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Health & Fitness

Fish oil supplements should not smell fishy

One of the easiest signs that your fish oil supplement is of poor quality is the smell. A rotten fish odor is a dead giveaway that you are about to consume a low quality product that is potentially harmful to your health.

Fish oil supplements have tremendous healing capabilities. Extensive medical research shows that omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish oil supplements, prevent coronary artery disease; lower cholesterol levels; improve cardiovascular health; act as anti-inflammatory agents; improve dry skin and dry eye; and, most importantly, benefit overall heart health.

In order to capitalize on these benefits, consumers must be sure they are consuming a quality product. According to a recent article in The New York Times, many popular supplements are not what they claim to be.

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Here’s how to evaluate a fish oil supplement:

EPA and DHA – A quality fish oil supplement should contain a minimum of 1,000 milligrams of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), both of which are found in omega-3s.

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Smell – Lower quality supplements will likely contain a smelly fish odor, while high quality products tend to be odorless.

Indigestion – It’s normal to belch fish oil, especially if you are not used to taking it, but if the associated smell of the indigestion is making you gag, you may have rancid oil and should consult your pharmacist or a medical professional regarding the product.

Ask your pharmacist – The simplest and most effective way to confirm that you’re taking a quality fish oil is to consult your pharmacist. Some pharmacies, like ours, will provide samples of fish oil supplements, so you can choose the product that is right for you.

There are other ways, beyond a supplement, to consume omega-3s. For instance, wild Alaskan salmon or North American salmon, tuna, halibut, scallops and shrimp are foods that are all rich in omega-3s. Likewise with walnuts, flaxseed and greasy fruits like avocado and winter squash.

If you can’t get the omega-3s you need from diet, then fish oil supplements are a good option. Just remember to read the product labels and ask questions when you have them.

Steve Bernardi is a registered compounding pharmacist and co-owner of Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center in Waltham.

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