Insight Type: Lifestyle Insight

When it comes to choosing a fish oil supplement, it can be hard to know where to start. Here’s how to cut through the clutter and make sure you’re buying the best product for your family.

The essential facts

Fish oil offers powerful health benefits because it’s packed with two essential fatty acids called EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) – which are used by virtually every cell in the body for healthy functioning.  

These important nutrients must be consumed through external dietary sources like cold-water fish, algae or krill – which are often lacking in today’s modern diets. As a result, supplements have become a popular alternative often recommended by health experts. 

However fish oil supplements can vary widely in quality, so bear these important considerations in mind in order to make an informed purchasing decision.     

EPA + DHA Amount

Unfortunately, many fish oils do not contain significant amounts of EPA and DHA. This means you’d have to take an impractically high number of capsules each day to obtain the therapeutic dose. That’s why a less expensive bottle does not necessarily mean a good bargain! Make sure the label specifies exactly how much EPA and DHA the product contains per serving, and that it’s an adequate amount. 

Proof  

To ensure quality, efficacy and safety of the product you choose, check that it’s been subjected to a high level of third party testing including ingredient, freshness and purity analysis. Its manufacturing processes should also adhere to the international quality standards set out by the World Health Organisation and European Union.

Science

Many market-leading supplements participate in, or are selected for, independent scientific trials and studies to validate their results. Selecting a reputable product with clinical evidence to support its claims can eliminate much of the guess work.  

Freshness 

Fish oil is perishable and can easily go rancid so always check expiry dates. It’s also a good idea to examine the contents for any discolouration, fishy smell or taste (be wary of products with strong flavouring additives that could mask rancidity). It’s also wise to opt for a brand that includes a stabilizing agent like vitamin E to prevent oxidation and prolong shelf life.

Sustainability

Overfishing is a serious environmental concern so there are sourcing guidelines in place to protect fish stocks. Opt for an eco-friendly brand with reputation for sustainable practices as verified by regulatory bodies like Friends of the Sea® Certified Sustainable Fisheries or Seafood Watch.   

Take home message

At the end of the day, fish oil may be one of the most beneficial supplements you buy – make sure to choose wisely. Happy shopping!

Decades of research confirm the importance of essential fatty acids found in fish to support eye and brain development, as well as overall health. 

Ideally, children would obtain these crucial nutrients from their diet but where this isn’t possible a fish oil supplement is a great solve, but it can be tricky getting kids to take them! 

Here are some creative ways to get the much-needed benefits of fish oil supplements into your children.

Straight up

It certainly is the easiest way to get it done and some kids will happily take their fish oil straight off a spoon or in a small cup, especially if followed up with a food or drink of choice afterward to avoid any aftertaste. Tip: Keeping the capsules in the fridge can help reduce any fishy taste that may be present.

Disguise the flavor  

The options are endless!

• Drizzle the fish oil onto bread before applying peanut butter, jam or any other popular spread   
• Blend it into a smoothie to mask not only the taste but also the texture of the fish oil
• Mix it into a spoonful or serving of soft food like yogurt, pudding or mashed potatoes – just don’t add the oil to hot foods because heat can reduce its effectiveness
• Mix it into sorbet – any sorbet will do but citrus flavoured options work particularly well
• Add it to juice popsicles – just make sure to add the appropriate dose of oil to each popsicle mould before freezing
• Drizzle it over pasta instead of with olive oil
• Add it to salad dressing and drizzle it over whatever salad your child enjoys

A flavored liquid product 
With a hefty dose of crucial nutrients in every dose, liquid formulations are well tolerated by many kids ‘as is’ or mixed into juice, smoothies, fruity ice creams or sorbets.

Choose a chewable
Equazen eye q chews are a convenient way to give your child all of the benefits of fish oil in a tasty strawberry flavoured bite-size chewable capsule. The pleasant taste and easy-to-take dosage form can easily be administered to children from ages 3 and up.

The health benefits of essential fatty acids have been widely studied and accepted by scientists around the world – but is your child getting enough of them to reap the rewards?

