My experience with fish oil (omega 3 fatty acid)

[BeHereNow]

I mentioned in a thread about bi-polar that some research has indicated significant mental health improvements with omega-3 fatty acid. On a whim, I bought some before leaving for Korea and started taking it last week. I honestly thought my mental health couldn't be any better, but I was wrong. The fish oil pills have such a bizarre effect.

The first day I took it, I just forgot about it. A few hours later I noticed that I felt different - more positive and my body was physically more comfortable (similar to a very light seretonin rush). I just thought I was experiencing a regular endorphin swing due to events or whatever. But since then, I've noticed the exact same thing every day that I've taken it.

I really can't believe the result after only one day. I thought for sure it would take a week or more to get it into my system. And that feeling sorta stays with me all day, peaking several times over the course of 10+ hours.

So I'm now a verifiable fish oil fan. I'd heartily recommend it to anyone at all, especially if you are experiencing depression or something similar.

[Rubia Warren]

Every time I take fish oil, when I burp, it smells like fish. :blush:

Am I just using the wrong brand, or what?

:lol:

[mossrose]

What dosage, BHN?


And yes, likewise, to the fishy burps, Roobz! :lol:

[Esther]

What dosage, BHN?


And yes, likewise, to the fishy burps, Roobz! :lol:

How about using peppermint with it?

[BeHereNow]

Every time I take fish oil, when I burp, it smells like fish. :blush:

Am I just using the wrong brand, or what?

:lol:

I bought it from a store in the mall called Vitamin World, I think. I'm at an internet cafe right now so I don't have it with me, but I'll check the brand when I go home and let you know. I remember the guy told me about people having stinky burp problems with other brands, and he told me this brand didn't have that effect. I haven't noticed anything like that at all.



Mossrose, I'll have to check the bottle when I get home and get back with ya. :wink:

[mossrose]

:thumb:

[BeHereNow]

Okay I tried to update earlier but I think the site was down or something. The dosage I take is 1000mg a day and the brand is Vitamin World.

I definitely recommend to anyone.

Adois!

[jpholding]

The first day I took it, I just forgot about it. A few hours later I noticed that I felt different - more positive and my body was physically more comfortable (similar to a very light seretonin rush). I just thought I was experiencing a regular endorphin swing due to events or whatever. But since then, I've noticed the exact same thing every day that I've taken it.

It's probably because the fish odor is making people avoid you, so you are able to think more clearly and aren't being made uncomfortable by their close proximity. :wink:

That said, I take 4 fish oil tablets a day to moderate cholesterol level. It may or may not be helping. A year ago my reading for cholesterol was 201; last week it was 197. (And no -- I don't eat a lot of foods high in it; I dislike most of them.)

[yxboom]

imo the best brand of fish oil x-tend life 'Omega 3 / DHA Fish Oil Esters' (http://health.xtend-life.com/products.asp?product=oe&page=main)
no fish after-tastes

[BeHereNow]

It's probably because the fish odor is making people avoid you, so you are able to think more clearly and aren't being made uncomfortable by their close proximity. :wink:

That said, I take 4 fish oil tablets a day to moderate cholesterol level. It may or may not be helping. A year ago my reading for cholesterol was 201; last week it was 197. (And no -- I don't eat a lot of foods high in it; I dislike most of them.)

Cool, I didn't know it helped with cholesterol. Perhaps that's why it's been on the market for as long as it has. The neurologicl side effects are a relatively recent discovery.

So 201 to 197 is good change? I know nothing about cholesterol.

[jpholding]

So 201 to 197 is good change? I know nothing about cholesterol.

201 is 1 point above what doctors consider the high range (not dangerously high, just high enough for caution). It could be better; but since I don't eat a lot of high-cholesterol foods I suspect most of that level I have comes from "Grandpa Sam" (as the popular commercial for Vytorin says these days)....

[dizzle]

imo the best brand of fish oil x-tend life 'Omega 3 / DHA Fish Oil Esters' (http://health.xtend-life.com/products.asp?product=oe&page=main)
no fish after-tastes

Boom you use that? I had been wanting to try this out.

[BeHereNow]

Boom you use that? I had been wanting to try this out.

Go for it Dee Dee!

[Meh_Gerbil]

Make sure you get a good does of the Omega 6 as well.

I was suffering from depression for YEARS until I changed to a vegetarian diet, which among other things, caused me to re-evaluate nutrition. I started taking ground flax seed (rich in these oils) and over a period of two months they did what numerous prescription medicines couldn't do -- they totally eliminated the depression. I also had a problem with periodic acne (at 38 no less) and that is totally gone as well.

