Fish oils are some of our most popular (and important) products here at Mr Vitamins. But with so many on the market, how do you know which one to choose? Fish oil supplements are popular for many very good reasons, not least of which is that most of us know we’re not consuming adequate amounts of fish and the important omega-3 fatty acids they contain, in our daily diets.

Important wellbeing benefits of fish oil

Taking a fish oil supplement may have widespread benefits for your health and wellbeing, including:

• Heart protection: If you’re in good general health, fish oil supplements may have protective effects on your heart by helping you maintain healthy blood pressure, healthy balance between the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ forms of cholesterol in your bloodstream, and normal levels of blood lipids like triglycerides
• Blood vessel health: Taking a fish oil supplement may help you maintain the health of your capillaries and blood vessels and support your peripheral circulation (which in turn may help to relieve cold hands and feet)
• Pain relief: Thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties, fish oils may help reduce pain from several different causes, notably including mild osteoarthritis and rheumatism, where they may provide temporary relief for swollen and aching joints and help improve their flexibility and function
• Skin support: The omega-3 fats found in fish oil supplements support the skin’s structural integrity and elasticity, so may help you manage dry and inflamed skin conditions, including dermatitis and eczema
• Vision and eye health: Similarly, by supporting the healthy structure and function of the retina and nerve cells of the eye, fish oils help maintain healthy eyes and vision
• Brain function and mood: Omega-3 fats are required for healthy brain function, and taking supplements may help maintain both cognition (mental processing) and healthy moods
• Children’s health and development: From conception onwards, the omega-3 fatty acid DHA plays an important role in the development of children’s nervous systems and brains. Supplements can be taken by the mother during pregnancy and while breastfeeding to help optimise the foetal and neonatal omega-3 levels. Later, they can be given to growing healthy children to help support brain development and cognitive functioning and help maintain normal behaviour patterns and moods

What should you look for in a fish oil supplement?

To get the best from your fish oil, you need to choose a high quality supplement, and take it in optimal doses. Here are some of the most important criteria to look for:

• High-potency dose: In many circumstances, omega-3s need to be taken in large quantities in order to be effective, but many people find it difficult to consistently consume lots of capsules every day. Choose a fish oil that provides at least 880mg of omega-3s per capsule (including a combined total of 775mg EPA and DHA), and take two capsules twice daily or as prescribed by your healthcare professional
• Super-concentrated formula: To optimise the digestibility, stability and taste of your omega-3s look for a formula that’s concentrated to provide 90% triglycerides (sometimes referred to as TG90)
• Low-reflux formula: To reduce the likelihood you’ll experience reflux or a fishy after-taste and improve your body’s ability to absorb and utilise the omega-3s, select enteric-coated Fish Oil capsules, which pass through the stomach before being broken down in the small intestine.
• Includes astaxanthin: The fatty acids found in fish oil naturally induce free radical activity in the body after consumption, so choose a supplement that also contains astaxanthin. This highly potent antioxidant from the carotenoid family is estimated to be more than 100 times more active in the body than vitamin E and is also considered superior to CoQ10, alpha-lipoic acid and many other antioxidants
• Sustainably sourced: Help maintain the world’s fish populations for future generations by choosing a product that’s been certified as sustainably sourced by reputable organisations such as Friend of the Sea (FOS) and the Marine Ingredients Association (IFFO)
• Tested for purity: Check that your preferred supplement has been tested for contaminants like mercury, dioxin and pesticide residues, and meets or exceeds industry standards for purity

Mr Vitamins recommends

Fusion Health OceanPure Fish Oil

Sustainably sourced OceanPure Fish Oil Capsules from Fusion Health provide highly concentrated omega-3 fatty acids for heart, brain, joint, skin and eye health. They combine well with Fusion Health Pain and Inflammation and Fusion Health Glucosamine Advanced Repair to relieve mild arthritis pain, or Fusion Health CoQ10 to support cardiovascular health.