Fish Oil Side Effects

Fish oil is the oil made out of the tissues of oily fish. It is highly beneficial for health as it contains eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), omega-3 fatty acids, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), precursors to eicosanoids that is functional in reducing inflammation throughout the body. The Omega 3 fatty acids present in the fish oil are known to be beneficial for people suffering from heart disease, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, bipolar disorder and cancer. Fish oil also contains DHA that is highly useful for the body. Owing to so many benefits, the oil has now become an important part of people’s life, as a daily supplement. As a coin has two sides, it has been found that fish oil too has some side effects. Fish oil side effects are not hazardous initially, but if you are taking a consistent dose or an overdose, the consequences can be perilous. To know about the side effects of consuming too much fish oil, read on.

Dangers of Fish Oil

Fish oil is associated with increasing the risk of bleeding. The bleeding can be in different forms, like nosebleeds, strokes or blood in the urine.
Large intake of fish oil can lead to upset stomach. Taking high doses of fish oil can also lead to diarrhea.
Some species of fish, like shark, king mackerel, tilefish and swordfish, contains heavy metals like mercury, lead, nickel, dioxins, cadmium, arsenic and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These metals cause heavy metal and other pollutants poisoning in the body.
Fish oil contains certain vitamins (especially Vitamin D), which when ingested in large quantities, can be injurious to health. It can cause vitamin poisoning that has toxic symptoms.
One may suffer from incessant burping after consuming fish oil. Fishy aftertaste remains for a long time, after consuming the product.
Some other side effects of fish oil are heartburn and indigestion. These can cause a lot of discomfort and irritation to the person.

Tips

Fish oil can turn rancid when exposed to light, heat or oxygen, as the fatty acid content in the oil is oxidized in this process. So, always store fish oil in glass containers and keep it tightly closed. Store the oil in the refrigerator or freezer.
Go for the fish oil that comes in ester form. This is known to have good bioavailability that enables the body to absorb important nutrients.
Fish oil should never be heated on the stove.
Always buy the oil from a recognized store and go for only those containers that have the organic certification on them.
If you are going for fish oil supplements, choose the ones that are processed with molecular distillation. They are pure in content, as the pollutants and harmful things are filtered out in the process of distillation.
Try different brand of fish oil, if your regular oil shows some side effects on you.
Consume fish oil in an adequate proportion, after consulting a doctor, in order to eradicate its side effects.

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