Please consider reading the book by this fellow: http://www.drfuhrman.com/

While it appears to be a weight loss book, being overweight is only one symptom of our poor nutrition problem. The book is about how to eat healthy.

You see, when we eat bad food not only are we failing to get good nutrition, but we are also giving our bodies alot of sludge that it has to manage. We was tons of energy dealing with lots of food that isn't doing us any good.

Also a positive: Since I typically don't eat meat for lunch I'm forced to try new things at odd, hole in the wall restaurants. I've a whole new menu of favorite foods I've discovered as I've drifted away from the fat and salt ladden offering I used to eat.

------------------------------------------------------------

Aside: I'm busy rennovating a home so I've been eating fast food again. I can feel the depression creeping back (along with acne) so in my mind I've pretty much proven that both are directly linked to my diet. I'm looking forward to settling down into the vegetarian(1) habits again. =)


---------------------------------------

NOTES:
1: I'll never be pure vegetarian -- I like to have chicken every now and again.

[JardinPrayer]

Fish oil is known to be good for join health, cholesterol levels, anti-oxidation, and depression, and more...just great stuff. I have never had the fishy aftertaste problem (I use the Costco brand or whatever is on sale at the supermarket) and the normal dose is 2 grams per day (or 1000 mg in the morning and again at night).

As an alternative, most doctors and health professionals say you can swap flax seed oil for fish oil and receive all the same benefits without the fishy burps. There has been some bad press about fish oil lately...some of it having to do with rancidity and some having to do with the fish it is derived from being farmed and therefore not having some of the properties as ocean fish, making a critical difference.

On the other hand, fish oil advocates say flax seed oil lacks DHA, which is crucial for metabolization. Other articles say flax seed oil can actually promote prostate tumor growth in men!!! Who the heck knows. Here are some links to help you sort it out:

http://www.pinc.com/healthnews/fishoils.html
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3006624
http://www.berkeleywellness.com/html/ds/dsFishOil.php
http://www.mercola.com/2004/jul/21/flax_seed_oil.htm
http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,783,00.html
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/T041700.asp

I recently switched from fish to flax because I thought I wasn't getting the benefits after the articles I read about the farm raised fish, but I think I'm going to switch back after what I've found in these links.

I'm on other meds for my mental health, BHN, but I have not noticed a significant difference on days when I take the fish oil as oppossed to days when I miss it. I certainly don't notice anything sudden or dramatic. I am, however, thrilled that you are benefiting! I've got widespread joint pain that cannot be (or has not yet been) diagnosed, so that's a primary motivation for me in addition to my depression issues and now I'm going to endure a surgically-induced menopause (another thing it is recommended for).

At the risk of sounding like a certain cupcake prisoner, "It's a good thing."

[Gabby]

Does anyone know whether fish oil can be added to foods with out destroying it's benefits? For example could I mix it in with some hot cereal? I picked up some fish oil the other day and the lady recommended that I get just the oil and not the capsules. I mixed it with my liquid calcium and it wasn't too bad to drink but when I tried it straight I nearly lost it. Not that it tastes bad, because it's citrus flavoured, but just putting oil in my mouth was gagging. :eww:

Also, when I went to the vitamin store to get my oil I was set on getting the flax seed oil instead, but the sales lady talked me out of it. From what I understand, the flax seed oil has to be converted by the body first before you get any of the benefits, where as the fish oil is already in a useable form for the body.

chris

[Sheepdog]

my understanding is that the American diet is actually pretty rich with Omega 6 as it is... it is just imballanced compared to the Omega 3 you need.

I take Omega 3 as well, along with a few other supplements. i have not noticed as pronounced affects as BeHereNow, but i have noticed a difference.

[JardinPrayer]

Does anyone know whether fish oil can be added to foods with out destroying it's benefits? For example could I mix it in with some hot cereal? I picked up some fish oil the other day and the lady recommended that I get just the oil and not the capsules. I mixed it with my liquid calcium and it wasn't too bad to drink but when I tried it straight I nearly lost it. Not that it tastes bad, because it's citrus flavoured, but just putting oil in my mouth was gagging. :eww:

Also, when I went to the vitamin store to get my oil I was set on getting the flax seed oil instead, but the sales lady talked me out of it. From what I understand, the flax seed oil has to be converted by the body first before you get any of the benefits, where as the fish oil is already in a useable form for the body.

chris

Right, that's what those links I posted about flax seed are suggesting, too. It lacks DHA...the main thing that activates the beneficial aspects of the omega 3s.

