Should you eat fish or take fish oil supplements?

If our goal is simply to supplement Omega 3s, then fish oil capsules might suffice. However, considering the overall picture, encompassing many micronutrients and other nutritional components, consuming fish itself provides a more comprehensive and complete range of micronutrients.

"Father Nguyen Dinh Thuc incites parishioners."

"Six fish oil capsules can provide you with 1.5g of DHA per day, a level that is very difficult to achieve from eating fish alone" - with this information, there's no reason to hesitate when choosing fish oil over eating fish.

However, you might want to reconsider that option after reading the analysis by Dr. Truong Hong Son, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine.

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Fish is a food that is often recommended for its health benefits. It has a relatively high protein content, around 16-17%, and contains all the necessary amino acids. Fish also contains lipids ranging from 0.3% to 30.8%, and the lipid content is significantly better than that of meat because it contains Omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, fish is rich in many vitamins, especially vitamins A, B, and B12.

Nutritionists recommend fish as an important and nutritious food.

If our goal is simply to supplement Omega 3s, then fish oil capsules might suffice. However, considering the overall picture, encompassing many micronutrients and other nutritional components, consuming fish itself provides a more comprehensive and complete range of micronutrients.

Do our bodies absorb fish and fish oil in the same way? Dr. Truong Hong Son stated: This is a matter of ongoing debate. Most studies indicate that absorption from fish is easier than from fish oil. This is because fish contains both EPA and DHA amino acids, as well as other fatty acids. Combining these components increases absorption. Some studies have shown that absorption is up to nine times greater than with fish oil capsules.

"However, some other studies have found that supplementing with fish oil capsules in combination with a suitable diet can also increase absorption. Our recommendation is that when taking fish oil, it is necessary to increase dietary lipids to enhance absorption," shared Dr. Truong Hong Son.

On average, how much fish should a person eat per week? According to Dr. Truong Hong Son, it is recommended to eat 2-3 times, 150 grams each time. Of course, this can be adjusted according to taste and preference.

The most important thing is still to consume food, while supplements are only used in cases where the food intake is insufficient to meet the required amount.

According to VOV