The body cannot produce omega -3; these special fats has to be acquired from a dietary source. Most nutritionists believe that fish oil helps balance one's intake of other kinds of fat generally consumed from vegetable or animal sources. Studies show that fish oil can lower ones total fat intake to 20 to 30 percent.
Fish oil is a fatty oil that is obtained by extracting fish oil with food-grade ethanol and purified by molecular distillation. Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), that protect the heart and arteries, reduce pain, inflammation and swelling and protect the cell membranes.
The fatty fishes, like herring and sardines, accumulate the omega-3 fatty acids from the microalgae they consume. The fatty predatory fish accumulate the omega-3 from eating prey fish. Fatty predatory fishes have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. However, larger species such as mackerel, tuna, and salmon may also accumulate high levels of toxic contaminants.
Generally, fish oil capsules contain 32% high content of saturated fatty acids (myristic and palmitic acids), 18% to 30% of EPA, and 12% to 20% of DHA (depending on the brand name and manufacturing company). Fish oil also contain cholesterol, vitamin A, retinol, and vitamin E.
Fish oil supplements help balance our intake of fats. The omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil enrich the western diet that is deficient in omega-3 fatty acids because of excess levels of omega-6 fatty acids. the American Heart Association therefore recommends the inclusion of oily fish in the diet at least twice a week or 1 g per day of EPA and DHA from fish oil supplements.
All fish oil's are not equal; some better than others. Make sure the one you are taking is a high-quality, pure and potent supplement
product. However, the best source of omega-3 is from the fish, but if you need a supplement you should take fish oil that had been manufactured from the fish's body and not the liver (such as cod liver oil which may contain high levels of vitamin A).