Is fish oil good for you | Is fish oil better then flaxseed oil | Find out the truth about fish oil and flaxseed oil

Saturated fats are non essential fats. These are often referred to as, "bad fats." These are the fats that can have a negative effect on your cholesterol level. Saturated fats are found mostly in animal products; such as meat, butter, dairy, and eggs.

Monounsaturated fats, while not essential, are still good fats and healthy for you. The best sources of monounsaturated fats are nuts, avocados, and olive oil; olive oil containing the highest amount of monounsaturated fatty acids.

Polyunsaturated fats are broken into two categories; Omega- 3 fatty acids and Omega- 6 fatty acids. Both of these are considered essential fatty acids because our bodies cannot produce them; therefore, we have to get them from our diet.

The standard American diet (SAD) is abundant in Omega- 6 fatty acids. Omega-6 is found in many foods; there are high amounts in processed and fast foods. Most nutritionists recommend about a 4 to1 ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3. The average American consumes considerably more Omega-6 fatty acids than recommended. The imbalance of these two, essential fatty acids is believed to be a major contributor to inflammatory conditions in the body. While Omega-6 is essential, too much can have a negative effect on your health.

Omega-3 fatty acids are considered by many health and nutrition experts to be the superstar of all fats. Much evidence points to the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids. Improving brain function and mood, cardiovascular health, and reducing inflammation in the body are just some of the many benefits that Omega-3 fatty acids can provide.
There are many who believe Omega-3 fatty acids could be beneficial toward fighting or preventing Cancer. One of the believers is Dr. Budwig, a seven time noble prize nominee. Dr. Budwig's research led her to the conclusion that flax seed oil, along with certain amino acids (protein), could prevent and cure cancer.

Fish oil from fatty fishes, such as salmon, are high in Omega-3 fatty acids. They are particularly rich in two of the three specific types of Omega-3 fatty acids; docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The third type of Omega -3 is Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The best sources of ALA are walnuts, flax seed, and flax seed oil. The body can make both DHA and EPA from ALA. Some nutritionists still believe you should get your DHA and EPA directly from the food.

Studies on the conversion of ALA to DHA and EPA have varied greatly, from less than 5 percent to 36 percent claiming to be a concern by some in the health industry and the fish industry. These claims are invalid since many healthy vegans, who get virtually no DHA or EPA from their diet are capable of converting enough DHA and EPA from ALA.

It is true that food-grade flaxseed and linseed oil used in making paints, varnishes, linoleum, etc., and are made from the same plant. However, they are very different. Just as corn and sugar can be used to make ethanol, grains, potatoes, and sugar; beets can be used to make vodka. The difference is in the way they are all processed. Depending on the type of linseed oil, it can go through many different processes, including heating and the use of petroleum based extracts. Flaxseed oil on the other hand, goes through none of these processes, making it safe and healthy to eat. So go ahead; you can safely enjoy grains, potatoes and flaxseeds, but, I would recommend limiting your sugar.

Unlike saturated fats and monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats are very unstable. For those interested in the chemistry of it, the more double bonds, the more unstable the fat. Furthermore, Omega- 3 fatty acids have more double bonds then Omega-6 fatty acids, making them the most unstable. Light, heat, and oxygen damage the Omega -3 fatty acids. By cooking fatty fishes, you are damaging the fatty acids and possibly causing them to be harmful to consume.
Toxins are another big problem with fish; especially in fish oil, since many toxins are stored in the fat and liver. Dioxin, mercury, and PCB's are some of the dangerous toxins found in fish. Because of the presence of these toxins, it is often recommended not to eat fish more than twice a week if you are pregnant. But if something is really that bad, I question if you should be eating the fish at all.

An environmental group filed a lawsuit in San Francisco March 2,2010 alleging that 10 types of fish oil or shark oil supplements contain a toxic industrial compound, and that manufacturers and sellers need to warn consumers.
The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court by the Oregon group Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation and two environmentalists from New Jersey, claims that under California's Proposition 65, the makers and sellers of fish oil supplements are required to tell consumers that the pills contain the compound polychlorinated biphenyl, or PCB.

With over 100 brands available only ten were tested and all ten brands of fish oil contained PCBs.
PCBs are believed to cause cancer, reproductive problems and damage to the nervous system.

The Ten products named in the PCB lawsuit are:
GNC Liquid Norwegian Cod Liver Oil
Nature Made Cod Liver Oil
Nature Made Odorless Fish Oil
Now Foods Double Strength Cod Liver Oil
Now Foods Salmon Oil
Now Foods Shark Liver Oil
Solgar 100 percent pure Norwegian Shark Liver Oil Complex
Solgar Norwegian Cod Liver Oil
Twinlab Emulsified Norwegian Cod Liver Oil
Twinlab Norwegian Cod Liver Oil

The Companies named in the PCB lawsuit are:
CVS/Pharmacy
General Nutrition Corp. (GNC stores)
Now Health Group
Omega Protein
Rite Aid
Solgar
Twinlab
Pharmavite maker of Nature Made supplements

My first recommendation is getting your nutrients from food as opposed to a supplement. However, getting nutrients from food is not always available or possible. I am also aware that not everyone is going to put as much effort into their diet as they should.
The best way to get ALA is by eating fresh, raw walnuts and flaxseed. Flaxseeds can be freshly grounded and added to foods such as cereal and salads. Because of oxidation, it is best to eat the flaxseeds shortly after you grind them. Both flaxseeds and walnuts should be stored in the refrigerator.
Flaxseed oil is an alternative if you do not like the taste of walnuts and flaxseeds. The oil must be cold pressed and stored in a dark bottle. It should be refrigerated and used up within a month after opening.
The oil that my family and I personally use is called, "Udo's Choice DHA 3.6.9 Oil Blend." Udo's oil is one of the rare vegetarian oils that contain EPA and DHA. This oil is produced under the strict guidelines of Udo Erasmus, Ph.D, and author of the book, Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill. After reading his excellent book and speaking to the author, I am confident his oils are some of the best, quality oils available to be purchased.
Being a vegetarian who eats very healthy and gets plenty of ALA, I still want to be sure I receive adequate DHA and EPA. In conclusion, "Udo's Choice", is also my choice.
Even though I do not recommend fish, I have no problem with good fish oil if you are not a vegetarian. My only concern is the quality of the oil. I would be very careful where you purchase it. As of today, the fish oil that looks the best to me is called, "Whole Omega by New Chapter." I will keep searching and adding more fish oil recommendations as I find them.

One final note; the more polyunsaturated fats you have in your diet, the more vitamin E the body needs. Always look for natural vitamin E; not the synthetic kind.