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Do you take a fish-oil supplement? Which one and why?

6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago

I am generally not a big believers in supplements. I personally suspect that it is far better to get your nutritional needs from whole foods, unless one has some specific deficiency. I don't have any deficiencies, normal bloodwork, and I am not on any medication.

But I have heard so many good things about the benefits of fish oil. I don't care for oily fish *at all*. So should I take supplements? Do you? Which ones are best? TIA

Comments (23)

  • 6 years ago

    I take Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega. The brand was recommended to me by a naturopath.

  • 6 years ago

    My ophthalmologist suggested I start on 1000 mg/day because of my dry eye syndrome (which I didn’t know I had). I‘ve been taking an odorless capsule (CVS store brand) since March.

    There have been no changes my skin, hair, or eyes that I have noticed.


  • 6 years ago

    My philosophy on supplements is the same as yours so I don't take fish oil supplements. I got a bottle once, took all of them and then never again. You can always find some publication that supports your belief - in this case taking fish oil supplements or not. Fish Oil - Friend or Foe

  • 6 years ago

    Funny, 3katz, it was reading that very article you linked to that got me to conclude it might be a good idea!

    eg

    If you don’t eat fish or other seafood, you might benefit from a fish oil supplement. Also you can get omega-3s from ground flaxseed or flaxseed oil, chia seeds, walnuts, canola oil, and soy oil. One to two servings per day can help you avoid a deficiency of omega-3s.


    I am allergic to shellfish so I only eat finfish, and among fin fish only mild white fish, at most 1x a week I'd say. I do eat walnuts and I use canola oil when I don't use EVOO, have flax in occasional smoothie and breads... but I don't think that would add up to 1-2 servings every day.




  • 6 years ago

    This is timely! I had a very complex appt. at my eye doc's on Thursday, following 4 months of dry eye treatments. Good news is that my eyes are much better, but I had just ordered 2 big bottles of my usual fish oil from Amazon (Nature's Bounty), and she looked up that brand and showed me it had very little Omega 3 in it.


    She recommended this brand, and I bought a bottle at their Optical shop that day. I paid $20.00 plus tax there, and found some on eBay where I got some for $18.50 (no tax, very fast shipping) by making an offer on this auction - OCuSOFT Retaine OM3 Omega-3 Supplement (60 Softgel Capsules) (EXP. 01/2021)




  • 6 years ago

    https://www.amazon.com/Proprietary-Acids-Supports-Inflammatory-Cardiovascular-Neurological/dp/B000UQPH1G

    I‘ve taken Nordic Natural’s but my kinesiologist had me on these at one point.

    Biotics Research Optimal EFA’s. I think a lot of vitamins are junk with fillers and what not.

    I never looked closely at any studies but have heard you don’t need them yadda ya. I’d like to know what vitamins were used during testings. I think taking a poor vitamin can probably do more harm than good. I don’t believe we can get all our nutrients from food though.

  • 6 years ago

    Be careful ordering supplements from eBay, Amazon and the like. There are a lot of fake products that look legit. They go so far as to copy the boxes and bottles, also steal photos. Same for shampoo/conditioner and more.

  • 6 years ago

    Thanks, allison, I'm very careful and do a lot of research when buying online. I feel very confident about these, but am able to return them if I want, with a full refund. Nice to 'see' you again after my long absence!


    100% GUARANTEED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RETURN POLICY
    100% GUARANTEED AUTHENTICITY
    PRODUCT DETAILS:

    BRAND: OCuSOFT - Retaine

    TYPE: OM3 - Omega-3 Supplement

    SIZE: 60 Softgel Capsules

  • 6 years ago

    My3, so funny I was thinking about you!

    I use TheraTears Omega (3) Fish Oil for my dry eyes. It was recommended by my optometrist.

    My breakdown is: Fish oil 1600mg , Flaxseed Oil 1000 mg. Total Omega 3 is 1200mg.

    I don't get fishy after taste from mine.

    It does thin your blood, so when you need medical procedures you need to stop taking them beforehand.

    I also a calcium plus D3 and two Nutramax Cosamine pills every morning. Since these are supplements, I have been known to skip. However, I do see a difference in my lower back when I skip the Glucosamine.



