Should You Take Fish Oil Supplements for Omega-3?

A lot of people seem to be talking up fish oil these days and how good it is for your heart. So if fish oil is so good for you, should we all be taking fish oil supplements? Well, not so fast. Sure fish oil is good for you, but there are some things you need to consider before rushing out to get a bottle of fish oil pills.

When I was a kid, my family used to eat a lot of fish. Of course, that was in the days before we knew about mercury poisoning. In today's world, we have to be careful not to eat certain kinds of fish as well as not to eat too much fish because of the possibility for mercury poisoning. Fortunately, we now have fish oil supplements to help us get the omega-3 fatty acids that are present naturally in fish. Experts agree that fish oil containing the heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids are good for you, but it is not a given that everyone should be taking fish oil supplements.

So who should be taking fish oil supplements? If you fall into one of these categories, you may just want to consider it.

Have you already had a heart attack previously? There is plenty of evidence to show that omega-3s can help protect people who have had a prior heart attack. In fact, The American Heart Association has recommended that 1 gram a day of omega-3s is appropriate for these people. Preferably the omega-3s should come from eating fish. However, most people don't eat enough fish to account for 1 gram a day. That is the amount found in about 3 ounces of salmon or 12 ounces of canned tuna. Also, since certain types of fish may contain mercury, experts usually advise against eating more than about 12 ounces of fish per week. So to get the omega-3s without having to eat a whole lot of fish, these people should consider taking fish oil supplements.

Do you have high triglycerides? Triglycerides are fats in the blood that can increase the risk of heart disease. It is well known that omega-3s can help lower the amount of triglycerides in the blood. The American Heart Association has also recommended taking omega-3 fish oil supplements for people with high triglycerides. However, it is recommended only under the supervision of a physician.

Do you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis? Clinical studies have shown that omega-3s can help reduce the swelling and joint pain of rheumatoid arthritis. For this reason, the Arthritis Foundation has stated that omega-3 supplements are worth trying if you have rheumatoid arthritis.

So what about the downside risk? Are there people who shouldn't take omega-3 supplements?

People with bleeding disorders should not take omega-3 supplements. This is because omega-3s help to prevent heart attacks by decreasing the ability for blood to clot. But this effect increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Therefore, people taking anticoagulants should also stay away from fish oil supplements.

People with weakened immune systems should also think twice about taking fish oil supplements. Large doses of fish oil can suppress the immune system. Although the definition of a "large dose" is debatable, it may be safer to just stay away from fish oil supplements altogether if you have a weakened immune system.

Large doses of fish oil can also cause nausea, diarrhea, and even an increase in glucose levels in diabetics.