Fish oil and the omega-3 fatty acids that it contains have been a big buzzword in the health and wellness world over the last decade or so. With studies showing that it’s great for heart health and potentially brain health (including mental illnesses and brain disorders), it’s no wonder athletes are looking at fish oil supplements.
We’ll show you how to find the best fish oil for body building, athletes, and runners here, and give our unbiased review of some of the most popular products on the market.
What are Omega-3s?
Omega-3 fatty acids are just what they sound like. They’re a type of fat that science has shown us is very good for the body, particularly for heart and brain health. To be more specific, they’re an unsaturated fat. The body can’t synthesize these nutrients, so you must take them in via food or supplements.
There are three types of omega-3s: ALAs, DHAs and EPAs. Though there are slight structural differences between the three types, all of them have proven health benefits, despite the fat witch-hunts that occurred in the food industry over the last few decades.
- CONCENTRATED FORMULA - Unlike other fish-oil products, we use supercritical extraction to concentrate the omega-3's in our...
- SUPPORTS HEART, BRAIN, SKIN & EYE HEALTH* - Science has shown that not only do the omega-3's in fish oil offer cardiovascular...
- DESIGNED FOR BETTER ABSORPTION* - Because the omega's in Viva Naturals Ultra Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil are delivered in...
- Omega 3 oil fish supports healthy lifestyle
- May help keep your blood pressure low by taking daily doses of Omega 3 1250mg fish oil.
- May reduce joint pain, inflammation and strengthen your immune system.
- More Krill for your dollar: Contains 1000 mg of Krill oil per SOFTGEL with more naturally occurring EPA, DHA, Phospholipids...
- NEW Advance Formula: Made with Superba2 Krill Oil, a new advance formula clinically proven to increase omega-3 fatty acid...
- Less Krill smell with No Aftertaste: The new Superba2 has substantially reduced the Krill smell. The phospholipid-bound...
- May Reduce the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease+: Wholemega Fish Oil is clinically shown to retain healthy triglyceride levels...
- 4-in-1 Benefits: Heart, brain, eye, and joint support* with 2000 mg of oil per serving including vital Omega-3s DHA & EPA
- Good for You, Good for the Ocean: Wild-caught Salmon oil is 100% from Alaska, where sustainable fishing is state law. No...
- Contains Fish (Anchovy, Herring, Salmon, Sardine and Sprat) and Soy
- No Artificial Colors
- No Artificial Flavors
Where Can You Find Omega-3s?
ALA omega-3s are found in plants. More specifically, you can find this type of omega-3 in plant oils like flaxseed oil, canola oil, and soy oil. Though these are not the highly sought after omega-3s found in fish oil supplements, they’re still very good for the body.
DHAs and EPAs are found in animal proteins, particularly in fish. For the most part, these are the omega-3s that make fish oil supplementation desirable. Most people don’t get enough healthy fish-derived omega-3s in their diet, meaning supplementation is probably a good idea for most people.
Since our modern diets tend to be particularly lacking in seafood, and also due to contamination of the ocean leading to a high mercury content in many types of fish, fish oil supplementation is a great way to make sure you get plenty of these heart-healthy oils.
What can Fish Oil do for Your Body?
There’s plenty of ongoing research to determine all the ways in which fish oil supplements can help the body. As is often the case with supplements like these, though, there are few definitive results that lead to FDA recognition of the benefits of supplements, despite evidence that they may work well.
There are only a couple FDA-backed, wholly approved uses for fish oil currently. The benefits of omega-3s from fish oil supplements in heart health, particularly in the regulation of triglycerides, blood pressure, and secondary cardiovascular diseases, are well documented.
Fish oil may also be effective in helping to alleviate morning pain and stiffness in the joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Other conditions that some people believe may be improved through the use of omega-3 supplements include anxiety, depression, ADHD, and dementia.
Why is it Effective for Athletes?
Studies performed at the University of Indiana at Bloomington have shown that fish oil supplements may have a positive effect on elite athletes, like bodybuilders or long distance runners, who suffer from exercise-induced asthma. It makes sense that breathing better would certainly improve performance.
Another reason that fish oil supplements may be good for serious athletes is the anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3s that are plentiful in fish oil. Word around the bodybuilding, CrossFit, and endurance athletics communities are that fish oil can also help with injury prevention.
It is also said that the use of fish oil supplements may help to reduce an athlete’s recovery time between workouts. For these reasons, many fitness enthusiasts are interested in finding the best fish oil for body building, athletes, and runners.
Who can Benefit from Fish Oil for Body Building, Athletes, and Runners?