What are essential fatty acids, and why are they important?

Simply put, essential fatty acids (EFA) are a special type of “good fat” that the body needs but cannot produce on its own. For this reason, EFA’s must continuously be obtained through food or supplements – as the body also can’t store them for long periods.    

These fatty acids are vital for good health because they play a central role in important biological processes – hence termed “essential” – and not just used or stored by the body for energy like many other fats. 

EFA’s contribute to the proper structure and function of every cell in the body and are therefore crucial for growth and development. Young kids, in particular, need enough of them in their diet to help the brain and nervous system develop normally.

The omega effect – an essential contribution to health

There are two main EFA families namely;

• omega-3 fatty acids – plentiful in oily fish and flaxseed oil
• omega-6 fatty acids – found in plant oils, nuts and seeds

These EFA’s form a necessary part of a nutritious diet and if you don’t get enough of them, deficiencies develop. It’s also important to get the right balance between them, with studies showing that today’s modern diet includes an excess of omega-6s and a lack of omega-3s. This is largely as a result of too much fast and processed foods containing refined vegetable oils, and too little fish.   

Common signs of an EFA deficiency or imbalance

• excessive thirst
• frequent urination
• skin issues (rough, dry or scaly skin and/or raised bumps on the skin) 
• poor wound healing
• weakened immunity
• allergic or ‘atopic’ tendencies (eczema, asthma, hayfever etc)
• dry, dull or ‘lifeless’ hair and/or dandruff
• soft or brittle nails
• visual symptoms (poor night vision, sensitivity to bright light, visual disturbances when reading etc)
• sleep disturbances like difficulty settling at night or waking in the morning
• emotional sensitivity such as depression, excessive mood swings or undue anxiety
• attentional problems (struggling to concentrate, poor working memory etc)

Studies also indicate that EFA deficiency is unusually common in people with ADHD, dyslexia and autistic spectrum disorders – as well as behavioural and learning disorders.

Reversing deficiencies and restoring the balance

While EFA deficiencies are enjoying increased limelight of late, symptoms can often mimic other health concerns such as low iron or calcium – meaning that omega shortages can often slide by under the radar.

If you suspect that your child’s omega intake is insufficient, or imbalanced, there are two key ways to address this; 

1. Dietary changes that avoid vegetable oils high in omega-6 (and the processed foods that contain them) and include sufficient omega-3 rich foods like oily fish 
2. Bridging any nutritional gaps with a reputable fish oil supplement containing a research-based formulation of EFAs

When medicines with natural active ingredients are made, the details of the end-to-end production process can make a big difference to their health effects.

From source to patient — let us take you on the journey

How you get from a natural plant to a finished product doesn’t really matter, does it?

Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. Growth, cultivation, extraction and manufacturing processes are key to help deliver a consistent medicine that can be tested in clinical studies for health outcomes.

When you think about just how much the process matters, it becomes a whole lot more interesting.

Six crucial steps and why they can matter

Chardonnay or shiraz?

Regardless of whether you enjoy a glass of wine, you’ll know that every wine drinker has a preference. And that’s because the specific type of grape that a wine is made from can have a huge impact on its flavour. Just like grape varieties, not all plant species used to make medicines with naturally sourced active ingredients are the same. That’s why SFI Health’ integrative medicines are made from carefully selected plant species that often have a history of success.

Sun or snow?

As much as we might like to, we can’t control the weather to suit ourselves. And like us, plants can behave differently in different climates and conditions. Many factors can affect the growth and composition of a plant, depending on what matters, many of the ingredients in SFI Health medicines are grown in carefully selected environments, required for optimal growth. Plus the levels of active compounds within a plant may change over their growing season, so the time of year the plants are harvested can also have an impact.

Root or leaf?

In every plant, different parts can contain very different components. When different vegetable plants are harvested, some are collected for their roots or leaves, and others are gathered for their stems, flowers or fruits, for example. This kind of selection is also taken into account when producing a the natural active ingredient of a medicine, because the very specific components that may have an effect on the body might be present only in one part of the plant, or in all of it. It can vary from plant to plant. So it’s important to take great care to consistently use the part of the plant that is known to have beneficial effects on the body in clinical research.

