Tip 1 : Choose High Concentration Omega-3 Fatty Acids, High Concentration = High efficacy!

There are many concentrations of fish oil available on the market, ranging from 30% to 85%, with varying prices. The higher the concentration of fish oil, the more omega-3, EPA, and DHA you can get. In addition, the higher the concentration, the better the results.

More importantly, when choosing fish oil, it's not just about the concentration of omega-3, but the key to the effectiveness of fish oil lies in the intake of EPA and DHA.

For example, according to the recommendations from omega-3 professional organizations and experts regarding worldwide :

  • A daily intake of 500 mg of EPA+DHA is considered the basic amount to prevent deficiencies.
  • A daily intake of 1000-1500 mg of EPA+DHA is considered an actively supportive amount for health maintenance, which can provide significant benefits for health.
  • A daily intake of more than 1500 mg of EPA+DHA is considered a high-intensity supportive amount for health maintenance, which can provide stronger effects for people with specific goals for health.

Therefore, supplementing fish oil with a concentration of 85% or higher can help achieve the recommended daily intake of EPA+DHA by experts more quickly. Choosing the right concentration of fish oil is essential for achieving better health.

Tip 2：Choose High-absorption rTG Form of Fish Oil, rTG = High Efficiency!

After extraction, fish oil can be mainly divided into three types : triglyceride form (TG), ethyl ester form (EE), and re-esterified triglyceride form (rTG). Different types of fish oil have different concentrations of omega-3 and EPA+DHA, as well as different absorption rates after consumption.


TG Form：

After the fish oil is extracted from the fish, it is not concentrated and still maintains its original triglyceride structure. Its absorption rate is still acceptable, but the concentration is lower, up to 30%. (600 mg of fish oil contains only 180 mg of EPA+DHA).

EE Form：

The extracted fish oil is changed from TG structure to ethyl ester form (EE) to concentrate and increase its concentration. Although the concentration is increased, the cost is a decrease in absorption rate. However, fish oil concentration can be increased to 50% or more.

rTG Form：

The concentrated fish oil in ethyl ester form (EE) is re-esterified back into TG form, restoring the original structure and making the fish oil more concentrated. At the same time, it retains the high absorption rate of TG form, and the concentration of EPA+DHA in rTG fish oil can reach more than 80%. (600 mg of fish oil contains more than 480 mg of EPA+DHA).

In 2010, research results on various forms of fish oil showed that concentrated rTG fish oil has the best absorption rate, which is 70% higher than that of ethyl ester form (EE) fish oil. When supplementing fish oil, why not choose the most efficient rTG form fish oil? Achieving maximum results with little effort is the key to real good fish oil.

【 Fish Oil Concentration Process 】

Tip 3：Choose Small Deep-sea Species, Due to Shorter Life Cycles and No Pollution

Marine pollution has become increasingly severe. Typically, the larger the fish species, the longer its lifespan and the more severe the pollution in its body. Even for daily diet, it is recommended to eat less of larger fish species and avoid consuming the parts with high accumulations of heavy metals, such as fish skin.

When choosing an fish oil supplement, selecting small species such as sardines and anchovies is the safest option. Small deep-sea fish species have short life cycles and are less affected by ocean pollution. In addition, they can reduce the impact on the environmental ecology as these species breed quickly and are more suitable for fish oil extraction.

Currently, international organizations that promote fair fishing practices and fish oil quality include the International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS), the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED), the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organization Responsible Supply Chain Standard (IFFO-RS), and Friend of the Sea. These organizations supervise and manage fish oil raw material suppliers and set quality standards. Only fish oil manufacturers that comply with these standards are truly responsible.

Tip 4：Check for Open and Transparent Third-party Laboratory Testing Reports. Inspection = Safety and Security

As mentioned earlier, ocean pollution has become increasingly severe, including heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and other environmental toxins. These environmental toxins then consumed by fish and accumulated in its body. When human beings eat the polluted fish meat or fish oil, not only fails to provide health benefits but also increases health risks.

Therefore, strict self-management by fish oil manufacturers is crucial. Basic purity tests should include the four heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic), microbiological tests, environmental toxin and pesticide tests, and pharmaceutical tests. Not only the reports provided by the raw material supplier matters, but the fish oil products must also undergo testing and approval by third-party laboratories registered with the Taiwan government to ensure the purity and quality of the fish oil.

