Do you remember being a kid and being told fish oil tablets and omega-3 were one of the best ways to get precious, necessary vitamins? Do you also remember how when you first had one, it filled your mouth with something you could only really describe as the worst taste ever, even if you liked fish? Getting the right supplements is important, and the good thing about best omega-3 supplements is that they’ve eliminated that aftertaste that made you smell closer to a pelican than a functioning, featherless human.
A lack of omega-3, the fatty acid you find in fish oil, has been connected to a variety of potential health issues that include everything from cardiovascular problems to trouble with staying focused. Taking supplements can help with reflexes and improve blood circulation among a myriad of other things.
We know it can be a challenge to make sure you eat a balanced diet that hits all the spots and taking a supplement is an easy and effective way of getting around that without forcing food down you which you may not even like.
The Best Omega-3 Supplement
1Dr. Tobias Omega-3 Supplement
First on our list of the best omega-3 supplements is the Dr Tobias Omega-3 Fish Oil Triple Strength which comes with a long-lasting 180 count and boasts 2,000 mg of fatty acids overall per serving, including 800 mg of EPA.
The capsules are larger than average, but you shouldn’t struggle with swallowing them, but the soft gel style allows them to go down much easier than standard pills that leave a nasty chalky taste just out of reach at the back of your throat. Unlike other supplements, they won’t upset your stomach so you can take them with meals without issue.
Those terrified of the dreaded fish burp will be thankful to learn that such issues are entirely absent with these, and if you’re looking for an easy, gentle way to ease into getting back on track with your health either individually or as a family, these are definitely the best place to start. Make sure you also check our guide to the best fiber supplements.
180 count
800 mg EPA per serving
Non-GMO
Better absorption
Long shelf life
- BrandDr Tobias
- Model045635973237 795186400637
- Weight10.4 Ounces
2Arazo Nutrition Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplement
Another high dosage and triple strength option is the Arazo Nutrition Omega-3 Fish Oil available at a maximum of 120 pills per bottle – which is around a 40 day supply on average – you can still set it up to deliver refills every month or more infrequently if desired.
With 1,200 mg of EPA and 900 mg of DHA, you’re guaranteed excellent results and better health much sooner than smaller dosed options, and these supplements are ideal for improving mental wellbeing as much as they are physical. For those suffering from anxiety, depression, or finding themselves dangerously lacking in motivation, these are a fantastic way to get you back on track.
High dosage
Pure and refined
Natural lemon flavor
40 day supply
900 mg DHA and 1,200 mg EPA
- BrandArazo Nutrition
- Model743541728018
- Weight9.3 Ounces
3Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega-3 Supplement
The mightily named Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega Soft Gels is the perfect option for any of our readers who want to reach their true viking potential. It’s one of if not the purest fish oil supplements around, and it’s also sustainably sourced to ensure ethical confidence around what you put into your body.
As for the taste, it boasts the common lemon flavor, but don’t let this make you think it’s anything other than marvelously effective. The superior triglyceride form delivers one of the most concentrated levels of omega-3s to ensure top quality effects and fast results within days of first taking the plunge.
Exceptionally pure fish oil
Easy absorption
Sustainably sourced
Lemon taste
Non-GMO ingredients
- BrandNordic Naturals
- Model768990018046
- Weight6.4 Ounces
4Nature Made Burpless Fish Oil
Another ultra-pure option is the Nature Made Burpless Fish Oil which removes all present mercury while also avoiding the additions of things like artificial flavors or preservatives. With 150 pills per bottle, you’ll be well-stocked for at least a couple of months, giving you plenty of opportunity to see the improvements and realize what you’ve been missing out on.
The capsules are a little (okay a lot) larger than other options, but this isn’t any cause for alarm, and you’ll get used to swallowing them quickly enough. This size also adds to their effectiveness, showing results quicker than you’d expect by improving your heart health with minimal effort on your end.
No artificial flavors
Purified to remove mercury
Gluten-free
Improves heart health
No preservatives
- BrandNature Made
- Model2665
- Weight11 Ounces
5BioSchwartz Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplement
The BioSchwartz Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplement boasts a massive 3000 mg of omega-3 to make this the most concentrated option available. This makes them ideal for those suffering from more serious conditions and need a little boost to improve their health faster than other options.
Formulated by doctors, it’s one of the most recommended brands around, and the non-GMO ingredients and sustainably sourced process ensures a top quality and trustworthy product, because you’ve got enough to worry about without concerning yourself with whether this is ethical or not.
3000 mg of Omega-3
Enhanced absorption
Sustainably caught in Iceland
Doctor formulated
Non-GMO ingredients
- BrandBioSchwartz
- Model850004119365 850004119143 737212751177
- Weight0.8 Ounces
6Sports Research Omega-3 Wild Alaskan Fish Oil
The Sports Research Omega-3 Wild Alaskan Fish Oil seemed to us to be the only choice for the premium omega-3 fish oil around, and that’s not just because it claims to be premium quality on the description. With 180 pills, there is ample time for you to see results, while the 1250 mg may not be the highest, but sometimes it’s not always about how much is there.
