fish oil pills?

Question

i am a 14 yr. old girl and i want to start taking fish oil pills. i heard they are very good for you. they help ur skin, hair, nails, and help burn belly fat plus lots more. is there different kinds of fish oil pills? if there is what kind should i buy? some that arent very expensive but not a cheap kind. any extra info is appreciated , thanks!

Answer 1

Make sure the company you get it from has a good quality and uses Molecular Distillation... that's the only current way to guarantee that there won't be any heavy metals in it. Also make sure it's got at least 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg of DHA (per 1000 mg of fish oil)... those are the actual beneficial parts of fish oil.

Also to note, fish oil is really good for the skin (as well as brain, heart, and general cardiovascular system), but it doesn't really help much with hair and nails, and also not fat. If you are looking for hair, skin, and nail health, I'd suggest trying Biotin or Silica. If you are looking for something to burn fat, Chromium helps more to increase metabolism and is required for everyday nutrition. You may also want to think about talking to a dietitian or nutritionist to work out a diet/exercise plan if you want to lose weight.

All that being said, since you are 14, I would recommend a chat with your doctor, since most supplements are intended for people 18 years and older, so the dosage may be too high for you in a "standard dose". In general, fish oil should be fine (because kids eat fish sticks all the time), but it's safest to ask just in case.


[edit] To the person that mentioned the NOW brand, they aren't a bad quality, but they also aren't a great quality (and there are a number of higher quality companies with lower prices than they have).

Answer 2

There are many different kinds.

First off, fish oil does not contain vitamin D, cod liver oil does. If you get a lot of sun in summer, you should only take fish oil in summer and cod liver oil in the winter. Vitamin D overdose is just as bad as a vitamin D deficiency. However, most people are deficient in vitamin D anyway.

I take Carlson Norwegian Cod Liver Oil Capsules. This is a very good brand. But there are tons of different ones. If you go into a health food store, ask the clerk for help choosing one. Usually the people are eager to help and knowledgeable.

When you decide what to take, give it a good two months before you decide to keep it or lose it. It takes about a month for the components to get into all the cells in your body.

Answer 3

They're definitely non-vegetarian. In addition to containing fish oil (which comes from a fish and apparently isn't very clean according to a friend of mine who was studying nutrition), it probably is in a gelatin capsule, which is also not vegetarian. Grab some flax oil in a bottle. It needs to stay refrigerated, but it's pretty good for the omegas (plus it tastes and smells better). Just put a teaspoon on top of your salad, pasta, or veggies once a day.

Answer 4

NOW Foods has been around forever and they are "tried and true". I'd recommend something like this: http://www.nutraplanet.com/product/583/omega-3.html

Take 2 of those anywhere from 1-3 times daily with meals as a good supplement. If you're 14 you may want to start off only taking it 1-2 times a day and work up to the 3rd time. However, I am not sure where you got your data that they will help burn belly fat. They are definitely good for you in many ways but I don't know of one study that can be verified that says that fish oil will help you burn fat. If anyone tells you otherwise I'd be very cautious of them.

Answer 5

Fish oil pills may help with keeping your blood vessels healthy but will not help skin, hair, belly fat etc. A good diet including 5-10 servings of fruit and vegetables daily, three servings of milk, two to three servings of protein and 5-6 servings of carbs daily will keep your skin, hair and nails in tip top shape. Eat cold water fish like salmon about 3 times a week to get natural fish oil.

Fish oil supplements may contain high levels of heavy metals and PCBs, do not take them without your doctor's knowledge and permission, especially as you are a growing girl. Fish oil can cause annoying side effects like bad breath and indigestion and more serious ones like stroke.