can be
hard to nd faults with it. That!s what the cheaper companies want.
So you head on down to Walmart and grab the cheapest sh oil you
can nd because you saw it in a TV commercial and sh oil is good
for you, right?
This happened to me a couple of times before I stumbled onto a
supplement that worked. When I took a quality supplement, I
noticed that the side effects I had been feeling disappeared
completely!
The truth is that most sh oil supplements are low quality. They use
low quality sh with high levels of contamination and they often
include ingredients that you do not want anywhere near your body.
Here are the 7 most common side effects and how you can easily
avoid making the same mistakes I did when I rst started taking sh
oil.
1. Heavy metal poisoning.
The most major of all sh oil side effects is the heavy metal content
found in many sh. As a result of toxic and polluted waters, larger
sh can have a high mercury content, as well as other heavy
metals.
You can easily avoid this potential side effect, which is in my opinion
the most dangerous of them all, by choosing a high-quality sh oil
supplement that contains no contaminants. This is possible with
manufacturers who are able to distill, concentrate and purify the sh
oil to leave no trace of mercury or other metals. If you are unsure
whether the supplement is safe, ask them for a Certicate of
Analysis which will show exactly how pure the product is. If they do
not have a CoA, choose a better company.
2. Heart burn and indigestion.
Probably the most noticeable of these sh oil side effects is the
shy burps that many products give you. These burps are caused
by oxidation in your digestive tract and is a common sign of a poor
quality product.
If you!ve ever experienced a rancid product, the burps and
aftertaste could be enough to put you off sh oil supplements for
life. Before you give up though, there are a select few products that
are so pure that they can guarantee you will not experience this -
and they give a money back guarantee to prove it. You can also
store your supplements somewhere cold and try to always take
them with food to avoid this harmless side effect.
3. Itchiness, rashes, hives and wheezing.
Any of these side effects could be an indication that you have an
allergy to either the sh oil, or an ingredient within it.
If you do start to experience any of these reactions, the rst thing
you should do is to stop taking the supplement immediately. If the
symptoms do not pass, then consult with your doctor to make sure
nothing else is happening in your body to cause them.
4. Fish allergies.
It should go without saying that if you have a known sh or seafood
allergy, you should be very careful when taking sh oil.
Some people with only a mild allergy will be okay taking a pure sh
oil supplement, but you should consult your doctor to ensure it!s
safe before using sh oil regularly. There are other sources of
omega-3 fatty acids so it really isn!t worth risking your health over it.
5. Diarrhea.
Although it is uncommon in most people, the rst few days or weeks
of taking sh oil can cause a number of gastrointestinal problems
like diarrhea. This is likely just your body getting used to the higher
levels of omega-3 and should settle down fairly quickly.
To prevent this you can lower the dosage for the rst few days as
this will help your body to adjust. You can also store your product in
the fridge or freezer and, as always, choose the purest sh oil you
can.
6. Mixing with other medications.
Sometimes sh oil side effects can occur when it is taken in
combination with other medication. Fish oil is known to have blood
thinning effects, so using it with any other blood thinning medication
could make you more prone to bleeding and bruising.
It also lowers your blood pressure and should be taken with caution
if you are on medication for high blood pressure to avoid lowering it
too much. As always, if you are on medication, consult your doctor
before you start taking sh oil so that you avoid any potential
complications.
7. Weight gain.
Some of the lower quality sh oils do not contain sufcient levels of
EPA and DHA and instead are full of useless fats that are hard for
your body to metabolize, which is the cause of the weight gain.
Choosing a puried EPA and DHA concentrate will actually lead to
weight loss, as it boosts your metabolism. High quality sh sources
and pure distilled oils are the best ways to prevent weight loss when
taking sh oil supplements.
As you can see, many of the side effects are a direct result of taking
a low quality supplement which has been manufactured not with
your health in mind, but the health of the companies bottom line.
Sadly, 99% of the sh oils I come across follow this same pattern.
Poor sh oil sources, the wrong ratios of DHA and EPA and ller
ingredients that exist to prolong the shelf life of the product.
