17 Fish Oil Side Effects of Taking Too Much Fish Oil or Too Poor a Quality of Fish Oil

 

Even though the news is full of the remarkable benefits of fish oil, fish oil side effects do exist – but typically they either rare, periodic or due to poor quality of fish oil or too much fish oil.


Read this article to find out which kinds of side effects to look for and what you should be aware of when buying fish oil.

You see, many of the companies that promote fish oil supplements tend to play down the side effects of fish oil, and, while the side effects don’t include death or serious illnesses, this doesn’t mean that they don’t exist.

There are a number of negative side effects of fish oil that happen when you take too much fish oil, rancid fish oil, or fish oil in the wrong conditions. In order to be certain that you understand as much as possible about this unique supplement, it is important that you understand that there are negative fish oil side effects as well as what they are.

It is also important to remember that the fish oil side effects are relatively minor, and the benefits usually far outweigh any negative side effects, especially if you keep your fish oil dosage within what is recommended.

Fish Oil Side Effects Do Exist

As with much concentrated health food, you will find that there are bound to be negative side effects.

Fish oil is something that has to be extracted from the fish, and you are basically taking concentrated oil into your body.

This can seem wrong on so many levels, as oil is something that actually harms your body if consumed in high quantities. You are correct in assuming that consuming too much fish oil is just as harmful as eating too much olive or flaxseed oil, as it is still oil that will clog your pores and potentially cause heart problems.

Also, there are a number of manufacturers of fish oil capsules and supplements that actually package rancid fish oil, and this rancid fish oil can cause serious problems in your stomach.

Remember that pretty much anything that has to be processed and treated may carry the risk of causing problems, and negative side effects are a very real risk if you are taking the fish oil.

Obviously the benefits of taking the supplement mostly far outweigh any of the negative fish oil side effects, but it is important that you do realize that you could actually do damage to your body by taking too much of or poor quality of fish oil supplements.

Yes, You Can Take Too Much Fish Oil

Before you start drinking the fish oil like it is alcohol, you need to slow down and think about whether or not you will end up drinking too much.

Many people have asked if there is such a thing as too much fish oil, and the answer is: absolutely.

You actually can drink too much fish oil, and you can cause serious problems in your body. It is important that you follow the recommended daily dose of fish oil in order to avoid serious problems.

REMEMBER: All supplements are made to be taken in moderation, and you should always do your research before taking any supplement, no matter how good it claims to be.

The Maximum Dosage: Recommended Daily Dose of Fish Oil

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that you don’t take more than 3 grams of the fish oil every day in order to avoid any negative fish oil side effects.

Three grams of fish oil is equal to three of the 1000 mg capsules that you can take, and you shouldn’t be taking more than three capsules a day to have the proper fish oil dosage.

Usually the negative fish oil side effects only occur when you take too much of the fish oil, as you are filling your body with too much oil and possibly heavy metals.

In order to ensure that you are not doing damage to your body, make sure to stay below the recommended 3 grams of fish oil per day. You will be free of the side effects if you don’t take too much of the supplement, and you can get the many benefits of the supplement without having to worry about the downsides.

Fish Oil Side Effects: What are the Negative Side Effects of Fish Oil?

Now, let’s get down to the fish oil side effects themselves to find out exactly what you may be facing if you opt for taking fish oil:

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #1: Fishy Burps

If you take the fish oil capsules, you may find that the fish oil doesn’t sit too well in your digestive system. When something doesn’t sit well, you will usually notice it in the gas that your stomach produces and expels through your mouth and…well…the other side.

If the fish oil capsules that you are taking are not sitting well in your stomach, you will usually notice that your burps smell and taste strongly of fish. This may be alarming at first, but you will usually find that your body will get accustomed to the fish oil and the problem will naturally go away.

You can also reduce the risk of your getting fishy burps by taking the supplement immediately after you finish eating, as it will mix with the food you have consumed and be easier on the digestive system.

Consult a doctor if the fishy burps persist, as that could be a sign of problems in your digestive tract. The burps should clear up within a week or two.

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #2: Heavy Metal Poisoning

While all of the fans of heavy metal (the music) in the world may jump at this thought, this kind of poisoning is serious and can be potentially dangerous.

The mercury that is in fish oil can cause serious damage to the internal organs, particularly the liver and damage the heart if not dealt with.

The toxins in the water that the fish swim in can cause the problems with heavy metals, and thus it is recommended to get the best fish oil supplements that contain the ultra-refined fish oils in order to avoid the negative side effects of heavy metals.

