There are many different suppliers of Omega-3 fish oil food supplements on the market, but there are big differences in quality among them. Like with orange juice, there is freshly squeezed juice or products made from concentrate; while it is kind of the same, the quality really is not. In this article we will look more into what makes a high quality Omega-3 fish oil supplement and how we produce it here at Omega 3 of Norway.
What is fish oil and how is it made
Fish oil is made from the tissue of fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel or tuna and contains essential Omega-3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that have a variety of health benefits, that we have explained in more detail in our article What benefits are associated with Omega-3 fatty acids?. Those Omega-3s are polyunsaturated fatty acids that cannot be produced by our bodies themselves, so we rely on consuming either foods that contain high amounts of Omega-3 or high quality Omega-3 fish oil capsules. Norwegian Omega-3 supplements such as our products are high quality and will ensure that your body receives all the nutrients it needs!
At Omega 3 of Norway we use a unique and patented dual molecular distillation method to achieve the purest and richest possible marine Omega-3 supplement. The freshly caught wild water fish is processed in a state of the art production facility in Alesund on the West Coast of Norway. This whole process is the result of over 170 years of experience and development in refining these processes.
Not all oils are created equal – the difference between ethyl esters and triglycerides
Fish oil contains about 30% of pure Omega-3 fatty acids, however when it comes to fish oils that are used as food supplements, the concentration of EPA and DHA can vary from 8% to 80%. So when picking out a food supplement it is important to look at the concentration of those Omega-3 fatty acids in each product and to make an informed decision about which brand to go for.
Another important thing to consider when choosing your Omega-3 fatty acid supplement is the form of those fatty acids. Naturally, Omega-3 fatty acids occur as triglycerides, which is the molecular structure that fats and oils assume in plants and animals. In this form, they are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and can be more easily absorbed by our body. However there is also another molecular structure that Omega-3 fatty acids can take.
This class of lipids is called ethyl esters and is produced by a chemical reaction that reacts the fatty acids with ethanol. This process is called trans-estrification because the original triglyceride backbone of the molecule is removed. This resulting ethyl ester can be distilled at lower temperatures which means lower production costs. Because the distillation is then more easy, a higher concentration of EPA and DHA can be reached, however the fatty acids are not in their original form so they cannot be called natural fish oil anymore. It is simply a concentrate and because those ethyl esters do not occur in nature, this can impact the way that they are digested and absorbed in our bodies.
So a lot of products on the market are actually fish oil concentrates. And while they also contain Omega-3 fatty acids, a comparison can be drawn between fresh orange juice and juice from concentrate, which are kind of the same, but also not
At Omega 3 of Norway, we prioritize natural products and our fish oil contains 90% triglycerides, which are easier to absorb into our body and the naturally occurring form of these fatty acids. Thanks to the unique and patented distillation process, we are able to achieve a high quality product with a 65% EPA/DHA average.
Sustainability and quality at Omega 3 of Norway
Here at Omega 3 of Norway we value quality and have a high standard when it comes to the whole production process. Our Omega 3 was the first to be recognized by the sustainable seafood association “Friends of the Sea” and exceeds beyond European and international standards when it comes to sustainability. Our products are sourced with only wild water fish from the cleanest oceans and we uphold high standards when it comes to both internal processes and all steps in our supply chain.
To guarantee an ongoing supply of high quality products, there are high industry and company standards that we comply with, with regards to safety, traceability and sustainability. We are conducting internal audits to ensure compliance with manufacturing good practice regulations as well as authorities’ regulations regarding the production of marine Omega-3 products.
How we help you to be healthy
The health benefits of consuming Norwegian Omega-3 supplements range from improving your mood to supporting your immune system, to reducing the risk of heart disease! With its anti-inflammatory properties these fatty acids can help your muscles recover quicker from exercise and improve your overall well being.
But while we know the health benefits of Omega-3 are numerous, it can still be hard to keep maintaining the healthy habit of taking our capsules on a daily basis. This is why we try to guarantee the most comfortable experience when taking our wild Norwegian pure Omega-3 capsules. We are working together with SwissCaps, who hold a high reputation and quality standard in the industry. They produce capsules from bovine and fish gelatine that are highly resilient and neutral in taste. Being smaller and more compact, they are easier to taste and offer the cleanest and most refreshing taste and odour/scent profile possible. Because of the patented processing and refinement procedure, our oil is virtually tasteless and odor free.
Head over to our blog to learn more about Omega-3 and its impact on our body and check out our shop to explore our range of high quality marine Omega-3 products.