FAQs

General

General questions about Iceland Health and our products

What Is Omega-3?

Omega-3 is a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The polyunsaturates are essential nutrients for humans and most all animals. There are two important families of polyunsaturates: the omega-3 family, and the omega-6 family. Both are needed in the human diet for optimal health. The omega-6 family is found mainly in vegetable oils such as sunflower, sesame, corn, soy etc. The omega-3 family is found mainly in fish, and especially in oil rich fish such as herring, mackerel, sardines etc.

Small amounts of the omega-3's are found in eggs. Certain vegetable oils such as linseed (flaxseed), rapeseed (canola) and walnut oil contain a type of omega-3, known as the short chain type (alpha-linolenic acid). To be useful to the human body, these short chain omega-3s must first be converted to their long chain form. While the human body can in theory do this conversion, in practice, modern diets and lifestyles reduce the effectiveness of the conversion systems.

Roughly 10 times more of the short chain omega-3s must be consumed to have the same effect as the long chain form from fish oil.

Can I take Omega-3 if I'm Taking Other Medications?


It is perfectly safe and in many cases suggested to take the recommended dosage of omega-3 along with your blood pressure and cholesterol medications. However, it is always suggested that you seek the advice of a health care professional when taking medication.

Are there potential side effects from taking Omega-3?


There are no known medical side effects from omega-3 unless you are taking blood thinning medication, in which case you should check first with your health care provider. The vast majority of people experience no gastrointestinal discomfort from omega-3.

How long do I have to take omega-3 before I feel the benefits?


Your body will benefit from the Omega-3 as soon as you start taking it, but as science has proven, the long-term benefits build up with usage over time so we encourage you to take the product for a couple of months to see the positive benefits. Remember that we offer a full money back guarantee on unopened bottles.

Is Omega-3 Safe for Pregnant Women?


More and more research suggests that, for pregnant women, Omega-3 fats might be the most important supplement they can take to improve the brain development of the fetus. Of course, we recommend you first discuss taking any supplements with your physician if you're pregnant.

Can I take omega-3 fish oil if I'm allergic to fish?

Most fish allergies would probably not be activated by taking Maximum Strength Omega-3 since almost everything is removed except for the omega-3 oil, which is an essential fatty acid that everyone requires. There are however trace quantities of other fish nutrients remaining in the oil and, since we don't have information on what you are specifically allergic to, they might trigger a reaction. Therefore, it is best to check with your health care provider before taking any new medicines or supplements.

Can I Still Eat Fish?


Yes, although you should be careful about how much fish you eat due to the levels of mercury that are found in many varieties. That's why omega-3 from Iceland Health is so wonderful. It's free of virtually all toxins and is the cleanest, purest and one of the most potent natural omega-3 product available.

How should I store Omega-3 capsules?


Omega-3 gel capsules should be stored in a cool, dry place.

Do your products require refrigeration?


No, as long as they are not exposed to extremes of heat or cold for an extended length of time.

What types of fish are used to produce omega-3?


The fattiest deep water fish are necessary to produce a product with the highest natural concentration of EPA and DHA, the two important nutrients in omega-3. We use herring, mackerel, sardines and anchovies.

Technical

Questions Dealing with more technical aspects of Omega-3

Do your products contain toxins, heavy metals, pesticides or other pollution in them?


Our products are inspected and tested to ensure that there are no detectable levels of contaminants such as PCBs and dioxins or heavy metals such as lead or mercury. Our products are tested by an independent, third-party facility for potency and purity.

How does Iceland Health Omega-3 compare to other brands?

Products from Iceland Health provide high concentrations of omega-3 and its critical components, EPA and DHA in one single, easy-to-swallow softgel serving. Unfortunately, many omega-3 supplements sold today do not come close to providing these concentrated levels of essential fatty acids per softgel.

Additionally, our omega-3 fish oil products are pure, using only marine oil derived from wild, deep-ocean fish and not that from farm-raised fish.

The process from water to encapsulation is very short, ensuring and resulting in a fresh product. Lastly, Iceland Health engages in responsible sourcing of fish - deriving our oil primarily from anchovy, a sustainable species from waters with strictly-enforced fishing quotas.

Our oils are molecularly-distilled by a patented process to remove all detectable levels of toxins and are free of any artificial additives.

How is the Omega-3 Oil Produced?

To produce an omega-3 product that has the highest natural concentration of EPA and DHA, the two important nutrients, the fattiest deep water fish are necessary: herring, mackerel, sardines and anchovies. The oil is then processed to remove any taste and toxins. It is then concentrated through natural molecular distillation to bring it to a pharmaceutical-grade level. This is all done under authority of the Iceland pharmaceutical oversight board. It is the cleanest, purest, and most potent natural omega-3 product available.

Is it okay to take a combination of Maximum Strength Omega-3,and Joint Relief Formula?


Each contains 1000mg of omega-3 and the recommended daily dosage is 1000-2000mg. As with any supplement, if you have any concerns or want to take a dosage higher than the recommended daily allowance, you should contact your health care professional.

What are the neurological health benefits of omega-3?

A significant part of the structure of brain, nerves and the retina of the eye is composed of the long chain omega-3 polyunsaturates such as are only found in fish oil. The long chain omega-3 polyunsaturates are essential for the optimal development of a healthy brain, eyes and nervous system.

Studies have shown that if the diet does not provide sufficient omega-3, then the formation and function of these vital organs is impaired somewhat. Omega-3s are essential to overall health including brain function, cardiovascular health and joint health. There is even some information that omega-3s help with a health mental outlook.

Benefits of Omega-3 on Developing Fetus

The long chain omega-3 polyunsaturates are essential for the optimal development of the fetus. They are especially important for the formation of a healthy brain, eyes and nervous system. Each is made up in large part from the long chain omega-3s and studies have shown that if the mother's diet does not provide sufficient omega-3, then the formation and function of the fetal organs can be impaired somewhat. Oil-rich fish is an excellent source of the long chain omega-3 polyunsaturates. Approximately 20% of natural fish oil is made up of the omega-3 polyunsaturates, of which the two major components are EPA and DHA.

There is no information which suggests that fish oil capsules are not safe. On the contrary, they are free from the toxins that making eating fish risky. As far as intake recommendation is concerned, for the average pregnant woman, experts recommend an intake of 650mg of long chain omega-3 polyunsaturates per day, of which at least 180mg should be DHA. Thus to achieve this intake from Maximum Strength Omega-3 capsules, a daily intake of 1000mg of oil will be needed, the amount found in one capsule. As always consult with your physician.