All blog posts from Dr. Allott are provided for educational and informational purposes only. As Dr. Allott is also a licensed medical practitioner, we must make it clear that nothing on the blog is intended to constitute medical advice, consultation, recommendation, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are concerned about your health, please seek appropriate care in your area.

Get Rid of Icky-Fishy smelling Omega 3 Pills

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Most people have heard that fish oil is “good for you”. Yes, it does help with depression, bipolar, ADHD, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and dementia. This appears to be scientifically true.  It is so good for us that the company GlaxoSmithKline has convinced the FDA to approve an omega 3 medication called Lovaza for treating high cholesterol, triglycerides, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

My concern about omega-3 products centers on the fact that not all fish oils are created equal.  What accounts for the differences?  In a word, it is QUALITY.

Many of my patients come to my office already taking a fish oil product that they picked up at their favorite discount grocery or supplement store.  I can see medically, it is not working.  I ask my new patient: “Have any of the following improved with the use of the omega 3 you are now taking: skin dryness, joint discomfort, mental clarity?  Have your triglyceride scores decreased?  (Healthy scores are below 80.)  Have your HDL scores increased? (Good cholesterol ranges are 50-60.)  Almost always, the answer is “No”.

When I switch the patient over to what I consider a quality omega 3 product and that product is kept in the refrigerator or freezer as I have instructed, my patient’s over all-skin condition, as well as moods, improve.  In addition, after four months, their cholesterol panel scores are in healthier ranges.  Allow me to get a bit more specific in those areas of change for the better.  By “improved,” I mean: Skin is less dry and certainly more supple with fewer breakouts or acne.  Patients’ moods appear more positive, less depressed, and irritated; wide bipolar mood swings are more stable.  The cholesterol panel numbers are moving in a promising direction.

The two products that I ask my patients to use are made either by Nordic Naturals or Carlson.  I suggest they follow the dosage recommended on the bottle.  Both companies are easy to find nationally, and both test for mercury and pesticides.  However, what is important to me is that neither of these companies sells rancid fish oils.  Most other companies can produce very fishy-smelling and tasting omega-3 fish oils.  Both are earmarks of rancidity.  Rancidity is toxic for human bodies and brains, too.

Nordic Naturals and Carlson produce many fish oil products; I recommend that my clients get a basic one and be consistent about the repeated purchasing and taking of the same product.  Although these two companies cannot claim they produce the cheapest omega 3 on the market, they can make a case for the fact that their products are well worth the prices for uniform freshness, pleasant tastes, and less rancidity.

Occasionally, I do not recommend that a patient take fish oil.  In cases where the person is on a blood thinner, bruises easily, and/or his or her HDL (good cholesterol) score is above 60, I find not taking an omega 3 more appropriate.

Why waste time, money, and your health in the short and long run on fishy smelling, tasting and often burp-producing fish oil pills?  Now, you have a choice.