Too much omega-3 can be harmful The FDA and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) claim that omega-3 supplements containing EPA and DHA are safe if doses don't exceed 5,000 mg per day ( 13 , 32 , 33).
So, how much Omega-3 per day should you consume? Many doctors often recommend 1000 to 1200 mg of fish oil, because that amount of fish oil contains the total amount of Omega-3s the doctor wants you to consume.
Potential Benefits
To maintain a healthy heart, be sure you're getting enough EPA and DHA. Up to 1,000 mg of total EPA and DHA per day is recommended for people who have coronary heart disease and are at risk of having a heart attack ( 24 , 25 ).
If you are taking fish oil for general cardiovascular health (as opposed to treatment for elevated triglycerides, for example), or because you think you might not be getting enough omega-3s from your diet, a single 1,000 mg softgel (providing about 300 mg EPA and 200 DHA) should be sufficient.
Summary. Some evidence suggests that taking supplements that contain omega-3 with a meal that contains fat can increase absorption. As a result, people may wish to take fish oil at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. However, there is no correct or incorrect time to take it.
Omega-3 fatty acids are thought to help reduce the risk of heart disease. They have been used along with diet and exercise to help lower levels of a certain blood fat (triglyceride) and to raise levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL).
Official omega-3 dosage guidelines
Overall, most of these organizations recommend a minimum of 250–500 mg combined EPA and DHA each day for healthy adults.
Taking high doses of fish oil supplements might increase the risk of bleeding and possibly increase the risk of stroke.
Excessive consumption of omega-3 fatty acids could lead to low blood pressure, thinning of blood, excessive bleeding if an injury were to occur or increased risk of bruising. Consuming high doses of omega-3 fatty acids can be detrimental.
Because most of the benefits of fish oil are associated with long-term use, you can take it at any time of day. That said, splitting your supplement into two smaller doses in the morning and at night can reduce acid reflux.
When taken by mouth: Fish oil is likely safe for most people in doses of 3 grams or less daily. Taking more than 3 grams daily might increase the chance of bleeding. Fish oil side effects include heartburn, loose stools, and nosebleeds. Taking fish oil supplements with meals or freezing them can reduce these issues.
Eggs are mother nature's incredible and edible source of Omega-3 fatty acids, providing on average, 180mg per serve (2 eggs). Of this amount, 114mg is the long-chain type of omega-3 fatty acid – which represents between 71-127% of the desired intake for adults.
Expert Analysis. All individuals should aim to consume approximately 2 servings of fatty fish per week as part of a heart-healthy diet. Routine use of non-prescription fish oil is not recommended for primary or secondary prevention of CVD.
Although there are popular myths that taking fish oil lowers your cholesterol, it does not. It will lower your triglycerides, may modestly raise your HDL (which is a benefit), but can actually raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol, which is not a benefit.
Symptoms of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency include fatigue, poor memory, dry skin, heart problems, mood swings or depression, and poor circulation. It is important to have the proper ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 (another essential fatty acid) in the diet.
While fish oil is a general term for oils made from the tissue of fish, omega-3 describes a specific form of fatty acids, that are essential for our health and well-being but that our body cannot produce itself. This means, we need to ingest them through food or via a supplement, like fish oil!
How long does it take for omega-3's to work? Levels of omega-3's build up quickly in the body once you take supplements. But it may take 6 weeks to 6 months to see a significant change in mood, pain, or other symptoms.
Clinical research has revealed that it's safe to take up to 10 grams (10,000 milligrams) of EPA and DHA a day—that's over 20 times the recommended minimum intake (i.e., two servings of fish per week equals approximately 500 milligrams of EPA plus DHA daily).
To date, the European Food Safety Authority has concluded that consuming up to 5000 mg of omega-3s daily is safe (18).
People who are pregnant, or who have a high risk of diabetes, a high risk of bleeding (particularly those on "blood thinners"), or high LDL cholesterol should check with their health care provider before taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements. At very high doses, they could increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
Older adults and the elderly typically shouldn't take more than 250 milligrams of EPA and DHA daily. However, when treating high triglycerides, your doctor may recommend up to 15 grams if you have high blood pressure and as much as 10 grams if you have rheumatoid arthritis.
Avocados have a very high fat content, but they are also very high in omega 3 fatty acids in the form of alpha-linolenic acid. This is considered “good” unsaturated fat and accounts for about three-quarters of the calories in an avocado.