The Purity and Freshness is Guaranteed

Independent laboratory analysis has shown that some oils are contaminated with mercury, dioxins and PCBs. PCBs are a class of chemicals that have been banned, but they are persistent in the environment, particularly in our oceans.

We are already exposed to enough toxins on a daily basis. We don't want them in our supplements. Manufacturers that care about their customers realize that. They guarantee purity and they prove it by posting a Certificate of Analysis (COA) from an independent laboratory on their websites. The certificate should say "not detected", when referring to contaminants.

The COA will also indicate how fresh the oils were before they were encapsulated. This is done by measuring the amount of oxidation. There will always be some amount of oxidation, but it should not exceed 17 MEQ/kg. The best fish oil will be well below that level of oxidation.

The manufacture can also guarantee freshness by promising that you will not have any fishy tasting burps. Many people complain about that, but it is not actually due to the supplement. It is due to high degrees of oxidation.

The Omega3 Content is high

The COA will also show the total amount of omega3s that are present in the capsule, as well as the individual amounts of DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DPA (Docosapentaenoic acid).

The best fish oil provides 500mg of total omega3s per 1000mg of triglycerides. Each of the omega3s is important to the health of the heart and the circulatory system. But, one of them is most important, especially when it comes to the brain.

The DHA Content is high

The DHA content should be at least 250-280mg per capsule. This is the amount that has been used in studies concerning depression, arthritis, skin conditions, immune system function, type II diabetes and other health issues. Studies indicate that the most benefits are seen when all of the different omega3s are included. So, it is important that a supplement provide all of them.

Most brands have a high amount of EPA, but very little DHA and DPA is rarely referred to at all. The best fish oil provides at least 50mg of DPA, because it is believed that the nutrient contributes to good cardiovascular health.

The Anti-inflammatory Activity has Been Proven

Every brand probably has some degree of anti-inflammatory activity. The question is how much. It is possible to have the anti-inflammatory activity measured scientifically. The better manufacturers have gone to the effort of having that testing conducted and they post the results on their websites.

The best fish oil has at least as much anti-inflammatory activity as aspirin. For people that take a lot of pain meds, that's really good news, especially for the liver. Now, you have the info that you need to continue shopping.

Now that you know this information you will be able to spot the manufactures that are only out there to make a fast buck. You will know the manufactures that take great pride in producing a fish oil product that meets your expectations.