This is very unlikely, and might only happen if you purchase the very cheap fish oil. If you get the good stuff, this is almost entirely unlikely to happen.

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #3: Diarrhea

Many people who have consumed fish oil in high quantities may find that they are spending a lot more time sitting over the toilet than they might like, and diarrhea is one of the negative fish oil side effects.

The reason for the diarrhea is that your body is unused to the added oil and the ingredients in the fish oil, and thus it reacts in order to correct the imbalance in your digestive system.

It is recommended to take a small amount of the fish oil every day when you first start taking the supplement, as that will give your body time to get adjusted to the new supplement.

If you have diarrhea, make sure to drink plenty of water to avoid worse problems.

Consult your doctor if the diarrhea persists. Rancid (rotten) fish oil that is used to create the fish oil supplements can also cause problems with your digestive tract, so make sure to get the best fish oil supplements that use the purest and freshest fish oil.

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #4: Heartburn and Acid Reflux

The digestive system is also responsible for causing acid reflux and heartburn and this is usually the case when you take too much fish oil all at once.

It is recommended that you start with a small amount of fish oil, and slowly increase the dosage once your body gets accustomed to the amount you are consuming.

This will help to avoid digestive problems like acid reflux and heartburn, and will ensure that your body gradually gets accustomed to the new supplement you are taking.

Keep consumption limited, and you will be problem free.

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #5: Packing on the Pounds

Some people have complained that they immediately began to gain weight the moment they began to take the fish oil, and this may be one of the unexpected side effects of taking an oil-based supplement.

If you notice that you are gaining weight, you should visit your doctor and find out what the cause of the weight gain is.

It is recommended that you purchase one of the higher quality brands of fish oil in order to avoid all negative side effects, as you may find that weight gain is just one of the negative fish oil side effects of taking cheap fish oil.

With the high quality oil, you will most likely have no need to worry.

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #6: Terrible Aftertaste

When you begin to take the fish oil supplements, you may notice that your mouth constantly has a fishy aftertaste that is unpleasant.

If all of your food starts to taste like fish, this may be due to the residue of the fish oil in your mouth or your stomach leaking small quantities of gas that comes from improper fish oil digestion.

If this is the case, there is no need to worry. It is highly likely that the nasty aftertaste will disappear in a few days, as it just takes your body a bit of time to get used to the fish oil that you are now consuming (seeing as you rarely ingesting any form of fish oil before).

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #7: Pain in Your Stomach

When you get a lot of gas in your stomach, you may feel that your stomach is very bloated. This bloating can often be very painful, and you may find yourself feeling as if you had a persistent case of stomach pains.

These kinds of fish oil side effects are to be expected if you are just beginning to take the fish oil supplements, as the gas is being produced by your stomach in order to accustom itself to the presence of the fish oil.

You may want to consider a pause in your consumption of the fish oil supplements for a couple of days to give your stomach a chance to recover, and then start taking it in much reduced quantities when your stomach has eliminated the gas and the painful bloating has gone down.

As with any of the other problems, it will pass quickly and your body will start getting the benefits from the oil.

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #8: Risk of Hemorrhaging

When you take too much fish oil, you may find that you will have a higher chance of serious bleeding.

This won’t be the case if you take moderate amounts of the fish oil supplement, but this fish oil supplement side effect might be highly possible if you start taking more than the three grams of fish oil recommended by the USDA.

You may find that you may have a hemorrhagic stroke, you may find blood in your urine, and your nose may bleed a lot more than it used to.

This is due to the fact that the Omega 3 in your body reduces the presence of blood clots. While this is great if it reduces harmful clots that are preventing healthy circulation, it can be harmful if you are healthy and your blood is unable to clot because you are taking too much fish oil.

If you notice any of these negative fish oil side effects, immediately stop taking the supplement in order to avoid any serious problems.

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #9: Toxicity from Vitamins

Both Vitamins A and D are found in high quantities in fish oil, and these vitamins are incredibly important for the proper functioning of the body.

However, you may find that too much of these vitamins can cause serious vitamin toxicity in your body.

Usually fish oil doesn’t contain too much of either of these vitamins, but it is important that you take sufficient quantities of Vitamin E to make it easy for the body to metabolize the Omega-3 fatty acids in the fish oil.

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #10: Lowered Blood Pressure

The fact that the Omega 3 fatty acids in the fish oil supplements are able to thin the blood is usually a good thing, as it helps to lower blood pressure for those who are at risk of hypertension.

