What is Omega-3 and what is it good for?

Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid (EFA, also known as a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)) that is derived from both animal and plant sources, although Omega-3 from fish oil is the most common supplemental form. Fatty acids are the basis of fats and oils, and, despite popular belief, are necessary for overall health. These fatty acids are termed “essential” because your body cannot manufacture them by itself. EFA’s must come from food or supplemental sources. They are also essential because they are a component of every living cell in the body, and are necessary for rebuilding existing cells and the production of new cells.

Plant sources such as Flax Oil contain the parent Omega-3 fatty acid called Alpha-linolenic acid that the human body normally converts to the longer chain EPA/DHA fatty acids for prostaglandin formation and other cellular needs. Fish Oil contains the desired Omega-3 fatty acids in their long chain EPA and DHA forms thereby offering us the health benefits of these PG3 prostaglandin precursors while saving our body the enzymatic steps necessary to process the Alpha-linolenic acid into the more biologically active forms.

The Natural Fish Oil Concentrate used in this softgel is manufactured under strict quality control standards. It is screened for the absence of potentially harmful levels of contaminants (i.e. mercury, heavy metals, PCB\'s, dioxins, and other contaminants). This Fish Oil Concentrate is primarily derived from sardines, anchovies and mackerel. In 2004 the FDA released a qualified claim supporting the use of omega-3 products for the prevention of heart disease.

Is your Omega 3 Fish Oil softgel pharmaceutical grade?

There is a lot of confusion caused by aggressive supplement distributors who claim to have a pharmaceutical grade Omega 3 Fish Oil today. The fact of the matter is that to date there is NO official USP (United States Pharmacopeia) monograph that defines the specifications necessary to qualify Omega 3 Fish oils as pharmaceutical grade here in the USA. However, there is a voluntary CRN (Council for Responsible Nutrition) monograph that is being utilized to define the specifications necessary to qualify a pure Omega 3 EPA/DHA product. The CRN Voluntary Monograph has been submitted to USP for review and publication consideration. Most experts in the Natural Foods industry agree that the CRN monograph is the best document available and that it will most likely be used as the basis for an official USP Monograph in the near future.

Are the Omega 3 Fish Oils tested for EPA/DHA and Cholesterol; as well as Peroxide Value, Mercury, PCBs, Dioxins, and other contaminants?

Yes. 3rd party laboratories test our Omega 3 Fish Oil for all the active constituents and contaminants mentioned and more. Our Omega 3 Fish Oil meets and in most cases tests well below the contaminant levels found safe and acceptable by California’s stringent Environmental Statute Proposition 65 and the CRN Monograph.

Are your Fish Oil products high in Vitamin A?

Omega-3 fish oils are made from the whole body of fish such as sardines, anchovies, and mackerel, rather than from fish liver oil. Fish Liver Oils such as Cod Liver Oil will usually contain some Vitamin A & D. Furthermore, the Omega-3 fish oils undergo purification processes that further limit the content of these vitamins. Fish Oils contain negligible amounts of Vitamin A and D.