Use Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements Wisely, Cooper Wellness Experts Say

Taking Omega-3 fish oil supplements can be a big step towards better health but the product has to be free of contaminants, experts at Cooper Wellness say. They advise consumers to avoid common dangers, like using supplements that contain mercury and other toxins, taking the wrong dosages and giving up on a product before it starts to work.

Cooper Wellness, affiliated with the famed Cooper Clinic in Dallas, holds two  and six-day healthy stay-overs focused on exercise and good nutrition and aimed at fitness for life.

Omega-3 fatty acids--found in salmon, halibut, other fish, leafy green vegetables, flaxseed and nut oils--are essential for human growth, along with brain and heart functions. Omega-3s reduce inflammation and lower risks of heart disease, cancer and arthritis.

Riva Rahl, medical director of Cooper Wellness and staff physician at Cooper Clinic, says “make sure to buy purified fish-oil supplements that don't contain mercury, which can damage the brain and kidneys.” And be sure they don't contain PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyl compounds--known to cause cancer and birth defects.

Rahl advises “always look for pharmaceutical-grade, or purified fish-oil supplements to avoid mercury and other contaminants.” Taking purified fish-oil supplements, she notes, is generally safer than eating lots of fish on a frequent basis. 

Another don't with Omega-3s is consuming less than the recommended dosage. The bottle may say to take two supplements a day, but some consumers swallow one a day, or skip a day here and there, and in the process miss the product's full benefits.

And a common pitfall is giving up on the product too soon. Cooper Wellness experts say it's natural to want to see results from new supplements and diets quickly. And people taking supplements are often diligent for the first month or so. Some individuals--who may have been deficient in essential fatty acids--see benefits within weeks, but for others results take longer. Once the first bottle is empty, some consumers decide the supplement was useless and don't buy more.

“Omega-3s take time to build up in the system,” explains Todd Whitthorne, director of Cooper Wellness. “It can take two to five months for some people to see benefits, so it's important to give the supplements a chance to work.”

Over 18,000 studies published in the last 35 years have shown that Omega-3 EPA and DHA are crucial   to human health at every stage of life. EPA, or eicosapentaenoic acid, reduces inflammation and helps prevent cardiovascular and other chronic disorders.

DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is needed for neurological and visual development. Throughout pregnancy, DHA supports fetal brain growth and the formation of the retina and visual cortex. For young children, DHA is essential for brain and eye development.

Jill Turner, vice president of operations for Cooper Concepts, says “given the value of Omega-3s for all ages, we launched chewable tablets for adults and kids as an alternative to capsules. They're for those who can’t swallow a large soft gel or who prefer something to chew.”

The tablets, made in Norway, are sugar free, naturally flavored and don't taste fishy. Ingredients in Cooper Complete Omega Soft supplements include fish oil, purified water, xylitol, sorbitol, gelatin, gum acacia, natural flavor, citric acid, paprika extract for color, and medium-chain triglycerides. Omega Soft products are third-party tested for quality, contaminant levels and potency.

Omega Soft EPA supplements for adults are full of EPA, which is “brain food” and good for the heart. Each tablet contains 250 milligrams of EPA and 75 mg of DHA. The soft chew is naturally lemon flavored and contains no artificial flavors, colors, high-fructose corn syrup or glucose syrup.

Omega Soft Kids DHA is formulated for children and expectant moms. Fetuses and children in their early years need plenty of DHA for neurological and visual development. And throughout pregnancy, DHA supports fetal brain growth and formation of the retina and visual cortex. DHA is essential for the development of young brains. Omega Soft Kids DHA supplements contain 200 mg of DHA and 100 mg EPA, and are naturally orange-flavored.

Pet owners sometimes give human supplements to dogs but pets can't eat everything that people do. Chocolate is one example. Cooper Wellness experts note that Omega Soft supplements contain xylitol--which is unsafe for dogs.

In order to benefit fully from fish-oil supplements, “read labels thoroughly, take the right dosages and always give them time to work,” Whitthorne says.

To try Cooper Omega-3 supplements, contact Cooper Wellness at 888-393-2221 or email Questions@cooperwellness.com for a sample. And to purchase supplements, visit the Cooper Store.

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MEDIA ADVISORY:

For more information or to arrange an interview with Todd Whitthorne, executive director at Cooper Wellness, please contact Jo Trizila, TrizCom, at (972) 247-1369 or (214) 232-0078.

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Media Contact:

Jo Trizila

TrizCom Inc.

jo@TrizCom.com

Office: 972-247-1369

Cell: 214-232-0078