Frequently Asked
Questions
Q - What are Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) and why are they important?
A - Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty
acids constitute the two families of EFAs. EFAs are considered "essential"
because they are needed throughout the human life cycle, cannot
be manufactured in the human body, therefore they must be obtained
through our diet on a daily basis for optimal health and wellness.
The body must receive a constant and balanced supply of EFAs to
ensure proper prostaglandin production. Prostaglandins are beneficial
hormone-like compounds that affect virtually every system in the
body. They regulate pain and swelling, help maintain proper blood
pressure and cholesterol levels, and promote fluidity in nerve transmission.
Q - What are early signs of EFA deficiency?
| • Fatigue |
• Poor memory |
• Immune weakness |
| • Dry skin, eczema or hair loss |
• Heart problems |
• Reproductive problems (men
and women) |
| • Mood swings or depression |
• Poor circulation |
|
Q - Where can I get a direct source of EFAs ?
A - Omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, are found in cold
water fish such as sardines, mackerel, anchovies and cod liver. GLA,
an Omega-6 fatty acid, is abundant in borage and evening primrose
oil.
Q - What type of fish does Nordic Naturals use in their products?
A - All of Nordic Naturals' fish oils come from sardines,
mackerel, and anchovies, excluding our Children's DHA Formula and
Liquid Arctic Cod Liver Oil which comes from virgin Arctic cod liver.
Q - What’s the difference between fish oil and flax seed oil?
A - Omega-3 fatty acids fall into two major categories:
Plant derived (flax seed oil, yielding alpha linolenic acid or ALA)
or marine derived (fish oil, yielding both EPA and DHA). The human
conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA is somewhat slow and can be inhibited
by various conditions such as a diet high in linoleic acid (Omega-6),
trans-fatty acids such as fast foods and baked goods, alcohol intake,
certain health conditions, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies (B3,
B6, C, zinc, magnesium). Fish, on the other hand, is a direct source
of EPA and DHA. The general consensus is that
only about 15% of ALA converts to EPA, and it may not convert to DHA
at all.
Q - How soon will I see results?
A - It will vary depending on the concentration of the
fish oil, your current nutritional state, dosage, and current health.
We often will hear that our customers "feel better" and
experience "clearer thinking" and "an enhanced well
being" within 2 weeks. For better results, we recommend you take
EFAs daily for at least two months to evaluate their benefits and
reduce your intake of hydrogenated and trans-fats.
Q - Are there any side effects?
A - Generally, no. Consumers typically report having more
energy and a greater mental clarity while taking EFAs. If you experience
repeat (burping), your supplements are either rancid or your body
may not be manufacturing the fat digestive enzyme, lipase, used to
metabolize the oil. If you haven't ingested fish oils for a long period
of time it should take about a week for your body to develop this
enzyme.
Q - Is it safe to take EFAs derived from fish? I’ve heard that fish oil contains
mercury and other environmental toxins.
A - Fish oils may contain environmental toxins that accumulates
in fish during its life span. Potential toxins can be virtually eliminated
given the use of high quality raw materials and a technologically
advanced refining process utilizing the very latest distillation technologies.
Nordic Naturals fish oils are molecularly distilled utilizing a leading
edge enzymatic process, where any potential heavy metals and dioxins
are removed. Third party testing document the complete absence of
heavy metals and dioxins (where heavy metals are tested down to 25
particles per billion and dioxins down to 0.5 particles per trillion).
While Nordic Naturals' policy is to test competing products on an
ongoing basis to monitor the overall quality level of the fish oil
industry, Nordic Naturals has never found a competing product to match
its freshness and purity levels.
Q - Do pregnant women need EFAs?
A - It is especially important for a pregnant or lactating
woman to get adequate amounts of DHA in her diet because the baby
is drawing upon her supply. DHA is critical for healthy development
of the brain, eyes, and nervous system. There is evidence linking
a deficiency in Omega-3 fatty acids to an increased risk of premature
birth. Some experts recommend that women take 500-600 mg per day during
pregnancy and lactation. As with any supplement, it is best to check
with your health care professional.
Q - What is the recommended intake of Omega-3 fatty acids?
