What Are The Most Common Fish Oil Side Effects?
If you’ve ever received a prescription medication from a pharmacy, chances are you have received a booklet along with your medication explaining the multitude of side effects that may occur.
Even worse, when combined with other medications you may be taking, any new prescription could cause even more side effects, requiring additional drugs to counteract those side effects!
The cycle never ends and becomes increasingly more expensive with every new prescription.
What is Fish Oil? Do I Need It?
A natural supplement with numerous benefits and minimal side effects is purified fish oil.
This inexpensive yet beneficial supplement provides omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
The human body requires these acids, but Mother Nature must have a very dry sense of humor, because humans are unable to produce these in the levels required.
So, these supplements are a simple, effective way to get these needed EFAs, DHAs and omega-3s without significant fish oil side effects.
The Most Common Fish Oil Side Effects are “Fish Burps”
The most commonly reported fish oil side effects are more of a nuisance than a medical side effect.
Dr. Jim Phelps, author of several books on mental health topics and an extensive website dedicated to helping those with mental illness, recommends fish oil supplements for patients with bipolar disorder, depression and even some degrees of schizophrenia.
He notes on his website (www.psycheducation.org) that the most common fish oil side effects reported by his patients are “fish burps” and that some brands of supplements may cause slight stomach upset.
He recommends always taking the supplements with food and purchasing pure, natural supplements with no synthetic ingredients to prevent “fish burps” and upset stomach.
A good, quality fish oil supplement should not have a noticeable fishy smell, and should not cause any noticeable fish oil side effects related to “fish burps.”
WebMD echoes Dr. Phelps’ statements that the most common fish oil side effects can include gastrointestinal issues such as belching, bad breath, heartburn and nausea.
Again, these fish oil side effects can be combated by simply taking your supplement with a meal and a full glass of water. WebMD also suggests freezing the supplements to help prevent any type of fishy odor or taste.
Is Fish Oil Safe for Pregnant & Nursing Moms?
A leading online medical resource, WebMD, reports that fish oil is safe for most people, including women who are pregnant and breast-feeding (in doses of 3 grams or less per day).
This is significant because many medications, even over-the-counter cold and headache medications, are NOT safe for pregnant or nursing women.
Will Fish Oil Cause Bruising or Bleeding?
Some sources indicate that fish oil side effects may include reduced blood clotting functions and/or bruising more easily.
This is only indicated when a person takes more than the recommended dose of 3 grams per day, and also may occur if supplements are combined with blood thinning medications.
If you are taking blood thinners and are interested in fish oil supplements, you should discuss this with your physician.
The same holds true if you are taking a blood pressure medication as fish oil supplements combined with blood pressure medication may pose the risk of blood pressure dropping too low.
American Heart Association Recommends Fish Oil to Lower Cholesterol
The American Heart Association recommends fish oil supplements to help lower cholesterol. In excessive doses, it has been noted that in rare instances fish oil supplements may raise LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, but this is unlikely.
If you are taking fish oil to lower cholesterol, chances are you are already having your cholesterol checked regularly, so any spike in LDL would likely be caught by your physician.
Fish Oil Reduces Unhealthy Triglyceride Levels
A preliminary study in HIV patients demonstrated that a fish oil can even help lower triglyceride levels in HIV positive patients.
Aidsmap.com reported that antiretrovirals, the drugs used to treat HIV and AIDS, often causes triglyceride levels to rise, increasing the risk of heart disease.
Study participants saw decreased triglyceride levels though it should be noted that some saw a rise in their LDL cholesterol, the only unwanted fish oil side effects noticed among study participants.
Additionally, it has been speculated by some experts that high dose fish oil side effects may reduce immune system activity, so those at risk (including those with HIV, AIDS or the elderly) should not exceed the recommended dose.
It is highly unlikely that the recommended dose or less causes these fish oil side effects.
Heavy Metal Toxicity is Not a Fish Oil Side Effect
For many years, the media has addressed the risk of heavy metal toxicity in fish, especially as related to pregnant women.
This should not be a concern with a high-quality fish oil supplement, as the heavy metals (particularly mercury) are stored in the fish meat, not the fish oil.
A pure, high-quality supplement should not have any risk for fish oil side effects caused by heavy metal toxicity.
Summary: Fish Oil Side Effects and Benefits
It is important to note that the more serious-sounding fish oil side effects are extremely rare, and typically only experienced by those taking excessively high doses of fish oil supplements, or taking medications that exacerbate the healthy effects of the fish oil to an unhealthy level.
Compared to prescription medications, fish oil supplements are a natural alternative chock-full of benefits with very minimal fish oil side effects, the most common of which is “fish burps” and is easily remedied by simply taking the supplements with a healthy meal.
Fish oil can benefit nearly every system in the body, from improving brain function and mood to reducing joint inflammation and pain. For a supplement with so many benefits, it is remarkable that the fish oil side effects are so minimal.
You would be hard-pressed to find a prescription medication that benefits so many of the body’s systems, has so few unpleasant side effects, and is safe for so many demographic groups.
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