The fish oil industry has done a great job of marketing over the last few years: people know about the health benefits of omega-3s, like arthritis pain relief, improved memory function, and cancer prevention.
But they tend to forget there are sources other than fish oil that can provide them—sources that are more sustainable than fish and that do not risk loading you up with PCBs, a chemical thought to cause birth defects, cancer, and disruption to the endocrine, reproduction, immune, and nervous systems.
Now, recent studies question even some of the health claims that motivate people to take fish oil in the first place. Scientific American references one study showing that fish oil showed no difference in cognitive function for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's, while slowing memory loss is one of the most commonly-touted health claims. As for claims that fish oil helps prevent cancer, another study linked high doses of fish oil with inflamed bowels, colitis, and aggressive colon cancer.
So while omega-3s have some significant health benefits—and Americans are known for not eating enough of them—where you get them from matters. Flaxseed anyone?
