Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) are essential for optimum health. They promote a healthy immune response and can help optimise heart, brain, circulatory, metabolic and joint tissue health.

Because our bodies cannot produce these nutrients, they must be consumed through diet or from supplements. This means that unless you’re eating an abundance of fatty fish (at least 2-3 times per week), you may want to consider adding omega-3s through a quality fish oil supplement.  You want to be supplementing with a fresh and clean fish oil - but with so many options on the market, how do we know which one to choose and what makes for a good fish oil?

Here’s our top 6 tips on how to ensure you’re not wasting your money on ineffective or unethical products and are also making the right choice for your individual needs.

#1 – Pure and Clean

Ensure the oil has been purified, and stripped of heavy metals, pesticides and environmental toxins. It is also important to consider whether the fish has been sourced from clean or polluted waters.

All quality manufacturers should employ a technique to ensure the purity levels of the final product meet the fish oil safety and purity standards as established by The European Pharmacopeia Standard. What is even better is if they can offer you a Certificate of Analysis for every batch of oil to prove the product’s purity levels.

#2 - Sustainability

All fish oil brands should follow safe fishing practices in specified locations to avoid over-fishing and endangering species – unfortunately, not all companies do this. Whatever supplement you are considering, be sure that the way they source the product follows reputable sustainability practices. Check their website to ensure they are “Friend of the Sea” certified, which verifies the sustainability of fish oils.

#3 – Value for Money / Absorption

Oils in the natural triglyceride molecular form enables optimal absorption, over the more easily available (and cheaper) synthetic ethyl-ester molecular form, which is determined by the manufacturing process. Most brands are made up of around 60% triglycerides, whereas a brand such as Nordic Naturals guarantees over 90% triglycerides.  This ensures that you are receiving the maximum benefit from your chosen supplement and is an important factor to consider when looking at cost and value for money.

#4 - Freshness

Your fish oil should be easy to take and have a great taste, proving its safety and freshness. For example, if you bite through a fish oil soft-gel, the oil inside should taste light, fresh and clean. (Unpleasant, fishy-tasting oil means that it has gone rancid)

To maintain freshness, manufacturers should use pure nitrogen during all stages of handling to minimise any exposure to oxygen that might degrade the product. Nitrogen ensures that the fish and oil can be protected from the oxidative rancidity that causes an unpleasant fishy smell and taste (and is not good for the body).

#5 – Vertical Integration

Vertical integration means managing and having control over the entire process – from boat to bottle.

This is very important because management of this entire process; from catching the fish, to manufacturing, to bottling, results in a superior product that you can feel good about taking yourself and giving to your entire family. 

Nordic Naturals’ vertical integration begins at sea. The company works with fishermen who sustainably and carefully handle the catch and deliver it fresh for extraction.  Raw oils are purified and processed in a nitrogen-rich, oxygen-free environment at Nordic Naturals’ state-of-the-art, GMP-certified own facility, located on the harbor in Tromso, Norway.

Featured: Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega Double-strength omega-3’s for increased support.

Nordic Naturals pure and great tasting Ultimate Omega offers concentrated support for the whole body. Doctors and Researchers worldwide consistently choose this focused formula. Nordic Naturals source only the highest quality ingredients and adhere to the strictest product standards and specifications. Available in great-tasting lemon-flavoured liquid or soft-gels, concentrated Ultimate Omega delivers more omega-3’s per serving than most other omega-3 products. This means you get more support in a smaller serving. Nordic Naturals is committed to delivering the world’s safest, most effective omega oils to help further its mission of correcting the global omega-3 deficiency. Nordic Naturals has revolutionised omega-3s, pioneering a new definition of fish oil quality as it relates to purity, freshness, taste, and dosage.

Click Here to View the Nordic Naturals product range