It is IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards, did you know that’s a thing?) 5 star certified, demonstrating optimal quality, and the wild sourced practices give you peace of mind while also ensuring it’s entirely and toxin free and passes the triglycerides pure and clean test with ease.
180 count
Wild sourced
Pure and clean
Toxin free
Concentrated DHA and EPA
- BrandSports Research
- Model023249010500
- Weight15.2 Ounces
7NOW Supplements Ultra Omega-3 Fish Oil Softgels
Excellent for promoting brain and heart health, the NOW Supplements Ultra Omega-3 Fish Oil Softgels are available in as much 540 counts, giving you enough to last you for 9 months, unless you forego regular meals and live exclusively on fish oil supplements. We wouldn’t recommend this, though.
They are suitable for a variety of dietary needs, being kosher, halal, and are also gluten-free, and the absence of contaminants makes them one of the most trustworthy products around. They are also molecularly distilled and enteric coated, making them easy to swallow, easy to absorb and this also eliminates the fishy taste to ensure you won’t drive away potential partners on the subway home.
Molecularly distilled
180 or 540 count
Dietary friendly including kosher, halal, and gluten-free
Free of contaminants
500 mg EPA, 250 mg DHA
- BrandNow Foods
- ModelNOW1114/351/1501
- Weight12 Ounces
8Nature’s Bounty Fish Oil Omega-3
The Nature’s Bounty Fish Oil Omega-3 is our pick for the best value fish oil pills you can find today or tomorrow, and for the foreseeable future. It comes in a 200 count bottle, which may not be the largest we’ve selected but with its rapid release design, it ensures it’s one of the fastest acting options around.
There’s no mercury found inside thanks to the careful and considered purification system, while the burpless coating is excellent news for anyone who’s ever suffered ridicule for fishy breath from ignorant acquaintances, although by now, you expect a burpless design as a minimum.
200 count
Rapid release design
Purified to eliminate mercury
Burpless coating
Ecologically sourced in Peru
- BrandNature’s Bounty
- Model13102
- Weight14.4 Ounces
9Zenwise Health Vegan Omega-3 Supplement
If you’re on a vegan or vegetarian diet, the Zenwise Health Vegan Omega 3 Supplement are the best choice for you. Using an algae and cruelty-free formula, you can trust you’re getting the real deal without missing out on precious DHA and EPA levels.
Like any decent omega-3 supplement, it benefits multiple issues both physical and mental, and the 120 count bottle ensures it lasts long enough to see results and maintain an excellent level of health, with a 4 month supply sufficient for noticing changes, even if you only take one a day. The pills are small and are easy to swallow, and of course, there’s no fishy taste, because where would it come from?
Algae sourced formula
Rich source of EPA and DHA
120 count
Benefits multiple heart, brain, and joint issues
Vegetarian and vegan friendly
- BrandZenwise Health
- Model856521007703
- Weight3.2 Ounces
10Amazon Elements Super Omega-3
Our final pick is the Amazon Elements Super Omega-3 which comes in bottles of 120 softgels for a long shelf life, easy swallowing, and simple absorption to ensure you feel better every day. It contains 1280 mg per serving, and boasts a rich supply of essential fatty acids (including our favorites DHA and EPA) while also not having any dangerous toxins, either.
The lemon flavor is a welcome addition, and the pure and potent formula provides excellent results each time. However, there’s an ever-so-slight fishy smell with them, but this is hardly enough to be noticeable, and if you like fish anyway, it won’t be an issue.
120 count
Wild caught fish
Natural lemon flavor
Pure and potent
Gluten-free
- BrandAmazon Elements
- Model842379106569
- Weight6.4 Ounces
Omega-3 Supplement Buying Guide & FAQ
How We Chose Our Selection Of Omega-3 Supplements
When searching for the top and most effective omega-3 supplements, we wanted to spend the rest of the year trying out as much as possible and seeing how our bodies reacted. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the time do that, so instead we relied on our tried and tested method of considering these 3 essential factors crucial for determining how effective and worth it a product is.
Reviews - The reviews for omega-3 supplements were our first point of call in searching for the best products on the market. Through these reviews, we could understand the benefits of the supplements, but also anything that struck us as something that wouldn’t be desirable in a product.
Reviews are often important as they give you information the manufacturer and product description doesn’t like to tell you. We know that dishonest reviews exist for whatever reason, but we also know we’ve been doing this long enough we can tell the genuine from the fake. Without reviews, we wouldn’t be able to bring you half of the great products and content we deliver daily.
Price - While omega-3 supplements aren’t expensive, there are still some brands that charge more than others, and we believe that everybody should have the ability to get the right supplements for a well-balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
To ensure everybody gets the chance to try out the wonders of these supplements, we ensured we found a wide range of prices so that everyone can enjoy the health benefits of omega-3. This includes a variety of quantities to feed the whole family or just to keep yourself in top shape throughout the year.
Quality - If you’re putting something into your body, you want to feel confident it is of the highest quality possible, and with omega-3, we have done a lot of research to ensure we’ve only selected options that meet our high quality standards.
