Fish oil fuss

What pregnant women must know about safety and types of fish oils!

What’s the fuss about fish oil?

Fats line every cell in our body and make up about 80% of the brain in infants! This fatty lining control the communication between every cell. 

If you eat inflammatory refined seed oils like canola, sunflower Omega 6 oils, your pain and inflammation in your body will skyrocket leading to heart disease, dementia, arthritis and more! 

If you eat Omega 3 fish oils and prioritize cold pressed avocado and olive oils (like our ancestors), your brain and cells will communicate with ease reducing pain and dementia risk. Our ancestors in Northern climates ate lots of fish and grass fed meats. Our ancestors in warmer climates ate olive, avocado oils and fish!  Yes, eating the food is ideal but we understand for some people eating fresh salmon, tuna or cod 3-5 days a week, especially if pregnant, may not be ideal or possible. 


But, it gets even more complex! There are different types of fish oil and certain types have different primary functions! 

  1. EPA:  This type of fish oil is great for reducing inflammation and pain and preventing Postpartum Depression! 

  2. DHA: This is the type of fish oil that makes up the majority of an infant’s brain and would be beneficial for most pregnant women to take. 

  3. DPA: This fish oil type is a reservoir that helps with EPA conversion into DHA and vice versa so your body can convert more of what it needs!

  4. Vegan Algae Omega 3’s. Much more bioavailable for better absorption and concentration than flax Omega 3 oil, this is a great option for vegan and fish allergy folks. 

Fish oil safety:

Oils go rancid the longer they sit and oxidize. It is important to purchase from companies that have very strict regulations on how long the oils can sit before they go on the shelf to be sold.  Our favorite brands at Nourish are Nordic Naturals and Orthomolecular Products as they have strict 3 month rules while other companies allow their oils to sit for 18 months before going to the shelf!  Also, if your bottle says its expired, don’t consume, it’s time to get a new bottle—be safe!


At Nourish, our functional medicine chiropractors would love to help you choose the best fish oil supplement for you or your family! We understand that your nervous system health is dependent on many factors, including your nutritional status!