I wouldn't heat the fish oil without researching it...though we do cook the fish it comes from before consuming it, so perhaps there is no concern. I prefer to just pop the capsule...though it is large, it goes down easily with juice or something more viscous than water.

[luv1another]

after reading your OP BHN I bought some evening primrose oil + Fish oil tablets it's 500mg mg each in each capsule ( they have omega 3 and 6) and when I remember to take them the past two weeks I notice an improvement just tonight I was in a funk and took 3 to find my mood had improved... I had completly forgotten I had taken them till about an hour later when I saw the jar and went hey yeh I don't feel bad anymore :lol:
but I would think like with all vitamins and minerals they can only help if your lacking in that area :shrug:

[BeHereNow]

I'm on other meds for my mental health, BHN, but I have not noticed a significant difference on days when I take the fish oil as oppossed to days when I miss it. I certainly don't notice anything sudden or dramatic.

Hey Jardin, sorry you didn't experience much benefit from them. Honestly, and at the risk of sounding pretentious, I think the alteration probably is very small but it seems dramatic to me because my mental state is so balanced, and because it's the only mood-altering substance I take.

Cheers~

[BeHereNow]

after reading your OP BHN I bought some evening primrose oil + Fish oil tablets it's 500mg mg each in each capsule ( they have omega 3 and 6) and when I remember to take them the past two weeks I notice an improvement just tonight I was in a funk and took 3 to find my mood had improved... I had completly forgotten I had taken them till about an hour later when I saw the jar and went hey yeh I don't feel bad anymore :lol:
but I would think like with all vitamins and minerals they can only help if your lacking in that area :shrug:

That's cool. If you took 3 x 500mg, that means you took 50% more than I usually do every day (I take 1000mg). I'm happy to hear you benefit from them!

:bravo:

[dizzle]

I ordered some. I will let you guys know.

[sing27]

Here's my two cents for what it's worth. I've been on fish oil for several years now. The benefits of natural supplements are gradual. When I first started improving my diet and adding supplements, I was getting a cold several times a year. I'd have a sore throat about once ever three months, headaches, and my allergies were very annoying. After about a year of consistently eating right AND exercising, I must add, I rarely got a cold. If I do get one, it doesn't last long. The sore throats stopped and my allergies are greatly improved.

[BeHereNow]

Here's my two cents for what it's worth. I've been on fish oil for several years now. The benefits of natural supplements are gradual. When I first started improving my diet and adding supplements, I was getting a cold several times a year. I'd have a sore throat about once ever three months, headaches, and my allergies were very annoying. After about a year of consistently eating right AND exercising, I must add, I rarely got a cold. If I do get one, it doesn't last long. The sore throats stopped and my allergies are greatly improved.

Thanks for sharing, sing27. Have you been able to pinpoint any specific changes due to the omega-3 fish oil?

[sing27]

Thanks for sharing, sing27. Have you been able to pinpoint any specific changes due to the omega-3 fish oil?


Hi BeHereNow,

As I'm taking a number of supplements, it's hard to say specifically what benefits I've received from the fish oil. However, I would say that it has been the one supplement, other than a multi-vitamin, magnesium and calcium, that I have consistently taken in the past few years. So I suppose that the most noted benefit then would be overall improved health, which I mentioned earlier as more relief from allergies, and a better immune system. In addition to these, I have fewer joint aches and pains, improvements in skin (rarely have problems with dryness), and improved mood and clarity in thinking. Oh, one that I nearly forgot, and of significant importance, is relief from an inner-ear problem that caused occasional bouts of vertigo. I hardly ever experience vertigo now; in fact, it's been a couple of years since my last episode. You are probably familiar with the many studies that have been done on the benefits of omega 3s from fish oil. I first tried to get my omegas from Flax-seed oil; however, I've found that fish oil, eating safe fish, grass-fed beef, raw nuts, and avocados are much better ways of getting the 3s.

[BeHereNow]

sing27 - thanks for sharing again. That is one heck of a laundry list for fish oil! How fabulous. Since you mention it, I've actually noticed an improvement in my skin, as well, since I started taking it. That's really interesting.

:cheers:

[.Mr.White.Socks]

From what I read, walnuts are high in omega-3 fatty acid. I try to eat them regularly on salads. I don't use fish oil, but sometimes eat sardines, which supposedly don't accumulate a lot of mercury. Isn't brocholi supposed to be a good plant sourse too?

