{"id":1243632,"date":"2023-10-03T19:52:54","date_gmt":"2023-10-03T19:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/radiofree.asia\/?guid=cddb681ae404344dddb7d7af45b0ebd3"},"modified":"2023-10-03T19:52:54","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T19:52:54","slug":"deception-through-the-amber-lens-of-a-fish-oil-capsule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2023\/10\/03\/deception-through-the-amber-lens-of-a-fish-oil-capsule\/","title":{"rendered":"Deception Through the Amber Lens of a Fish-Oil Capsule"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><p>Wondering what\u2019s considered to be the correct dose of fish oil? Ann Marie Navar, M.D., Ph.D., and an associate professor of cardiology, is skeptical. \u201c<em>Zero<\/em> milligrams. I advise my patients to save their money,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fish-oil-pills-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1075004\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fish-oil-pills-602x401.jpg\" alt=\"fish oil capsules\" width=\"602\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fish-oil-pills-602x401.jpg 602w, https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fish-oil-pills-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fish-oil-pills-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fish-oil-pills-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fish-oil-pills-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fish-oil-pills-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fish-oil-pills-scaled.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ve likely seen fish-oil supplements sold in stores, pictured in magazines, and advertised on TV. They\u2019ve been promoted for heart health\u2014among many other perceived benefits.<\/p>\n<p>These claims are one reason why fish oil is the country\u2019s third most popular dietary supplement. Americans spend more than <em>$1 billion<\/em> annually on these greasy over-the-counter capsules.<\/p>\n<p><strong>But producing fish oil involves killing <em>millions <\/em>of sentient ocean animals every year.<\/strong> In addition, \u201cnontarget\u201d animals such as dolphins, whales, and sea turtles die when they become hooked or entangled in fishing gear.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The photos are heartbreaking <img src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/14.0.0\/72x72\/1f494.png\" alt=\"\ud83d\udc94\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\" \/> More than 700,000 TONS of fishing gear is left in the ocean each year. It\u2019s KILLING &amp; MUTILATING millions of sea animals. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/5S2vO8MEEC\">https:\/\/t.co\/5S2vO8MEEC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; PETA (@peta) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/peta\/status\/979760189913096193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 30, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>And there\u2019s another problem: Most of the health claims touted by fish-oil companies simply aren\u2019t true.<\/p>\n<p>Recent studies suggest that we should be looking elsewhere\u2014namely, healthy vegan foods\u2014for ways to enhance our heart health. Omega-3 fatty acids\u2014when they come from fish-oil supplements\u2014may not be as beneficial as once believed, and emptying the ocean of fish isn\u2019t good for the Earth or for animals.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nejm.org\/doi\/full\/10.1056\/nejmoa1811403\"  rel=\"noopener\">A study<\/a> published in <em>The New England Journal of Medicine<\/em> found that taking fish-oil supplements did <strong>not<\/strong> decrease the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, strokes, or death from heart disease. In fact, the study found no significant difference between those who took these supplements and those who took a placebo.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>So Why Do Some People Still Swear by Fish-Oil Supplements?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Fish get omega-3 fatty acids from seaweed\/algae. Omega-3s are necessary for maintaining overall cardiovascular health for the following reasons:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>They reduce triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood.<\/li>\n<li>They increase good cholesterol.<\/li>\n<li>They reduce the risk of developing an irregular heart rhythm.<\/li>\n<li>They slow the buildup of plaque, which hardens and blocks arteries.<\/li>\n<li>They help to lower blood pressure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Omega-3s may also have positive effects on brain health and cognitive function.<\/p>\n<p>Because our bodies don\u2019t naturally create them, we must get omega-3s from other sources. Fish-oil supplements don\u2019t have the same health benefits as vegan foods, which are rich in omega-3s. So why eat dead fish parts when you can get omega-3s straight from the plant-based source?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/bowl-of-flax-seeds.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1075005\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/bowl-of-flax-seeds-602x402.jpg\" alt=\"small bowl of flax seeds\" width=\"602\" height=\"402\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/bowl-of-flax-seeds-602x402.jpg 602w, https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/bowl-of-flax-seeds-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/bowl-of-flax-seeds-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/bowl-of-flax-seeds-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/bowl-of-flax-seeds.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>If Fish Oil Can\u2019t Help, at Least It Can\u2019t Hurt, Right? Wrong!<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>There\u2019s a limit to how many omega-3s the body can absorb at once, and excess amounts could even be harmful.<\/p>\n<p>Some evidence shows that taking fish-oil supplements may actually <em>increase<\/em> the risk of cardiovascular problems. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cedars-sinai.org\/newsroom\/omega-3-supplements-could-elevate-risk-of-atrial-fibrillation\/\"  rel=\"noopener\">study<\/a> published in <em>The <\/em><em>Journal of the American Medical Association<\/em> found that those taking high doses of fish oil had a slightly higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heart rhythm that can increase the risk of blood clots, strokes, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>How to Safely Get the Omega-3s That Your Body Needs<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Always talk to your doctor about which supplements (if any) may benefit your heart health.<\/p>\n<p>Vegan foods, including seeds, walnuts, and dark-green leafy vegetables, are rich in omega-3s, and getting these essential nutrients from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/living\/food\/vegan-recipes-packed-with-omega-3s\/\">whole-food sources<\/a> is the way to go. Try the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Sprinkle flaxseed on your oatmeal, smoothies, or salads.<\/li>\n<li>Make <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/living\/food\/chia-seed-pudding\/\">chia seed pudding<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Add walnuts to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/recipes\/apple-walnut-cake\/\">baked goods<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Nibble on nori (dried seaweed), which is available in stores.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy an ice-cold glass of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/living\/food\/hemp\/\">hemp milk<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/chia-pudding-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-918717\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/chia-pudding-1-602x452.jpg\" alt=\"peanut butter, chia, pudding\" width=\"602\" height=\"452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/chia-pudding-1-602x452.jpg 602w, https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/chia-pudding-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/chia-pudding-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/chia-pudding-1-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.peta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/chia-pudding-1.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Compelling evidence sinking the myth that fish oil improves cardiovascular health is one more reason to leave fish\u2014who are smart and social animals\u2014in the water, where they belong.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Order a free vegan starter kit to learn more about how you can help spare countless animals by going vegan:<\/p>\n<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><p><a class=\"pink text-button button large\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/living\/food\/free-vegan-starter-kit\/\">Send Me a Free Vegan Starter Kit!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><input class=\"fooboxshare_post_id\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"1074981\"\/>\n<\/div><p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/living\/food\/fish-oil-myths\/\">Deception Through the Amber Lens of a Fish-Oil Capsule<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/\">PETA<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"syndicated-attribution\">This post was originally published on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/living\/food\/fish-oil-myths\/\">Animal Rights and Campaign News | PETA<\/a>. <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A lot of health claims are made about fish-oil supplements, but are they true? Learn the facts and the best way to get healthy omega-3s.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/living\/food\/fish-oil-myths\/\">Deception Through the Amber Lens of a Fish-Oil Capsule<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/\">PETA<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27872,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6511,401,2152,2153],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1243632"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27872"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1243632"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1243632\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1243633,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1243632\/revisions\/1243633"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1243632"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1243632"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1243632"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}