Omega-3 Supplement Review

Just because a product costs more money doesn’t always mean that it is more expensive. For example, some products cost more but the number of units may be greater: i.e., 500 paper plates for $3 is a better value than 50 paper plates for $1. I reviewed a name-brand omega-3 supplement that I will refer to as Brand X so as not to mention any names.

Brand X Krill Oil

One capsule of Brand X contains:

300 milligrams of krill oil
90 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids
50 milligrams of EPA
24 milligrams of DHA

Res-Q 1250

I also decided to review Res-Q 1250, a popular omega-3 supplement that is marketed for cardiovascular health and cholesterol well-being.

One capsule of Res-Q 1250 provides:

1250 milligrams of omega-3 oil (anchovy, sardine, mackerel)
750-850 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids
390-425 milligrams of EPA
300-325 milligrams of DHA

Heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) are found predominantly in marine (sea) life: fish, krill, phytoplankton or calamari (squid). I would have to take 12½ capsules of Brand X’s krill oil to equal the amount of DHA in one Res-Q 1250 capsule. DHA benefits the heart, brain and eyes, while EPA reduces inflammation, inhibits cholesterol synthesis and encourages a healthy cardiovascular system.

The bottle of Res-Q 1250 contains 200 capsules whereas Brand X only provides 60. Res-Q 1250 costs $56; Brand X krill oil costs $32.98. In other words, the unit price of a Brand X capsule is 54 cents ($32.98/60).1 One Res-Q 1250 capsule costs 28 cents ($56/200). Therefore, Res-Q is the least expensive of the two supplements; it’s the best buy.

N3 Oceanic, maker of the Res-Q product line, always offers price discounts or promotional offers. Prior to placing your first order, have a product consultation with one of our Res-Q consultants. Call the customer service department at 1-800-262-5483 (26-ALIVE). Res-Q consultants are not only knowledgeable but can offer you a reduced price, special discounts or free shipping.



1 current retail price as of 01/17/13

The Perfect Omega Ratio

Fats play an important role in our health, especially the good ones! The three basic types of fats are monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and saturated. The omega-3 and omega-6 fats are polyunsaturated.

The omega-6 fatty acid (linoleic acid) is plentiful in both nature and diet but this is not the case with omega-3. Walnuts, flaxseed and spinach are a poor source of heart-healthy omega-3 because these foods don’t provide any of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, also known as EPA and DHA.

The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, a unit of the University of Southern Mississippi‘s College of Science and Technology, refers to this dietary fat balance as having “resulted in an overwhelming surplus of omega-6 fatty acids and a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids.” They estimate the balance of polyunsaturated fats in the Western diet as having at least 20 times more omega-6 then it should. This dietary imbalance is thought to contribute to heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other inflammatory diseases.

Fast food, including such processed foods like cakes, crackers, pies and all deep-fried foods, are one reason why there is too much omega-6 in the diet. Omega-6 oils (vegetable, corn, soybean, sesame, safflower, sunflower and cottonseed oils) provide the texture and taste that Americans enjoy. However, the typical American diet is causing a dietary fat imbalance.

Omega-3 is needed by every cell in the body! As the number of double bonds increases, so does fluidity, so highly unsaturated, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are essential for healthy, flexible cells.

Only certain types of fish provide a significant source of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. The healthiest fish are extremely expensive, which limits how often they are consumed. The long-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are found predominantly in marine life: fish, calamari, seafood and algae. EPA and DHA reduce inflammation and improve cardiovascular health.

The Fats Handbook explains it best: “The omega-3-produced eicosanoids elicit anti-inflammatory responses while omega-6 eicosanoids elicit inflammatory responses. When the diet contains high concentrations of omega-6 fatty acids, cell membranes have high concentrations of omega-6, and the highly potent eicosanoids that are produced by the omega-6 precursor, arachidonic acid, are released.”

You need to supplement the diet with fish oil to help restore the dietary balance of fats to the optimal ratio. Fish oils contain the long-chain omega-3 EPA and DHA, but not all fish oils are equal!

Some fish oils are not concentrated. Don’t be fooled by the word concentrate like “fish-oil concentrate.” Look for EPA and DHA on the label. Also, it is important to make sure it is only a pure, omega-3 supplement; we get enough omega-6 in the diet!

Res-Q 1250 is a great brand! It is a highly concentrated EPA/DHA supplement that promotes optimal cardiovascular health and helps to reduce inflammation. It is something that everyone needs. Since Res-Q 1250 is at least twice as potent as most fish oils, it represents an exceptional savings.

To contact us by telephone, call 1-800-262-5483.

References:

Types of Dietary Fats and Oils
Fats HandBook