Fish Oil Capsules vs Eating Fish: The Debate is On

When a person is deciding on whether or not to use fish oils as a natural remedy, the first question that comes up is often "Why can't I just eat more fish?"

While there's nothing stopping you from doing just that, there are a couple of differences between taking fish oil supplements and eating fish that you might want to consider.

The first reason is that when eating fish just for its omega 3 benefits your results are often hit or miss. The amount of oil you get will vary by the type of fish you eat, how you cook it, and also by the quantity you eat. You would have to eat an awful lot of fish to get the recommended dosage for some treatments.

In contrast, fish oil capsules often come in specific formulas geared toward certain ailments. This means that you will get the pre-determined amounts of the required oils in each capsule so that you know exactly how many to take and how much you are getting every day.

Another difference is in the quality of the oil itself. You might think that a higher quality of oil would come from the fish itself. This is not always the case. Many of the species of fish that produce the omega 3 fatty acids our human bodies need are also the species that are most affected by pollution. Mercury contamination is the most well-publicized of these pollutants but there are other toxic substances floating about in our oceans as well. When you eat fresh fish, you don't know how much of these toxic substances you are also ingesting.

Fish oil capsules, on the other hand, often go through a process of purification in which these contaminants are removed. Even though fish oils are considered a supplement, and aren't as subject to scrutiny as pharmaceuticals, most suppliers will provide you with information on whether or not their product has been purified. After all, it's in their best interests to provide you with the safest product possible. If they don't say and won't answer your questions, do not purchase that product!

When it comes right down to it, it's really a personal decision whether you want to eat fish or take fish oil capsules in order to get the omega 3s that your body needs. As far as the effects on your body, according to a recent study, there's no difference at all in how your body reacts. So if you love eating fish such as salmon and tuna, then go for it. As for me, I'll stick to my fish oil capsules.