FISH OIL 101

Answers to your questions about fish oils

Research has shown that the fatty acids in fish oil enhance the health of the whole body. From heart health to brain health to children’s health, fish oil is one of the best and safest ways to ensure exceptional well-being.

Why is fish oil so good for me?
EPA and DHA, the Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and fish oil, are key components of the cellular membranes that help keep our cells fluid and flexible. If we don’t get enough of these fats, our cell membranes become rigid, like a contact lens that has been left out of solution. That rigidity is bad news for cells. As the doors into and out of cells, cellular membranes allow nutrients and glucose in and cellular waste out. If they become rigid and “locked,” the body has a much harder time getting what it needs to function properly.
The best sources of the Omega-3 fatty acids are fish and fish oil.*

Why are Essential Fatty Acids considered ‘essential’?
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are called “essential fats” because they are a necessary part of good health but cannot be produced by our bodies. Decades of research have clearly shown that EFAs should be consumed every day either through the diet or through supplementation in order to foster optimal health.
The most important EFAs are the Omega-3 fats EPA and DHA. These nutrients powerfully support almost every part of our body and mind, from our heart to our joints to our mood.*

Which is best-fish oil supplements or whole fish?
Fish is one of the most abundant sources of EFAs in the world. But most Americans simply don’t eat enough fish on a regular basis for optimum health. Even those who eat fish several times a week aren’t getting enough EFAs because much of the fish consumed today is farm raised (fed a diet of grains instead of fish meal) and lack significant amounts of EPA and DHA. Plus, because our fish supply has become contaminated with environmental toxins, both the FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency recommend that we limit the amount of fish we eat.
Nordic Naturals fish oils are the perfect solution: in great tasting liquids and soft gels, we deliver the Omega-3 fats that people need, with none of the contaminants. Third-party testing shows that our purified fish oils register high levels of EPA and DHA and no detectable heavy metals, dioxins or PCBs — so they can be consumed with confidence.*

Is it safe to take EFAs derived from fish? I’ve heard that fish oil contains mercury and other environmental toxins.
Though whole fish and some fish oils may contain heavy metals and environmental toxins, these can be virtually eliminated with the use of high quality raw materials, technologically advanced refining and cutting-edge distillation.
Nordic Naturals fish oils are sourced from the world’s healthiest oceans, carefully processed and then distilled using an advanced enzymatic process that removes contaminants.  Our fish oils are exceptionally pure and have been shown to have no detected levels of heavy metals or environmental toxins when tested to strict international standards.

Why is fish oil so important for pregnancy?
The essential fatty acid DHA, abundant in fish oil, is critical for the healthy growth of the developing brain, eyes, and nervous system. Because DHA is an ‘essential’ fatty acid and not produced by the body, pregnant and nursing mothers should consume adequate amounts to ensure great health for their babies. Research shows that mothers who supplement their diet with DHA-rich fish oils increase their likelihood of having full-term babies with healthier birth weights. Fish oil also provides exceptional mood and nerve support for mothers.*

Do fish oils have to taste fishy?
No. Research shows that fish oils only taste and smell unpleasant when oxidation has started to degrade the oils’ lipids, causing rancidity. Rancid lipids also contain free radicals that can damage proteins, DNA and cells. Nordic Naturals fish oils are different: our oils taste and smell great because they‘re fresh. Right after they’re harvested, our fish are delivered to our harbor-side facilities. There, they’re processed using patented, nitrogen-based technologies which protect the oils from oxidation and rancidity.
Third-party analysis has shown our oils to be exceptionally fresh: when tested for peroxide and anisidine levels (lower levels equal higher freshness), our fish oils consistently test well below the strict Norwegian Medicinal Standard.

Which are best for the body-Omega-3 fats from flax or from fish oil?
Omega-3 fatty acids fall into two major categories: plant-derived (from flax seed, containing the shorter chain fatty acid, alpha linolenic acid, or ALA) and marine-derived (from fish oil, containing the longer chain fats EPA and DHA). EPA and DHA are the fats that the body needs for health maintenance and enhancement. While it was once thought that humans could convert the plant source (ALA) into EPA and DHA, research now shows that only about 5% of ALA ever converts to EPA, and that it may not convert to DHA at all.
EPA and DHA from fish oil are the best and most efficient forms in which to consume Omega-3 fats.*

How does Nordic Naturals address the problem of overfishing?
Overfishing refers to the depletion of particular kinds of fish of
fish in specific waters. At Nordic Naturals, we are deeply committed to alleviating this problem through our practices and policies. Since our founding, we have closely monitored the world’s overfished “hot spots” to ensure that we only source those fish species that are flourishing and that we harvest them exclusively from waters that are abundant. Nordic Naturals also uses innovative methods to ensure that every part of the fish is processed for human or animal consumption and not discarded. 

Can fish oils be taken with other supplements?
Yes, fish oils can be taken with a wide variety of supplements.  Fish oils are extremely well tolerated, natural, health-promoting, and safe to use every day.*


For more research, please visit omega-research.com