In the modern day, fish oil has been praised as one of the best supplements you can find in the store as if you were drinking holy water itself. It all sounds too good to be true but some people do swear by it. With that said, is fish oil just another snake oil meant to deceive the people?
Fish oil does have its benefits but some studies have surfaced to debunk whether or not fish oil actually makes you healthier. It really boils down to how you perceive the benefits and how far manufacturers are willing to go when cutting costs during production.
People spend a lot of money buying Omega-3 supplements, like fish oil, in hopes that it would make them healthier. Why do people think fish oil is such a great supplement in the first place anyway and what benefits are you getting from it?
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What Are The Benefits Perceived To Be From Fish Oil?
Fish oil is recommended by doctors every day as it is believed to provide several benefits to the body such as the Omega-3 fats that help build a stronger body, and the protection against several diseases including heart disease, and brain disorders.
You can get Omega-3 fatty acids from other sources but science proves that certain types of Omega-3 that are especially beneficial can only be found in fish oil. This includes eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Studies have shown that people to take fish oil regularly are less likely to suffer from heart disease and have stronger hearts. This is because fish oil reduces bad cholesterol in the bloodstream and decreases blood pressure to lessen the strain on the heart.
It’s also believed that fish oil helps to improve certain mental disorders as well such as depression, and ADHD. That is because it contains DHA which is the main building block that our body uses to aid basic cognitive functions.
Fish oil also helps the body by reducing inflammation which is known to cause long-term health problems. This significantly reduces the chances of joint pain, muscle stiffness, and the production of stress hormones in obese individuals.
This all makes fish oil sound like some miracle cure but scientists have come to argue that things may not be as it seems…
Is Fish Oil The Modern-day Snake Oil?
Many stand by the use of fish oil in their lives to improve their quality of life but scientists have come forward to prove otherwise. Here are some of the arguments that have been brought up against fish oil, claiming it to be nothing but modern-day snake oil.
Diabetes
Though people say that fish oil helps improve the blood, test results have shown that it does little to nothing for those who are unfortunate enough to have diabetes. This is unfortunate considering that many people who are diabetic are recommended fish oil in their diet.
It neither helps to reduce the chances of an individual getting diabetes nor does it lower blood sugar levels for those who already have it. Studies have shown that it doesn’t even make a difference when compared to a placebo given to participants.
Mental Disorders And Behavior
It is marketed everywhere that fish oil can help improve basic brain functions and help those who have mental health issues or disorders. With that said, there are findings that point otherwise.
Some findings show that eating fish oil does nothing to improve brain health in the long run as people who look to scare away dementia have no hope of doing so. There isn’t much evidence to prove that fish oil does indeed improve basic cognitive functions.
Not only that but fish oil is usually recommended for children who suffer from mental health diseases such as depression and ADHD. Studies have found that though fish oil does improve their behavior in the short run, the effects eventually fade which brings them back to square one.
Heart Disease
This is the number 1 disease that fish oil manufacturers swear that their product helps to prevent but some studies have surfaced to argue that fish oil does nothing to help improve overall heart health in those who are healthy and those who are not.
A study was conducted to see if fish oil does indeed improve heart health by giving one group of participants a placebo and the other a regular supplement of fish oil. Results have shown that there isn’t much of a difference between the two at the end of the test.
Both groups were equally at risk of getting heart diseases such as stroke, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and so on. The effects of fish oil are probably so small that it simply can’t make a significant enough difference.
Some scientists have even come out to say that it’s better to have just eaten a fish instead of spending all that money on fish oil supplements.
Is this really the fault of fish oil itself? Or is there something that’s making it so that fish oil is less effective than it probably is?
The Reasons Why Your Fish Oil Might Be Snake Oil
There is actually a reason why the fish oil you buy might not be giving you the intended results and it has something to do with the content in the fish oil supplement that you consume. Manufacturers might not be giving you what you’re paying for to save a few dollars.
A research claimed that a test was done on 32 different brands of fish oil capsules where they were tested for their marketed contents. They have found that 69% of the brands don’t actually meet the DHA and EPA levels described in their marketing or the packaging.
Interestingly enough, the more expensive the brand was, the more accurate it was towards its listed amounts. The reasons why this might have occurred isn’t totally the blame of the manufacturer as we see why.
Low-Quality Fish
It is possible that manufacturers don’t give the contents as advertised due to the fact that the fish they source the oil from probably is of lower quality. This means that the fish oil they produce is less concentrated in those Omega-3s that we look for.
This is unfortunate but some manufacturers do prioritize profits over shipping an end product that meets the consumer’s expectations. It’s best to buy from companies that are more renowned and stay away from those that feel just a little too cheap.
Oxidation
Omega-3s such as EPA and DHA as known to oxidize rapidly and break down from their original contents. This is a natural process that degrades the quality of the fish oil over time as they are shelved for a long period of time.
This is why manufacturers often put anti-oxidants in their fish oil to slow the process down as much as possible before it reaches the consumer. Unfortunately, not all fish oil is sold immediately which adds to the problem.
This goes to show that it isn’t always the problem of the manufacturer as nature takes its course on everything.
How Quality Control Prevents Fish Oil In Becoming Snake Oil?
Implementing stricter quality control on fish oil production may not guarantee the benefits of fish oil but it certainly reduces the possibility of it underperforming. This ensures that consumers are getting what they paid for and not waste their hard-earned money on worthless fish oil.
Fish oil batches should be tested at the beginning of the entire manufacturing process to ensure that their fish batches are able to provide the supplement that consumers are looking for and not something sub-par.
It’s also important to note that anti-oxidants may be the reason why fish oil isn’t as effective. This is because they are toxic to human organs when consumed in high amounts which defeat the purpose of supplementing fish oil in the first place.
With that said, it’s better to stick to companies with a better reputation while the industry works on providing better regulations and guidelines on bringing the best quality fish oil to consumers.
Summary
Whether or not fish oil is nothing but snake oil is up for debate but there are still scientific studies that prove the benefits of adding fish oil into your diet. There is no saying that fish oil will improve your quality of life but there aren’t studies that show they are harmful either.
Fish oil is a relatively inexpensive item that may or may not give you a better chance of living longer and healthier. Besides, there isn’t much harm in taking them as a supplement so why miss out on the chance of being healthier?