19 November, 2007

Ask the coach: Fish oils

Question

I AM interested in purchasing a fish oil but I am a bit confused about which oil to get. Do you have any recommendations on how to choose a fish oil?

Answer

THERE are many different types of fish oil and, like any fruit or vegetable, different fish oils have different benefits. If your goal is to reduce body fat, you are looking for oils from a big fish, such as salmon oil.

If you want to increase intelligence, you will need oil high in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Fish oils high in these are the smaller fish, such as anchovies and krill.

The brands and types of fish oils you use should be rotated every 7-10 days to stop your body adapting to them.

You should always buy a fish oil in liquid and capsule forms and spread your intake throughout the day at different meals.

Another important reason to take fish oil is that it helps improve your insulin sensitivity. And the more you can handle sugars, the easier it is to gain muscle.