However, if you are already taking medications to lower high blood pressure, you may find that adding the fish oil to the meds can cause your blood pressure to lower too far. If you are taking medications that lower your blood pressure, consult your doctor to be certain that you won’t be harming your body by taking the fish oil supplements on top of the meds.

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #11: Blood Glucose Increases

While increasing your blood glucose won’t be a bad thing if you are a healthy specimen of man or womanhood, diabetics should be wary of taking the fish oil for this specific reason.

While there is no scientific evidence to show that there are any long term effects of taking fish oil, even a temporary increase in fasting glucose levels can be dangerous.

Consult a doctor if you are diabetic and want to take fish oil supplements to avoid any serious problems.

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #12: Cholesterol Levels Elevated

The fish oil (notice the word oil) is basically a whole lot of fat, and the oil is made primarily of triglycerides.

While the oil is designed to help improve all aspects of your physical health, you may find that your cholesterol levels will increase slightly when you take the fish oil supplement.

Your LDL cholesterol (the one that is harmful) may slightly increase by as much as 5 or 10 percent, so take care to monitor your body when you are taking the fish oil in order to be certain that you aren’t being harmed by the increase in LDL cholesterol levels.

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #13: Upper Respiratory Tract Swelling

There are a select few patients who have had a problem with the upper parts of their respiratory tract swelling up.

It is important to know that it could happen, so consider visiting a doctor if that part of your respiratory system begins to swell and constrict your breathing. This is very unlikely to happen, so don’t spend too much time worrying about this one.

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #14: Allergic Reactions

It is nearly impossible to find a single food that at least one person is not allergic to, and fish is no exception.

There are many people around the world that are allergic to any number of the chemicals in fish, and you may want to be wary if you find yourself having an allergic reaction to the fish oil. You may be experiencing hives, rashes on your skin, more itching than normal, swelling in your throat, a hard time breathing, or any other of the common allergic reactions.

This only happens to those who are allergic to fish, but stay away from fish oil if you even suspect an allergy to seafood of any sort.

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #15: EPA Overdose in Infants and Kids

Kids and infants are usually recommended to avoid these fish oil supplements, as they can cause an overdose of EPA in their bodies.

The DHA in the fish oil is needed by the children’s developing bodies, but the body doesn’t know how to handle the EPA.

In trying to give the children the DHA they need, you may cause problems by giving them a lot more EPA than they need.

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #16: Problems with Mental Disorders

There have been a very few number of cases reported in which someone suffering from major depression or bipolar disorders have suffered from mania, but it is important to be wary if you are taking medication to deal with mental or emotional disorders.

The feeling of ants crawling all over your skin (formication) is another possible side effect when fish oil is taken by someone who has an emotional disorder, and restlessness (being antsy) is another possible side effect.

If you are dealing with any emotional or mental disorder, make sure to check with your doctor before taking fish oil in order to avoid these negative fish oil side effects.

Fish Oil Supplement Side Effect #17: Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Problems

It is recommended that pregnant women avoid unrefined fish oils, as they are likely to contain heavy metals and serious contaminants with long sounding names and way too many syllables.

Heavy metals are more likely to be found in the meat of the fish than the oil, but there is still the risk that the fish oil will contain the metals and toxins that can cause serious problems in the developing or nursing child.

Some doctors recommend ingesting fish oil during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as it is believed to increase birth weight and the length of gestation.

However, there is also the risk of increased bleeding, and thus it is advised against by many doctors.

REMEMBER: Pregnant women, check with your doctor before taking the supplement, and be sure to monitor your body closely as you take the fish oil. If you notice any negative fish oil side effects, stop taking the supplement immediately to avoid problems or complications.

Fish Oil Side Effects: In Conclusion

Yes, you may be absolutely terrified now that you have read the long list of possible negative fish oil side effects that may happen to you if you take the fish oil supplement.

However, most of these problems are directly linked to the overconsumption of fish oil, and it is highly unlikely that you will have any problems if you take safe and moderate amounts of the supplements.

High quality fish oil is going to be great for you, and you can avoid any of these side effects by getting the high quality stuff and taking it in moderation.

Still, if you have any fears it is best that you check with a doctor before taking any of the supplements.

You should also do research to find out which supplement is considered the most highly recommended, as well as which have reported the fewest cases of negative fish oil side effects.

By doing your research, you can be sure that you will get a fish oil supplement that will be as healthy and as unlikely to have cause these negative fish oil side effects as possible.

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