Wide-ranging studies make it easy to discover the vast health benefits we could derivefrom fish oil but selecting the best fish oil is never an easy task. Heart disease prevention, anti-inflammatory properties, and even hair loss prevention are just a few of such health benefits that have been associated with fish oil. For this reason, the fish oil supplement industry has prospered, which has its positive and negative effects.

One positive effect is that these fish oil supplement products are easily  obtainable to those who desire to take advantage of their health benefits. The negative effect is that many companies leap on the bandwagon for quick profit by manufacturing inferior products. Selecting a suitable brand is made difficult with all these brands out in the market.

However, to pick the best fish oil becomes easy by trying to distinguish the better fish oil supplements from the inferior products. Here are a few basics to remember.

Fish oil supplements are good for us because they contain omega-3 fatty acids; specifically DHA and EPA. It is only logical that the best fish oil brands haven more of these omega-3s compared to the lesser-quality products. Remember to check the label in your fish oils; more DHA and EPA means better product.
For every 1,000mg of fish oil, each capsule should contain 600mg or a 60% concentration of Omega-3.
Fish oil supplements, like all fish products, are subject to toxin hazard, but the best fish oil should be pure and toxin-free. For this reason, doctors do not prescribe fish oil supplements to pregnant mothers, regardless of the fact that it can have positive effects to the baby’s brain development, as some studies point out.
Due to the absence of a reliable regulatory board that people could look to, determining which fish oil supplements were pure, used to be very tricky. However, this problem was solved when Nutrasource Diagnostics Inc. of Canada came up with the International Fish Oil Safety (IFOS) program.

Unlike before the IFOS program, where standards for toxin-free fish oil supplements were too moderate, a stringent set of world standards for purity of fish oils has been applied based on five parameters:

•Passes all Council for Responsible Nutrition and World Health Organization testing categories

•60% or higher Omega-3 concentration

•Oxidation Levels less than 75% of CRN standard

•PCB Levels Less than 50% of CRN standard

•Dioxin Levels Less Than 50% of WHO standard 

A 5-star certification from the IFOS should be the minimum for the best fish oil supplement. This stepwill surelytaper the selection process for the best fish oil. Nordic Naturals and SeeYourself Well are two brands available in the United States that are 5-star certified.
In conclusion, the best fish oil should offer not only value, but also safety. The label should indicate whether or not your fish oil supplement meets your Omega-3 fatty acids requirement, and don’t forget to look forthe 5-star certification from the IFOS!

Brittany M. Wallace is a health and nutrition expert.