Are Your Omega 3 Fish Oils Safer Than Eating Fish?

If your family is eating fish to get the benefits of thewere once used as insulating tools in electrical
omega 3 oils in the fish, and you want to keep themtransformers, were banned in 1977, they are fat
safe and healthy, this is one of those articles you'llsoluble and still in the fatty tissue of marine and animal
want to read all the way to the end.News about thespecies. PCB's are linked to impaired memory, certain
superb health benefits of omega 3 fish oils arecancers, and learning problems.The New England
everywhere. Medical science proves they help youJournal of Medicine reported on Sept. 12, 1996, that a
think faster, improve memory, protect your heart,study of 212 children born to women who had eaten
eliminate or diminish many symptoms of Autism andPCB contaminated fish from Lake Michigan, were
ADD/ADHD and even help lower your blood pressurethree times more likely to lag two years behind in
and cholesterol.BUT-- Are the fish oil supplements youreading comprehension and
take safer than eating fish?There's growing concern inadversely affected intellectual function.*** Dioxins
the medical community about the dangerous chemicals***Dioxins are by products of industrial chemicals and
found in fish (both wild and farmed), like mercury,also accumulate in the fatty tissue of fish. In various
PCB's, dioxins and other toxins.So, after a thoroughanimal studies, dioxins have been found to cause birth
review of the medical literature, here's the skinny ondefects, nerve damage, changes in immune function,
the "smart fats", whether the fish oil supplements youand higher levels of miscarriages.4. Can You Get The
take are safe, and, if you eat fish, which type is safestHealth Benefits Of Omega 3 Fish Oils Without The
for your family?1. Is Your Tuna Safe?On August 1,Risk?If you're a conscientious consumer and pay
2005, a Wall Street Journal article, talking about theattention to third party quality assurance programs, you
failure of the FDA to warn about the high levels ofcan be absolutely assured that the fish oil supplements
pollutants in fish, told about a 10 year old boy sufferingyou take are safe.BUT BEWARE - Not All Fish Oils
from mercury poisoning because his parents thoughtAre Created Equal.Recent medical journal studies
eating tuna fish was safe.Sadly, the boy had recentlyshow that most "off the shelf" fish oils were rancid,
acquired severe learning difficulties and neurologicaleven before their expiration date, and had high levels
tests revealed he had nearly double the mercuryof mercury, PCB's and dioxins. So before you run to
levels in his blood than the EPA deems safe.Finally inyour local store or warehouse shopping center for
March 2004, the FDA issued a mercury advisorythe least expensive fish oils, read on...5. Who Are The
recommending limits on tuna and other fishThird Party Fish Oil Quality Assurors and Which Fish
consumption for pregnant and nursing women andOil Supplements Have The Highest Rating?There are
children, but it was years too late for the 10 year oldseveral organizations that independently insure the
boy.2. Mercury Levels In Some Common Fish.Note:quality of fish oils and attest to the fact that there is no
Albacore, the most expensive type of tuna, has nearlymercury, PCB's, dioxins, or other toxins in the fish
three times more mercury than other tuna. The sourceoil.These labs are highly regulated and rigorously test
on this information is the FDA: Northeastthe fish to make sure that any contaminants are
States for Coordinated Air Usemolecularly distilled out through many steps.a. The IFOS
Management.Average Mercury (parts per- International Fish Oil Standards program.IFOS
million)Salmon .01American Lobster .31Catfish .05Codmeasures quality of omega 3 products through more
.11Pollock .06Swordfish .97Chunk light tuna .12Albacorestringent global standards than that of the World
.35Note: There are no safe levels of mercury, PCB's,Health Organization and the Council for Responsible
dioxinsNutrition. Interestingly, the FDA standards for
for your body and brain.3. What Are These Pollutants,contaminants in fish oil are the least stringent of all the
and What Are The Dangers of Mercury, PCB's andorganizations.IFOS program uses a lengthy series of
Dioxins?*** Mercury ***Mercury is released into the airdissolution rates, gas chromatography, and cold water
from coal burning power plants and solid-wastevapor atomic absorption spectroscopy, etc., to
incinerators. When it gets into the water, it convertsdetermine contaminants and omega 3 content as a
into a dangerous neurotoxin which destroys nervepercentage of weight. Further their program tests
tissue.The largest fish, and predatory fish, naturallyproduct levels at higher parts per trillion than any of the
have the highest levels of mercury. But, watch out,others to insure greater safety.Products which have
when you eat the fish, methylmercury accumulatesreceived the highest IFOS Program rating:Although I
into your bloodstream. Although it can be removedam not recommending that you stop eating fish, you
over time, it takes more than a year to drop to safewould have to consume many pounds of possibly
levels.If you are in your child bearing years, pregnant,contaminated fish to obtain what you could get in even
nursing or have young children, your risk of mercuryone capsule of the purest omega 3 supplement.So
toxicity is even higher. Further, it can be passed fromhere are the omega 3 supplement products which
the mother to thehave received the highest rating from IFOS program:
unborn baby. It gets worse.According to the June,fish oil in omega 3 supplements have hundreds of
1998 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine,health benefits. If you want to improve your memory,
researchers at Dartmouth College found that childrenthink faster, remember longer, lower your blood
exposed to even low levels of methlymercurypressure,
(evidenced in hair samples) perform more poorly ineliminate many of the symptoms of Autism,
cognitive tests.Since 8% of US women of childbearingdepression and ADHD, take a look at these valuable
age have unsafe mercury levels, this means that moresupplements.(Medical disclaimer: no part of this article is
than 300,000 babies are born at risk for memory,intended to convey medical advice. Seek the advice
language, physical and attention span impairments. Aof your health care or medical professional before
scary thought isn't it?Every time I go to thetaking any supplements, and ask your doctor whether
supermarket, I want to stop at the tuna fish aisle andyou can take fish oils especially if you are currently
warn the moms buying all that tuna their kids are goingtaking blood thinning medications).
to eat every day.*** PCB's ***Although PCB's, which