Exact or extract? Strict or standard solvent?

With SFI Health integrative medicines, extraction processes are used to help ensure that each batch of medicine has the precise ingredient, compound, or mix of compounds, that has been tested in clinical research. This is usually achieved by using carefully selected liquids (known as solvents) that draw out extracts and help deliver the consistent amount and composition of active compounds. Taking care to get the same level of success in each batch of natural medicine, helps deliver consistency you can rely on.

Plane or car?

A lot can happen when you travel from A to B, so a lot of thought has gone into this with SFI Health medicines. We never stop caring about our products, so strict controls are followed for storing and transporting finished products. This helps ensure that the pack gets to you in a high quality condition — just like when it left the front door.

Science or fiction?

There’s no doubt that fiction can be fun. But when it’s fact that you desire, science is what you can rely on. SFI Health integrative medicines undergo carefully conducted clinical studies to help ensure that they can deliver health benefits. This means that the claims you see on our packs and on our website have been objectively and scientifically validated so you can feel more confident about their health outcomes.  

Something of a nutrition star in recent years, fish oil has become one of the most commonly consumed dietary supplements. But how much do you know about its health benefits?

What’s So Special About Fish Oil?

Something of a nutrition star in recent years, fish oil has become one of the most commonly consumed dietary supplements. But how much do you know about its health benefits?  

Fast facts on fish oil

Fish oil is fat, or oil, that’s extracted from fish tissue. It’s rich in omega-3, an essential fatty acid that contributes to a number of crucial bodily functions and must be obtained from outside sources because the body cannot make them in the way it can make other fats.

Two of the most important omega-3s in fish are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) – both of which perform an important role in various biological processes that support healthy growth and development.

The benefits of fish oils

Fish-derived omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to offer a broad spectrum of benefits that include;

Supporting brain health

The brain is made up of nearly 60% fat and much of this is omega-3 fatty acids making them vital for normal brain function. This fact is so recognized that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approved the claim that DHA is needed to maintain normal brain function.

Improving ADHD symptoms

Research shows that children with ADHD often have less omega-3 in their bodies than children without ADHD.

It also indicates that fish oil can help curb ADHD-symptoms, as well as reduce the negative side effects often associated with conventional medicines for the condition. 

Supporting eye health

DHA is a key structural component of the retina and people with insufficient DHA levels stand a greater risk of visual problems and eye diseases. Hence the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approving the claim that DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal vision.  

Fighting asthma

Omega-3 fatty acids and asthma has been a focus of recent research with some studies evaluating the omega-3 intake of pregnant women, while others looked at omega-3 intake in children. In all cases, it was concluded that sufficient omega-3 intake seems to have a preventive or controlling effect on asthma.

Improving sleep quality

An Oxford University study published in the Journal of Sleep Research found that higher blood levels of DHA were significantly associated with better sleep – including less bedtime resistance, kids sleeping longer and waking up less during the night.

Reducing inflammation

Recognised for its strong anti-inflammatory properties, omega-3 has been revealed in clinical trials to provide significant benefits in the management of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, Crohn’s disease, colitis, lupus, multiple sclerosis and migraine headaches.

Promoting healthy skin

Omega 3’s provide a skin barrier function, sealing in moisture and keeping out irritants. This moisturizing action can guard against red, dry, or itchy skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.

Promoting heart health

Fish oil has been shown to help increase “good” HDL cholesterol, lower triglycerides, reduce blood pressure and help keep arteries clear. For all these reasons, experts believe fish oil may be heart-protective.    

The bottom line

Given the wide array of benefits, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends eating 1–2 portions of fish per week. But not everyone is a fan of seafood. If this rings true for you or your family, a quality fish oil supplement may be a necessary and effective alternative.  

Sources:

https://www.nei.nih.gov/ Bethesda: National Eye Institute; c2017 [cited 2017 May]