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I am regularly asked about fish oil and have for years been explaining that fish oil is a highly processed product that requires intense heating and chemical solvents to extract the oil. I am still waiting for a scientific explanation of how you can "cold press" a fish from those who claim their fish oil is cold-pressed!
Anyway, I have noticed in the last 5 years an increase in people suffering from what appears to be 'blood blisters' on various parts of their body from taking fish oil. It appears the fish oil thins the blood to such an extent that the small capillaries just leak blood into the skin causing multiple 'blood blisters' this is extremely dangerous as it can indicate an inability of your blood to clot
efficiently. When you take in fish oil fatty acids are already in EPA & DHA form. These 2 derivates of Omega 3 are needed by the body but you have no way of knowing how much you need and can overdose taking fish oil. Whereas as when you take in natural organic cold pressed flax oil, your body only makes exactly what it needs as it has to convert the Omega 3 into 5 derivatives 2 of which are EPA & DHA.
This, contrary to what fish oil marketers may tell you is easy for the body to do as long as you take in dark green leafy vegetables daily, as their nutrients help make these conversions.
Now the body is supremely intelligent and only makes
what it needs for each day, whereas fish oil supplements bring in only 2 derivatives (and we need all 5) in a quantity that could put you at risk for bleeding disorders.
NOW it comes to light that an environmental group is suing the largest fish oil producers for PCB (polyclorinated biphenyls) contamination. PCBs can cause sever endocrine (hormonal) disruption, immune problems, cancer (including breast cancer), thyroid problems, liver damage, ocular lesions, fatigue, headaches, coughs, unusual skin eruptions and poor cognitive development in children.
Some fish
oil capsules sold as as health supplements contain trace amounts of PCBs,
according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in California by an environmental group.
The Mateel
Environmental Justice Foundation introduced the lawsuit, along with two other
plaintiffs, alleging fish oil companies have broken California law by not
putting PCB levels on their labels
The Mateel
group commissioned tests on 10 fish oils and found varying amounts of PCBs in
all of them. The amounts ranged from 12 nanograms a day to more than 852
nanograms a day, based on the daily recommended dose written on the labels.
The fish
oils came from shark, cod and salmon. There are more than 100 fish oil brands,
and further testing is being done. Despite
being banned from production in the U.S. for 30 years, PCBs are extremely
persistent in the environment and continue to show up in fish taken from bodies
of water where the compounds exist.
"Ironically,
fish oil products are often touted for their Omega-3 health benefits, and our
message today to consumers of fish oil is 'Buyer beware,'" Peter Kelley, a
spokesman for the plaintiffs, said in an interview with CBC News.
"These
substances are so toxic they're tested to the billionth of a gram. There is no
known safe level of these things. Because these supplements are recommended for
pregnant women, it's particularly important."
The lawsuit
names six international manufacturers of fish oil and two drugstore chains: CVS
Pharmacy, Inc.; General Nutrition Corp.; Now Health Group, Inc.; Omega Protein
Inc.; Pharmavite LLC (Nature Made brand); Rite Aid Corp.; Solgar Inc.; and
TwinLab Corp.
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