Knowing and understanding the cause of sh oil side effects is the
rst step to avoiding the cheap, mass produced products that
actually jeopardize your health.
And on that cheery note, let!s get to the good stuff... the amazing,
life changing benets of taking a quality sh oil supplement. ;)
Fish oil benets
When you take the right sh oil, the benets can be amazing.
Studies have shown that sh oil (and the omega-3!s found in it) has
a positive impact on almost 100 different illnesses.
Don!t believe me? Here is the worlds LONGEST list of health
problems that sh oil benets:
! ADD/ADHD
! AMD
! Alzheimer!s Disease
! Angina
! Anxiety
! Arrhythmia
! Arthritis/Joint Pain
! Asthma
! Atherosclerosis
! Autism
! Back/Neck Pain
! Bipolar Disorder
! Breast Cancer
! Cancer (General)
! Cervical Cancer
! Cholesterol,High
! Chronic Bronchitis
! Chronic Pain
! Circulation, Poor (PAD)
! Cognitive Function
! Colon Cancer
! Congestive Heart Failure
! Crohn!s Disease
! Cystic Fibrosis
! Dementia
! Depression
! Diabetes
! Dry Eye Syndrome
! Eating Disorders
! Emphysema
! Eczema
! Epilepsy
! Fertility
! Heart Disease
! Hearing Loss Due to Age
! High Blood Pressure
! Huntington!s Disease
! Infant Development
! Inammation
! Inammatory Bowel Disease
! Kidney Disorders
! Learning Disabilities
! Low Birth Weight
! Low Metabolism
! Lung Cancer
! Lupus
! Memory/Cognition
! Menopause Symptoms
! Menstrual Cramps
! Multiple Sclerosis
! Osteoporosis
! Obesity
! Pancreatitis
! Parkinson!s Disease
! Periodontal Disease
! Pregnancy/Postpartum Depression
! Prostrate Cancer
! Psoriasis
! Raynaud!s Disease
! Schizophrenia
! Stroke
! Substance Abuse
! Sunburn/Burns
! Ulcerative Colitis
! Violent Behavior/Aggression
! Weight Loss/Control
! Wrinkles/Skin Health
I have studies to back all of these up too! Wanna test me, or nd
out more about a particular disease and how sh oil can be used to
treat it? Email me at ian@shoiladvice.org and I!ll send you the
information.
So we now know what sh oil is, how it works, the side effects and
the benets... all you need to gure out now is how to choose the
best supplement possible. Guess what!s next? ;)
How to choose
a sh oil supplement
It!s all well and good knowing how awesome sh oil is but if you
can!t actually determine what a good supplement is then you!ll
never experience the benets.
Luckily for you, I!ve noticed a few specic things to look for that will
let you check very quickly whether the sh oil is good.
Next time you nd a sh oil, use this seven step checklist to
question it before you spend any money on it.
Does it have a specic sh source?
If you!re taking a sh oil supplement, you want to know which sh
(or shes) the oil comes from. Be very wary of any product that lists
only sh oil or marine lipids on the bottle. Generally, if they don!t
specify a sh source, it!s because those sources are not of high
quality. Based on my ten years experience with sh oils, the best
sh sources for omega 3 are tuna sh, hoki sh and salmon.
Are all omega-3 fatty acids included?
Some sh oil sources do not contain the three main types of
omega-3 fatty acids DHA, EPA and DPA. These must be on the
label of any product you choose because when combined in the
right amounts they deliver a much more complete oil prole that is
more powerful than one individual fatty acid. I!ve also had excellent
results with products that include vitamin E in it!s natural form
usually in the form of Rosemary Extract.
Are the fatty acid amounts on the label?
Another popular trick that low quality products use is to not list the
quantities of EHA, DPA and and EPA. If these amounts do not add
up to within 100mg of the total omega-3 amount, then the product
you are choosing is stuffed full of yucky ller oils that are almost
denitely synthetic.
Is it 100% pure?
By pure, I simply mean that it should not contain any heavy metals,
toxins or pesticides. Many manufacturers will tell you it!s impossible
to completely remove these from sh oil, but I know for a fact that
there are companies out there that have achieved extremely high
purity levels to the point where no contaminants can be found.
