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The truth about fish oil
consider the benefits of fish oil — along with the toxins, side effects and sustainability issues.
http://www.mnn.com/sites/default/fil...k_49423057.jpg Toxins can be a problem Although the good omega-3s reside in the fatty tissue of fish, that is also the very place where environmental contaminates bioaccumulate, which means that oil derived from these tissues may contain high concentrations of environmental contaminants. Heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury come to us by way of industry and are not easily broken down, and thus end up throughout the environment at low levels, especially in fish. And fish oil. Adverse effects from ingesting heavy metals can include cognitive impairments, nervous system dysfunction, blindness, lack of coordination, deafness, development of certain cancers, irreversible liver and kidney damage and death. Along with heavy metals, there are also other toxic compounds that bioaccumulate in fish. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can lead to skin problems, muscle spasms, chronic bronchitis and nervous system disorders; and dioxins and furans have been linked to a number of adverse health effects including skin, liver and immune system problems, endocrine and reproductive disruptions and the development of certain cancers. One of the trickiest parts about navigating which fish to eat, for many people, is figuring out which fish have the least amount of toxins versus which fish are sustainable. To help with similar issues when selecting fish oil, you can check with the International Fish Oil Standards Program (IFOS) which is a third party toxin testing and accreditation program for omega-3 fish oil products. Fish oil is served with a side of side effects We generally don’t consider the impact of side effects with our nutritional supplements, you know, the things we take to make us healthier. But fish oil offers side effects in spades. Here is a list from the Mayo Clinic. (Just for fun, read them in the hushed, calming tone of an actor listing prescription drug side effects on a television commercial.) Fish oil supplements may cause nausea, diarrhea, loose stools, decreased appetite, constipation, vomiting and fat in the stool. Gastrointestinal side effects may be minimized if fish oils are taken with meals and if doses are started low and gradually increased. There are rare reports of mania in patients with bipolar disorder or major depression. Restlessness and formication (the sensation of ants crawling on the skin) have also been reported. Other potential side effects include loss of short-term memory, headache, hemolytic anemia, depression, somatic disorders, increased risk of colon cancer, nasopharyngitis, worsening of asthma symptoms, decreased physical activity, increased appetite, increased blood pressure and an uncomfortable feeling. Omega-3 fatty acids may increase blood sugar levels. Caution is advised in patients with diabetes or hypoglycemia, and for those taking drugs, herbs, or supplements that affect blood sugar. Blood glucose levels may need to be monitored by a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist. Omega-3 fatty acids may increase low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, may worsen symptoms for patients with ventricular tachycardia, may increase the risk of bleeding, and may decrease blood pressure. Fish oil taken for many months may cause a deficiency of vitamin E and may increase the risk of vitamin A or D toxicity — so use large amounts cautiously. Individuals at risk for hormone imbalance or those undergoing hormone replacement therapy should use cautiously, as decreased estrogen receptor production has been associated with fish oil supplementation. Patients with asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, or liver disease, and patients at risk for colon cancer should use cautiously, based on potential adverse effects associated with fish oil use. The moral of the story here: Check with your doctor before taking fish oil. |
But when 4 different doctors recommend fish oil capsules for heart health, take them.
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that's because they are not up to speed with the latest finding, they can & do more harm.
Think what to fish eat mostly........plants |
Thanks for the info. I will stop taking my fish oil tablets now.
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Please read this and if you are taking supplements on the advice of your physican, do not stop or increase dosage without consulting him or her.
Julie Chen, M.D.: Can We Take Too Much Fish Oil? http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...tural/993.html |
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You have to watch what brand you buy due to where they get their fish oil. I was told by a few doctors to buy Nordic Naturals.......purity and strict standards of Norwegian fish and shown not to be contaminated. Costs are a bit more but worth it.
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I believe it is making him even better looking.:coolsmiley: |
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When my husband takes fish oil, his triglycerides are lower. He did not believe fish oil really made a difference, so between his bloodwk tests last year - 3 months apart - he stopped taking it and his triglycerides went really high. He has a history of heart problems and it is impt to keep them low.
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Jimbo
Jimbo . . . . Buddy . . . . you need a good Rib-Eye Steak. :mmmm:
It'll make you Regular :boom: :shocked: and you'll go out with a smile on your face:) See you at EP tomorrow night :beer3: |
For what it's worth, my doctor suggested last week I began talking it to lower cholestrol. Although he suggested krill oil instead of the regular fish oil. Mega Red is the brand name one. It is certified to only come from krill taken in Antarctic waters which is theoretically cleaner than most places on earth. I do notice it is 300mg. Some of the off brand stuff comes in much larger sizes. I can imagine that could really increase the dangers. I'm afraid we have a lot of people who think if one vitamin or supplement is good then two must be better. For some of the water-soluable stuff that's not much of a worry, but for all others, it is very dangerous to take more. It can overcome the liver and cause damage That may be the same thing here.
(krill are the tiny shrimp that whales live on) |
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U can get a copy at Barnes & Nobel, it may be the best $$ U ever spent. |
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Oh as far as regular.....do you mean regular visits to the drug store to have scripts filled:1rotfl: |
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One should research pharmaceutical grade purified fish oil. It can be had without prescription, from the manufacturer. The otc types will not provide the benefits you may be seeking. Do the research before acting, and speak to your doctor.
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Who says he's over 50? :a040: |
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In my opinion, fish oil is a "remedy" for those who eat poor diets (i.e., lots of red meat and eggs etc.). The reason: They eat foods that are high in omega 6 and fish oil contains omega 3. So the fish oil, for them, helps to bring better balance between the omega 6 and omega 3.
