Omega 3 Side Effects

Before heading into that let us have a quick look at what omega 3 fatty acids are. Omega 3 fatty acids are important dietary macronutrients and belong to the family of unsaturated fatty acids. Various studies have revealed that omega 3 is essential for brain and cardiovascular health. Moreover, it also strengthens the immune system, reduces inflammation of joints (arthritis), prevents cancer, etc. Another essential fatty acid is omega 6, which is also a part of the family of unsaturated fatty acids, however, is inflammatory. This means excess levels of omega 6 in the body can conduce to negative results. Therefore, it is important to balance the ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 as an imbalance can lead to heart attacks, osteoporosis, inflammation, thrombotic stroke, etc.

To maintain this balance, we need to have omega 3 rich foods like walnuts, flax seeds, wild caught salmon and albacore tuna. Some people have a deficiency of omega 3 essential fatty acids, which is why they resort to consumption of omega 3 supplements. Consumption of supplements reduces the risk of heart attack, slows the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques, lowers blood triglyceride levels. It also helps improve or keep grave conditions like depression, Alzheimer's disease and dementia, diabetes, arthritis, etc. at bay. However, anything consumed in excess amounts can prove to be deleterious and so is the case with omega 3 supplements. Omega 3 side effects are seen if these supplements are consumed in high amounts.

Omega 3 Fish Oil Dosage

Omega 3 fatty acid supplements vary depending on the source from which they are obtained. They can be prepared from flax seed oil, fish oil, cod liver oil, etc. They comes in two forms: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). For adults, the recommended dose of one serving would include a capsule of 650 mg of DHA and 450 mg of EPA. The food and drugs administration (FDA) recommends three grams of omega 3 fish oil every day. To be on the safe side, before consuming these supplements, consult your health care provider.

Side Effects of Omega 3 Fatty Acid Supplements

Consumption of the right dosage of omega 3 fatty acid supplements, as recommended by the doctor will not conduce to any side effects, however, consuming more than 12 grams a day can lead to certain side effects like nausea, bloating, abdominal gas, constipation, heartburn, diarrhea and occasional nosebleeds. Moreover, consumption of omega 3 fish oil are seen to cause side effects like fishy burps, bad breath and fishy taste in the mouth.

Since omega 3 fish oil supplements can thin blood, people taking other blood thinners like aspirin should refrain from consuming these supplements. Fish oil supplements become risky when the fish from which the oil has been extracted was contaminated with toxins like mercury, etc. The best way to avoid such contaminated fish oil supplements is by purchasing high quality pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplement like Pure EPA. This is not only pure, but also safe as it goes through a rigorous chilling, distillation and filtration process.

If at all you experience easy bruising, bleeding or black tarry stools, consult the doctor as soon as possible. Moreover, if you encounter any kind of allergic reaction like wheezing, itching, unexplained swelling, hives or breathing and swallowing problems, quickly consult the doctor. Generally, the side effects will not occur if you stick to the recommended doses. If we look at omega 3 fatty acid supplements and weigh the pros and cons, the health benefits attained from these pills outweigh the side effects. Thus, omega 3 fatty acid supplements are good for health and will not conduce to any deleterious effects as long as they are taken in appropriate amounts!