Any person who exercises frequently and experiences pain, stiffness, or soreness in their muscles and joints can potentially benefit from using fish oil supplements. If you’ve ever had to take a day off after a tough work-out, it’s probably worth a shot.
Supplementing with fish oil has almost no negative side-effects. Since almost no one gets enough omega-3s in their diet, the chances that it will improve your overall health are pretty fantastic.
When Should You Take Fish Oil?
The directions on the label of the supplement you purchase should be followed to avoid any unwanted side-effects. Some fish oil capsules should be taken with food, some upon waking, and some before bed. Read the label carefully before use.
How can You Find the Best Fish Oil Supplement?
The least expensive fish oil supplement is probably not the best choice. If the cheap capsules you purchase are so rancid and fishy that you can’t stomach them, they certainly aren’t likely to do any good. Find a good quality supplement, ideally non-enteric coated, to get the best results.
Purchase your fish oil from a company that is transparent about the amount of omega-3s (both DHAs and EPAs) are present in their supplement, and look for a supplement that is purified and quality tested. Let’s check out our picks for the best fish oil for body building, athletes, and runners.
Viva Naturals
Viva Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplement This high quality supplement is made by a reputable company. With some of the highest levels per capsule of omega-3s available on the market, these are a great option for performance athletes looking to boost their fatty acid intake.
OmegaBoost
Omegaboost Omega-3 Fish Oil This fish oil supplement utilizes a lemony flavor to help cover the fishiness that often accompanies these capsules. They pack a large dose of omega-3s in per each capsule.
Sports Research
Antarctic Krill Oil with Astaxanthin This krill oil supplement is very similar to the average fish oil supplement in that the point is that it provides lots of omega-3s, only krill (small, shrimp-like microscopic ocean organism) is used exclusively as the source of the omega-3 rich oil.
New Chapter
Newchapter Wholemega Fish Oil Supplement This supplement includes many types of important fats, plus vitamin D3 and the antioxidant astaxanthin. The manufacturers state that taking this supplement can act as the equivalent of the recommended 2-3 servings of fish per week.
Kirkland Signature
Kirkland Signature Fish Oil Concentrate This fish oil supplement is one of the most cheapest on the market. When you combine the reasonable dosage of omega-3s with the gigantic number of capsules for the price, it’s easily a good value, if not the most effective fish oil supplement.
our #1 rated
Pros
High dosage per capsule, 2200 mg
Heat and chemical free processing
“Supercritical CO2” extraction method
Stabilized fish oils are easier to absorb
Free from environmental contaminants
Cons
Requires two capsules for full dosage
Pills may be difficult to swallow
May taste unpleasant to some
Can smell fishy to some users
our #2 rated
Pros
High omega-3 dose
Only requires one tablet per day
No fishy taste
USA made
Very cost effective supplement
Lemon flavored
Cons
Odd DHA/EPA ratio
Capsules are difficult to swallow
Flavoring may be unappealing to some
May cause fishy pee
our #3 rated
Pros
Krill has a high natural DHA & EPA content
Also contains antioxidant astaxanthin
Easy to digest
Only one pill per day
Uses Kosher gelatin
No fishy taste
Cons
Oil is extracted by ethyl esters
Krill falls under shellfish, potential allergen
Capsule contains vanillin, an artificial flavor
Large pill
Labelling isn’t specific about amount of omega-3s
our #4 rated
Pros
Takes a more whole food approach
Contains 5 types of omega fatty acids
No fillers
Utilizes wild-caught Alaskan salmon
Less smelly than some other fish oils
Cons
Lower omega 3 count than many supplements
Less processed approach means more smell
Causes fishy burps if not taken before meals
Large capsules may be hard to swallow
Must take multiple capsules daily
our #5 rated
Pros
Great value
No artificial colors or flavors
Gluten and yeast free
Sustainably sourced from wild-caught fish
Contains no common allergens
Cons
Three capsules required daily
Low levels of omega-3s compared to other brands
Fishy flavor and/or smell
Stabilized with ethyl esters rather than triglycerides
Conclusion
When we take into account these products’ overall value, and place the quality of the supplement as first priority, Viva Naturals Fish Oil supplement is our pick for the best fish oil for body building, athletes, and runners.
Make sure you do your research when considering any supplement. Check out the quality and purity ratings on independent testing sites and always consider what makes each type of supplement good. If you’re a performance athlete who is looking for the joint and heart benefits that come with fish oil, don’t hesitate to ask us any questions you may have about fish oil supplements, or anything else!
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