  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Same as localeater, Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega. I use it for dry eyes mostly and it has helped a lot. My GP recommended this or another brand several years ago because they were the only two who had actual testing done, at that time, to prove and validate their content.

    I also use Systane Balance eye drops, or Retaine, both recommended by by optometrist.

  • 6 years ago

    Latest studies say it's not effective in healthy people: https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/clinical-trials/2018/11/08/22/42/vital

  • 6 years ago

    If you eat lots of fish products then you're okay unless you have kidney disease as I do. We eat fish a few times a week but it's recommended by most kidney specialists that you take otc. doses. It reduces the inflammation caused by the disease. I use Life Extension brand and others of their brand. They are highly qualified and I've used them for 30 years. My son is a scientist and says they are the best.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Everyone in our household (human and canine members) takes fish oil from Carlson Labs. We have taken it for a very long time, but had our long-standing belief in its benefits confirmed last year when Molly Beagle's cardiologist (one of the best in the world) indicated fish oil is one of the few things that has been shown in controlled studies to extend the lives of cardiac dogs by helping to improve heart health. We like Carlsons because my husband has done a lot of research and found that brand to be very high quality. It is what he recommends to patients in his office as well.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Fish oil is available as a prescription and then you know it contains just what it claims.

    Edit for clarification: There is a pharmaceutical grade fish oil that is only available by prescription. I have taken it in the past with no fishy smelling breath.

  • 6 years ago

    I take Usana which is part of a subscription service I use for my multivitamins. I first started taking them for dry eyes but have had amazing results in my skin. I'm usually so dry my legs would look like the Sahara desert with cracked skin. Since I started on these my trainer has remarked how baby-soft my skin is and also the manicurist said how soft my hands were. I haven't noticed anything with my hair being less dry but apparently my eyes are better because I haven't noticed them. ☺️

  • 6 years ago

    I do put ground flax seed on my salad every day as we do not get enough omega-3s in the typical diet. It seems to help with my aches and pains.

  • 6 years ago

    I am unfamiliar with the studies that Annie is posting. I do know that taking the TheraTears Fish Oil has helped my dry eyes.

  • 6 years ago

    Ialso believe in getting your nutrients, etc. from your diet. However, sometimes our diet just doesn't provide what we need. Many people are low in Vitamin D. I lean towards anemia, and I do eat meat. As for Omegas, I do not eat seafood - at all, so definitely a supplement for me. Make sure you are looking at who is doing the studies. Read the comments on that one study.

  • 6 years ago

    I don't have a medical need for fish oil (or one of which I'm aware), but I do eat fish, walnuts and chia seeds regularly.

    Saying that, in the winter, I take a vitamin D supplement to offset SAD, and with it, I also pop a few fish oil pills. Probably something from Costco. And I can't tell you why I do this... I've just always taken the D and the fish oil together. I feel like Ouiser in Steel Magnolias when asked about growing tomatoes. "Don't ask me why!"

  • 6 years ago

    My dog takes the people ones from Costco as suggested by his vet for itchy skin and general middle agedness. I don't know if they do anything (they seem to make his coat nicer) but he enjoys them very much. I'm sure he'd prefer them to be fishier, though.


    I guess that doesn't answer the question really. :)

  • 6 years ago

    I take Nature's Bounty Fish Oil, 1000 mg, containing 300 mg of Omega-3. This brand has only 10 calories, and the brand I used to take had 30 calories, which is why I switched from taking two a day to one a day. I guess with the brand that is only 10 calories I could take two a day, but I don't remember why I am taking it, but probably to reduce cholesterol. My doctor did say to me that Fish Oil is the best supplement to take, if you feel you must take supplements. I do have to take vitamin/mineral supplements, due to the diet that my nutritionist put me on. I'm not that good at staying strictly on the diet, but I am very good at taking all the supplements she told me to take.

    My psychiatrist told me to take Alpha Lipoic Acid to help with nerve damage, but I think you have to take it before the damage occurs.

    The first supplement I started taking was GTF Chromium because I was diagnosed as hypoglycemic, and taking the chromium reduced the dizzy spells that I experienced when I had low blood sugar. It made a huge difference for me, but of course diet was important also, and I had to avoid sugar.