Sox

[sing27]

sing27 - thanks for sharing again. That is one heck of a laundry list for fish oil! How fabulous. Since you mention it, I've actually noticed an improvement in my skin, as well, since I started taking it. That's really interesting.

:cheers:

BeHereNow- You may have mentioned this before, but how many milligrams or grams of fish oil do you get a day? Also, is your fish oil molecularly distilled or third-party tested for impurities/harmful elements? I go 'round and 'round about how many milligrams I probably need. Right now, I'm taking a bottled oil that is concentrated, which gives me about 700 mgs of DHA and 420 mgs of EPA a day. Sometimes I throw in a couple of extra capsules which gives me a total of 900 DHA and 780 EPA. I can't take that much consistently, though, b/c it tends to have a purgative effect. :blush:

[sing27]

From what I read, walnuts are high in omega-3 fatty acid. I try to eat them regularly on salads. I don't use fish oil, but sometimes eat sardines, which supposedly don't accumulate a lot of mercury. Isn't brocholi supposed to be a good plant sourse too?

Sox


Sox- Yes, I've heard that about walnuts, too. The latest is that almonds are particularly good for the heart, but I'm not sure if that's due to O 3s. Walnuts on salads would be good since I don't really like the them that much. They're either a little bland or a bit bitter. As for broccoli :broccoli: , it's a great vegetable. One of the all 'round most nutritious vegetables is kale. Many people dislike it, but to me it's delicious. It has a rather unpleasant smell while cooking though. :b_rotten: Sugar and anything with white flour should be avoided as much a possible. Some say that russet potatoes are no longer recommended in the diet b/c they're high in carbohydrates. If potatoes can't be done without then it's best to eat the red and golden ones with the skin. An interesting thing to look at and consider when planning a menu is the glycemic index. It rates the foods with the lowest and highest amounts of simple sugars.

[Cello]

Is anyone offended by the size of the fish oil capsules? I just bought some this weekend, happened to see them on sale at Giant when I was grocery shopping...thought of this thread- grabbed a bottle - started them yesterday - dont' really notice any change yet. Not sure what strength they are - I am taking one twice a day. The size may do me in though....

[bar Jonah]

I had heard somewhere recently that fish oil is good for the skin, as well. Does anyone know if there's any credence to that?

And if not, what other supplement might you recommend? I have eczema (still at 33, even though most see it go away by early 20s), which is exacerbated by the dry Colorado climate. Right now, it's almost exclusively on my hands, and it goes in phases from patches of dry and flaky.. to literally cracked and bleeding. A couple days ago, it was at its worst. Now, it's mostly better, but still problematic. At least it's not inflamed at the moment.

Btw, going to make this its own thread, so jsut consider this a head's up. I appreciate any advice on the matter!

[Gabby]

When I went to the health food store a while back to find myself some fish oil, so I too could try it. I tried to go for the capsules but the lady talked me out of it. She said that they would cause me to burp fish oil, so I went home with a bottle of straight oil that had a natural orange flavor added. I found, however that I could not bring myself to swallow the oil as it was. :eww: So I mix my liquid calcium (also orange flavored) with the fish oil and it goes down much better.

RI, I have always struggled with acne. The fish oil has really seemed to improve it and I notice quite a difference when I don't take the oil.

chris

[BeHereNow]

BeHereNow- You may have mentioned this before, but how many milligrams or grams of fish oil do you get a day? Also, is your fish oil molecularly distilled or third-party tested for impurities/harmful elements? I go 'round and 'round about how many milligrams I probably need. Right now, I'm taking a bottled oil that is concentrated, which gives me about 700 mgs of DHA and 420 mgs of EPA a day. Sometimes I throw in a couple of extra capsules which gives me a total of 900 DHA and 780 EPA. I can't take that much consistently, though, b/c it tends to have a purgative effect. :blush:


Hey I'm kinda slow, hehe.

I take 500mg pills. I'll take anywhere from 1-3 a day, because I'm testing the side effects. It seems that too much fish oil makes me talk nasally, or gives me a strange feeling at the bottom of my throat. I'm still trying to isolate the cause of those symptoms though.

I have no idea about the other questions. I hope they are safe! Vitamin World brand.

[BeHereNow]

Is anyone offended by the size of the fish oil capsules? I just bought some this weekend, happened to see them on sale at Giant when I was grocery shopping...thought of this thread- grabbed a bottle - started them yesterday - dont' really notice any change yet. Not sure what strength they are - I am taking one twice a day. The size may do me in though....

The size is tough. Make sure you cock your head back when you swallow them - I got one stuck the other day and it was horrible.