The best way to nd out how pure a product is would be to ask the
manufacturer for a Certicate of Analysis which proves the
pureness against the International Fish Oil Standards.
Does the manufacturer follow strict processes?
Some people will tell you that molecularly distilled sh oil is bad and
will cause oxidation and a lack of freshness. Actually, distillation has
no effect on this and it is more about quality control and product
management. You need to choose a company that prides itself on
strict manufacturing processes to ensure fresh sh oil at all times.
Not only that, you want them to prove the freshness in their
Certicate of Analysis.
Is the sh oil natural and bio-available?
Always choose a sh oil source that is completely natural. The
natural triglyceride form gives you all the natural goodness, but it is
magnied ten-fold by using a molecularly distilled ethyl esther form
which takes the natural oil, removes all the toxins and leaves you
with a much more concentrated omega-3 source. Personally, I have
found the combination of molecularly tuna oil and natural hoki oil to
be amazingly powerful! There is, however, another synthetic
triglyceride form which is used by cheap products and should be
avoided at all costs.
Is it good value for money?
While it shouldn!t be the case, budget is a major factor for many
people when choosing the best sh oil. Chances are, you want the
highest quality product at the lowest price possible. The sh oil I
use, for example, costs $17.95 for a 30 serving bottle. It gives
everything I've mentioned before and is from an ethical company
that I trust and believe in. Compare that to a rival salmon oil product
advertised heavily (which I have tried and did not nd to be as
good) and you'll see that at $35.95 for a 30 serving bottle, it is
literally double the price. I!m paying $0.60 per day compared to
$1.20 for a product that I know to be of a higher quality. Which
would you choose?
Only if the supplement answers yes to all of these questions should
you then look to trial the supplement for a few months to monitor
performance.
Keep reading - I!ve got a few more bits of advice to nish with. :)
Final thoughts
Before I wrap this guide up, I just wanted to
give you a couple of additional tips for
selecting a sh oil and manufacturer that
have your best interests in mind:
Check to make sure the manufacturer offers a money back
guarantee. You won!t get this with supermarket brands, but the
supplement I use offers a staggering 6-month guarantee. Don!t
like their sh oil? Get your money back (even if you used it).
That!s how condent they are that it works.
Check for free shipping. Online is an excellent place to buy
sh oil, but some sites charge a fortune for shipping. Look for a
brand that offers free shipping (Worldwide!) and choose the
auto-ship option if they have it to simplify getting your sh oil.
Check the brands website. You should be able to tell very
easily if a manufacturer has your best interests at heart. Do
they have clinical studies, an active and informative blog, a face
behind the brand and a bunch of testimonials from happy
customers? If not, probably best to keep looking...
The nal thing I want you to do is take action. It!s very easy to
download a guide to sh oil and read about it, but if you want
excellent health you need to actually put this advice into action and
choose the best sh oil for your health.
Now... it!s time for the bit about yours truly, the author.... :)
About the author
Yeah, that!s my mugshot. My name is Ian and
I!m just a normal guy who lives in the UK.
I rst got interested in health and tness in my
late teens and it!s been an obsession ever
since. I!ve read up on countless sh oil studies
and tried every single mainstream brand of sh
oil - from Nordic to Carlsons.
I!ve also experimented with different sh oil doses and various
different types of sh oil too - pills, liquids, salmon oil, krill oil and
more. Basically, I!m a total sh oil geek and I can!t get enough of
reading or writing about it!
Because you downloaded this guide, you!ll be automatically
included on my bi-weekly newsletter too.
It!s totally free to be a part of and you!ll get even more great advice
on what doses are best for specic illnesses, whether krill oil is
better than sh oil, product reviews as I try more new brands and
any interesting updates in the wonderful world of sh oil.
I hope you enjoyed this guide, and if you have any questions
whatsoever, email me: ian@shoiladvice.org. I ALWAYS reply to
my emails and I will help you with anything you need.
Until next time, stay healthy!
Ian