There are many supplements available in the market, that label themselves as Omega 3 Double strength products. What exactly does double strength imply? Is it better and superior than other omega 3 supplements? Find out all this and more in this article.
Omega 3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that are essential for the healthy functioning of each cell in our body. They comprise of three fatty acids – Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).
All three are important for our health but they cannot be synthesized within our body. This is why we need to depend on our diets and supplements to obtain them. The richest omega 3 source are fish oils.
Fish oils contain both EPA and DHA fats in the natural form which can be instantly absorbed by our body cells. Fish oils that are molecularly distilled are free of toxins such as mercury, metals and PCBs found in ocean water fishes.
However the omega 3 content in all supplements is different. Most of the omega 3 fish oils available in the market contain 120mg DHA and 170mg of EPA per gram. Rest of the contents are mixed oils and preservatives.
Omega 3 Double strength contains much more of EPA and DHA fats than other supplements available in the market. This does not however imply that omega 3 double strength are superior than others since you need to consume a recommend dose of omega 3 fats and over-dosage might result in health problems.
Omega 3 fatty acids are macronutrients because of which it is difficult to determine a fixed dosage of omega 3 fats that would be right for everyone. The health needs of each individual varies and so does their need for omega 3 fatty acids.
The National Institute of Health considers 650mg to 700mg sufficient for general well-being but to treat specific illnesses the omega 3 dosage varies. Heart patients require 900mg to 1 gram of fish oil daily.
For depression and other mental disorders 1-2 grams of fish oil should be consumed regularly. The World Health Organization recommends a general dose of 300mg to 500mg of Omega 3 daily.
Omega 3 double strength supplements have different fatty acid ratios. Some of them contain 600mg of omega 3 per gram while certain others contain even higher, up to 1300 mg.
Taking a higher dosage or consuming omega 3 double strength does not necessarily help you get healthier faster. You should check with your physician to know the exact dosage of omega 3 supplements your body requires.
Whether you need omega 3 supplements for maintaining general health or for treating specific disorders, always purchase superior quality fish oils that are ultra-refined. Pharmaceutical grade, molecularly distilled fish oils are the best when it comes to getting optimal health benefits.
Jean Helmet is a content editor who focuses on a wide array of niche health topics. Her latest website – Natural High Dha Fish Oil focuses on omega 3 as a whole, and in particular, a natural product our editors personally use with excellent health results known as – Dha EstersBe sure to check out our Omega 3 Dha Esters, it is the natural supplement we use and recommend to friends and family, and have done for over 3 years.