Tip 5：Freshness Is The Key to Good Effect. Fresh Fish Oil Means No Fishy Taste or Smell

The freshness of fish oil can be considered the highest indicator of fish oil quality. Oxidized fish oil, which is not fresh, not only has a strong fishy taste and can cause burping after consumption, but can also cause negative health effects on the body. Only fish oil with ultimate freshness can have high stability and achieve the best results after consumption.

The indicators of fish oil freshness can be divided into four aspects, including "Acid Value", "Anisidine Value (AV)", "Peroxide Value (PV)", and "Total Oxidation Value (TOTOX)".

The indicators of freshness are very easy to identify; the lower the value, the higher the freshness! These values are all necessary, so in the selection of fish oil, only those that can provide freshness standards and exceed the recommended standards of international organizations can be taken with no worries.

In short, the fish oil with ultimate freshness is truly good fish oil.

Tip 6：Fish Oil Production Is Complicated. "60-Second Low-Temperature Rapid Processing + Oxygen-Free Extraction Process" Is The Key to High-Quality Fish Oil

The quality of fish oil can also be affected by the manufacturing process. High temperature or long processing times can cause the oil to oxidize, which will affect its quality. Therefore, in the manufacturing process, it is necessary to rapidly extract the oil at a low temperature and maintain an oxygen-free environment throughout the process to prevent contact with oxygen and ensure the oil maintains its optimal freshness.

Low temperature + rapid processing + oxygen-free process are the strongest secrets to high-quality fish oil. 


Tip 7：Small Capsules for Easy Swallowing

Due to the low-technology manufacturing, cheap price and low-concentrated, traditional fish oil supplements are usually made into large capsules. However, large capsules can cause psychological pressure when swallowing, which is not suitable for the dietary habits of Asians.

Although the manufacturing threshold of small-capsule fish oil is high, the capsule size can be smaller and the concentration is higher. The extremely fresh fish oil has no fishy taste, making it more satisfying to consume. With the downsized capsules, even women or children can swallow easily.

Tip 8：Small Packaging → Fast Consumption → Maintain Good Quality

There are many economy-size packaging fish oil products on the market. Once opened, the fish oil capsules will expose to air and get started to oxidize then go rancid. Hence, only small packaging can consumption more speedy and maintain freshness.

Many people think that PTP individual blister packs are moisture-proof and oxidation-resistant due to the individual seal for each capsule. However, the transparent blister shell of PTP packaging is usually made of materials with permeability, such as PVC. Therefore, even after the aluminum foil is opened, PTP capsules will still come into contact with oxygen and moisture, and the fish oil will still become soft over time due to the effects of temperature and humidity.

Therefore, regardless of the packaging type, it is recommended to choose a package size that can be consumed within 1-2 months. In addition, it's better to consume it as soon as possible. Whether it is PTP individual blister packs or bottled products, it is suggested to store them in a refrigerator or a dry and moisture-proof box after opening, to avoid the effects of humidity and temperature, and to maintain stability and freshness.

Tip 9：Award-granted Products Are Better Choice

In addition to the quality of the fish oil itself and the transparent third-party laboratory inspection reports for each batch, being certified by an award or certification from overseas can be another guarantee. For example, the Monde Selection in Europe, which is divided into four grades, including Grand Gold Quality Award, Gold Award, Silver Award, and Bronze Award.

The Grand Gold Quality Award is the highest honor and certification recognized by the professional judging panel, and it is a guarantee of quality. In addition, there is the ultimate honor of being nominated for the Prize of Jury, which is selected from thousands of products and the top five products are awarded. Products that have received this honor means trusted by healthcare professionals as a benchmark of reliability.

Tip 10：Having Corporate Social Responsibility Is The Good & Sustainable Products That Are Responsible to Consumers

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the common indicator for business evaluation. It is not just about reducing carbon emissions from the production process. In terms of fish oil, it involves insisting on sustainable fishing practices and protecting the environment, reducing waste and CO2 emissions during processing and extraction, and contributing to society in the end. These are all promises that a responsible enterprise should have. Only by voluntary action from enterprises can protect our one and only planet.

In addition, using recyclable materials such as "glass bottles" for packaging can avoid secondary impacts on the environment and greatly reduce the use of plastics. Plastic bottles or harmful substances such as plastic only increase pollution risks in the environment, accumulate in the food chain, and interfere with the endocrine system, which is particularly dangerous for pregnant women and developing fetus.


 

As long as you master the above 10 tips for selecting fish oil supplements, you will be able to get high-quality fish oil supplements that can improve your health and vitality!