To ensure we recommend nothing that is ineffective or potentially harmful, we’ve made sure to only include items that have passed stringent quality assurance checks by government agencies while also using ingredients that comply with safety standards from sustainable sources.
If we came across anything that seemed a little too good to be true (or conversely was something we’d never heard of an could find no record of anywhere else) we kept it far away from our list.
Features To Look For In Omega-3 Supplements
We know it can often be a challenge to decide between different products, especially if you’re not entirely sure what you’re looking for or what will best benefit you. With this in mind, we’ve put together this handy little guide of the key features to think about when looking for omega-3 supplements to ensure you pick the option that will help you hit and smash your optimal health goals.
Quantity - Fish oil supplements come in a variety of container sizes with different quantities that will affect the price and the lifespan. When making your purchase, you’ll need to consider how easy it for you to get a refill (which you can take advantage of with the Subscribe & Save feature) and how many people will use the supplements. The larger the quantity, the greater the price, but buying in bulk often works out cheaper than buying multiple smaller bottles every month.
If you’re buying for the whole family, you’ll need more than the standard 60 count, which is typically only useful for a round a month for one person, and a bottle of 180 pills would be better value for money. Likewise, if you’re only hoping to improve your own diet and find personal supplements, a smaller quantity would be enough.
However, you may find you run out of them faster than you expected, and while it doesn’t really matter if you miss a day or even just a meal, you may want to maximize your health’s potential as much as you can. In which case, the more the better, just keep an eye on how much is left so you can stock up when needed with no missed meals.
Ingredients - The ingredients of anything you put into your body is important not just because you want to make sure it’s not poison, but also so you know exactly what it is should you have an adverse (but not necessarily life-threatening) reaction to it.
If you’re a vegan, vegetarian, or have other dietary restrictions, also consider how the fish oil has been sourced, as you don’t want to go against your lifestyle accidentally. Most supplements are gluten-free at the least, whereas others are also halal and kosher, and many are suitable for all diets.
Some companies use algae to source the omega-3 instead of getting it through the fish, giving you peace of mind that no animals were hurt during the making of this omega-3 supplement.
A lack of preservatives, artificial colors, and GMO ingredients are also always appreciated, and it gives you confidence that what you’re putting in your body is good for you, and not, in fact, something similar to what you’d buy from a snake oil salesman.
EPA - EPA is the much easier to pronounce name for eicosapentaenoic acid and is an essential component of omega-3 supplements. When combined with DHA, you get the most effective results possible, and depending on your needs, you can select options which offer more EPA than DHA, or vice versa.
EPA, which is found in abundance in salmon, is great for reducing inflammation and also improving brain functionality, despite the lack of EPA in the brain, so if you’re looking for better focus or want to reach genius-level intelligence, EPA is a great thing to have.
DHA - DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is not just beloved of Scrabble champions, but also those who need the extra benefits EPA cannot offer you. It is crucial for fighting off cancer cells and has been associated with bettering vision by increasing the reflexes of the retina and improving reaction times.
Both EPA and DHA work well together, too, and there are many things they can do for you which we go into in more detail below. You’ll know better than us whether DHA or EPA is better for your needs, but it doesn’t hurt to have an abundance of both in your omega-3 supplements.
Side Effects - As great as fish oil supplements can be for you, there is always the potential for side effects which can vary from person to person. It’s unlikely you’ll encounter such side effects when using omega-3 supplements, but being aware of them - especially if you have existing conditions - could prove highly beneficial.
These side effects can include:
- High blood sugar
- Bleeding gums or nosebleeds
- Low blood pressure
- Diarrhea
- Acid reflux
- Stroke
- Vitamin A toxicity
- Trouble sleeping
If you are concerned about any of these problems affecting you, please seek advice from a medical professional (we’re smart, but not that smart, or qualified, for that matter) before using supplements.
Omega-3 Supplements FAQ
Q: What are the benefits are using omega-3 supplements?
A: There are many, many, many benefits for using omega-3 supplements, and while not all of them will apply to you, the best omega-3 supplements should cover enough to ensure you achieve your health targets without the need to head out to the lake and wait around all day waiting for a catch.
Omega-3 benefits include:
- Fighting depression and reducing anxiety
- Improving your vision
- Promote a healthy brain during both pregnancy and early years
- Reduces risk of heart disease
- Ease ADHD symptoms in kids and increase concentration
- Reduce the risk of obesity and other metabolic problems
- Fight chronic inflammation
- Improve your immune system
- Prevent mental disorders
- Stave off Alzheimer’s and dementia
- Prevent cancer
- Improve breathing capability and reduce instances of child asthma
- Streamline liver fats
- Increase bone strength and joints
- Ease menstrual pain
- Help you sleep better
- Keep skin looking young and wrinkle-free
If you are searching for a healthier and happier lifestyle, it seems almost irresponsible to avoid omega-3 supplements any longer, and considering how much the formula has changed since you were a kid, any problems you may have had with them before (such as unethical sourcing or nasty aftertastes) are long gone.
Sources:
- 17 Health Benefits of Omega-3 - Healthline
- Fish Oil Side Effects - Healthline