A - ISSFAL Recommended Dosage Chart
| Category |
Weight |
Dosage |
| Infants (1-18 months) |
0-15 lbs |
32 mg/lb EPA+DHA |
| Children (1.5-15 yrs) |
|
15 mg/lb EPA+DHA |
| Adults (15-115 yrs) |
|
650 mg EPA+DHA |
| |
|
220 mg EPA -minimum |
| |
|
220 mg DHA -minimum |
| Lactating Women |
|
300 mg DHA daily |
Q - Can we get enough EFAs from the food we eat?
A - Fish is one of the most abundant sources of EFAs, but
Americans simply don’t eat enough fish on a regular basis. Even
those who eat fish several times a week aren’t getting enough
EFAs because much of the fish consumed today are farm raised (fed
a diet of grains instead of fish meal) and lack a significant amounts
of EPA and DHA. In addition, there are several factors that can lead
to a reduced absorption of EFAs: Age, poor diet, alcohol consumption,
low levels of certain vitamins and minerals, some prescription drugs,
compromised immune status, and a diet high in trans-fatty acids (fast
food, baked goods).
Q - Good fats vs. Bad fats?
A - The "bad" fats are trans-fatty acids
and saturated fats from animal products. Trans-fatty acids should
be avoided completely, this includes margarine, shortening, and
processed foods. Meat and dairy products contain high levels of
saturated fat and should be eaten in moderation.
The "good" fats include polyunsaturated Essential Fatty
Acids (EFAs). EFAs are considered "essential" because
they are needed throughout the human life cycle, cannot be produced
in the human body, and therefore must be provided through the diet.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids constitute the two families of essential
fatty acids. Omega-6 fatty acids include corn, soybean, safflower,
and sunflower oil. While it is important that your diet include
both of these essential fatty acids, it is becoming clear that balance
is the key to good health.
Q - What should I look for when purchasing fish oil?
1. Investigate the manufacturing process. How
is the fish oil manufactured and what are the manufacturing
standards?
2. Smell. Does the fish oil smell fishy? If it
smells fishy, the fish oil has most likely been exposed to oxygen
and is becoming rancid.
3. Taste. Does the fish oil taste fishy? The
freshest fish oils should not taste fishy. Avoid fish oils that
have really strong fruit flavor added to them because they are
most likely trying to hide the fishy flavor of rancid oil.
Q - What is pharmaceutical grade?
A - Pharmaceutical grade/standard relates to the purity
of an oil. Nordic Naturals' fish oils are tested, before and after
production, for heavy metals, PCBs, and dioxin. The results are
documented showing the absence of these environmental toxins. Only
a true pharmaceutical grade/standard product will pass these standards.
Nordic Naturals' products test well below pharmaceutical grade/standard
because they are solely based on the Norwegian Medicinal Standard,
which is the only true pharmaceutical grade/standard to be revered.
Q - Will EFAs interfere with my medical condition or medications I’m taking?
A - Check with your health care professional since EFAs
can reduce blood viscosity and are not recommended if you are using
blood thinners, taking high doses of aspirin, or anticipating surgery.
Q - Can EFAs be taken with other supplements?
A - Yes, EFAs can be taken with a wide variety of supplements.
EFAs are extremely well tolerated, natural, health-promoting, and
safe to use every day.
Q - Why doesn't Nordic Naturals test their products with "consumer labs"?
A - Consumer labs market themselves as
being very objective when in fact they charge $5000 per product test
plus an additional charge for a written report. We decided to do our
own independent testing with a Third party in the United States and
we offer our results to all consumers who request them.
Q - How does the alginate in Nordic Naturals' detoxification products bind to environmental toxins?
A - Nordic Naturals' detoxification products contain Fucus
and Laminaria algae which has alginate in its cell walls. Alginate
is documented to molecularly bind to heavy metals. Therefore, it only
binds to heavy metals by molecular weight.
Q - Does alginate interfere with nutrient absorption?
A - Alginate does not interfere with nutrient absorption
because its binding is selective by molecular weight. It does not
bind to minerals such as iron, calcium, etc. |
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