So, fish oil is good for some people, as a prop, the same way a stint or bypass is good for those who have clogged arteries. And the need for all these items stems from eating a poor diet. |
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My experience with that and with several doctors is that they haven't a clue. Their training includes almost nothing to do with nutrition. |
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Fish oil
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It's true that doctors are not nutritionists but it's suggested that you see your doctor before taking fish oil or anything else, if you are being treated for heart disease etc.. The reason: You may be taking a blood thiner or aspirin. If you then start taking fish oil, you will thin your blood even more. And there's a point at which your blood may become too thin.
If your blood becomes too thin and you start bleeding in your brains (i.e., a stroke) they may not be able to stop the bleeding. Or, if you need emergency surgery for any reason, they may not be able to stop the bleeding. Also, if your blood is too thin, which can happen just from eating oily fish everyday, you will often notice that you bruse easily. Many years ago I started eating sardines every day for lunch. My blood got so thin that my hands got black 'n' blue from playing volleyball. |
We take fish oil every day. My wife is on warfarin and I am on plavix.
She gets her blood level checked every month....almost 20 years no problem. Both of our cardiologists are well aware with no commentary. They are more concerned with one eating too many dark green veggies for unplanned blood thinning than they are for fish oil. Just ask your doctor + do some research and make your own INFORMED decision. btk |
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There is a lot of information we must wade through before we come to a conclusion, check the conclusion and come to a final conclusion...about ANYTHING. Or we can take the advice of someone who we have chosen to guide our general health who has completed usually upwards of twelve years of education on the subject and has further gained knowledge by on hands care of patients over the years and has evaluated the tests and examinations and behavior exhibited by YOU. MOST people are usually aware of the benefits of exercise, cutting back on fat and sweets, decreasing meat and increasing fruit and vegetables. There is no shame in taking the medicines or helpful supplements that your doctor thinks will improve your health. Some people think that all prescription medication is a huge scam. Actually many common prescribed medicines are making us healthier, increasing our years of life and improving the quality of life. |
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My personal opinion is that people pop too many supplements, thinking they can eat poorly but make up for it with a little pill. Even though our food supply is not totally natural anymore, supplements are even more worrisome........like derived from what original source? Manufactured in what type of facility? How pure? How clean? |
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She also is super conscious of not eating more than a smidgen of broccoli, dark green veggies, cranberry sauce, etc..........she is on coumadin after her mitral valve replacement surgery. She's "religious" about what she cannot eat......and they are all healthy foods that she shuns. I also know many other food stuffs that are blood thinners "naturally" such as ginger, etc., garlic, etc. and even some homeopathic teas. My husband once got a super scary major nosebleed after consuming a little too much of a certain herbal tea..........with ginger in it....and other herbs. However, wouldn't it be super easy to just eat the broccoli, etc. than to take a pharmaceutical? A doctor could lay out the proper amounts of the food.........and it would be less expensive than going to the pharmacy for all the various prescriptions. Our pet peeve is to listen to the evening news commercials put out by the major pharmaceutical companies..........after seeing all the mobility challenged arthritics out there in the limelight swearing by a certain drug, come the LONG LIST of possible complications including lung cancer, blood cancer, you name it cancer.........when all the person had was a form of arthritis. Does anyone else "hear this"........???????? Ditto for the sleep aides.......and other drugs for fibromyalgia, you name it.........the "potential" side effects are worse than the original ailment. Not to minimize the pain that folks with R.A., osteo arthritis and fibromyalgia feel.........almost everyone up here suffers from one of these. But we all thank God that it is not cancer. Why take a drug that could compromise the immune system and lead to cancer? Maybe the retired pharmacist might be able to answer this???? Thankyou. |
Eating food is harmful to your health. Every medication like cholesterol medication or high blood pressure meds is harmful to your health. Fish oil and every homeopathic method has side effects. But then, not eating is also harmful to your health. If you have 190 over 120 blood pressure, you may wish to decide to try BP Meds.
YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR NEED TO DECIDE IF THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE SIDE EFFECT OR NEGATIVES ABOUT EVERYTHING. FOR SURE, DON'T MAKE A HEALTH DECISION BASED ON WHAT SOMEONE POSTS ON THE INTERNET. :undecided: |
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Agree one shouldn't follow the Internet blindly, but it's articles like this that provoke asking the right questions of your health professional.
Including a nutritionist. I stopped taking fish oil two years ago because we eliminated ALL oils in our diet...but that's another issue :shocked: |
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Asprin doesn't really "thin" blood, it just slows down clotting time....it slows down the time it takes for blood platelets to form clots.
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Prothrombin Time (PT) Blood Test for Clotting Time http://surgery.about.com/od/beforesu...TTINRtests.htm |
The test for the "!thin/thick" of the blood is called INR.
People who are on blood thinners like Coumadin or warfarin must have this check done regularly . My wife has hers done once per month. The most up to date methods take a blood sample and within minutes obtain the results. And at times dosages are adjusted based on the too thick or too thin results. btk |
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However, once you have decided to "stray" from nature and get under the care of a doctor who precribes all kinds of meds, you had better follow his advice. For example, vitamin K can interfere with some anticoagulant drugs. P.S. Thanks for the information about the INR blood test. |
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It isn't straying from nature to consult a doctor who prescribes all kinds of medicines. The right medicine can add many years and better quality to many lives. Care should be taken with eating green leafy vegetables and eating the right amount if you are on Coumadin or other medicines taken to lower the risk of stroke. Broccoli And Blood Clots | LIVESTRONG.COM |
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