Can't take fish oil--any specific recommendations on alternatives?

dianas · 10-13-2008, 01:19 PM

Hi everybody,

I'm highly allergic to fish--not shellfish but fish. Can't do salmon, tuna, trout, cod etc without ending up with hives, itching, trouble breathing to the point of requiring emergency treatment etc. followed by high dose steroids. So a true allergy. I asked my allergist about fish oil supplements and he said I may or may not be allergic to those also (it's typically proteins that cause the actual allergy not the fat) and that I could try but to stop if any symptoms occur and sure enough I react to the fish oil too although not as severe. Certainly not something I want to risk taking everyday as breathing is kind of nice.

Anyway as an alternative I try to incorporate ground flax seed and mono-poly unsaturated fats into my diet although I don't have specific targets I'm aiming for. I also try to do leafy greens and eat a variety of foods etc. I am a little careful with the nuts though since I have so many allergies so those I tend to do infrequently. I do take a low dose of Crestor--I've had diabetes for over 20 years and I do subscribe to the LDL should be <70 for diabetics camp. My last lipids were awesome I don't have the labs right in front of my but both my HDL and LDL are in the high 50's and my triglycerides have always been below a 100.

My question is is this good enough considering the circumstances? Should I be aiming for specific amounts of flax seed or walnuts or other anti-inflammatory foods in my diet in lieu of fish oil? I'm not sure if more would be better due to some of concerns regarding the balance between omega 3 and 6 oils also. Also I was wondering if some of fish oils specifically list what type of fish they come from and whether possibly one brand may have fewer traces of protein from the fish than others? Don't spend too much time on that last one as even the cheapest fish oils would have only miniscule amounts of protein and so I'm not sure that a "purer" one would be safer considering the degree of my allergy.

Thanks in advance.

Diana

Lost Dog · 10-13-2008, 03:32 PM

You can take krill oil, instead. I've never tried it.

You should focus on reducing sources of Omega-6s, which is your next best option. The ratio of 6s to 3s is important, not just taking a lot of Omega 3s.

Avoid soybean oil, safflower oil, vegetable oil, and corn oil, which are high in 6s.

Look for sources of Omega-3s that are low in 6s. Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil are good, but walnuts and walnut oil are a poor choice. Walnuts are high in 3s, but contains 4.5 times that amount in 6s. They aren't BAD, since there are plenty of other good things about walnuts, but don't add a lot, thinking that it will help with the Omega-3 side of things.

nutritiondata.com is a good source to check out the various foods.

dianas · 10-13-2008, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

You can take krill oil, instead. I've never tried it.

You should focus on reducing sources of Omega-6s, which is your next best option. The ratio of 6s to 3s is important, not just taking a lot of Omega 3s.

Avoid soybean oil, safflower oil, vegetable oil, and corn oil, which are high in 6s.

Look for sources of Omega-3s that are low in 6s. Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil are good, but walnuts and walnut oil are a poor choice. Walnuts are high in 3s, but contains 4.5 times that amount in 6s. They aren't BAD, since there are plenty of other good things about walnuts, but don't add a lot, thinking that it will help with the Omega-3 side of things.

nutritiondata.com is a good source to check out the various foods.

Thanks Roland, this is perfect. Just what I'm looking for. I got your name right didn't I? Off to google krill oil never heard of it.
Diana

Lost Dog · 10-13-2008, 10:39 PM

Yep. That's me!

Espi · 10-14-2008, 05:58 AM

Krill oil is indeed a perfect choice as it's made from plankton, which looks like tiny shrimp. Another option would be algae or to e.g. buy omega3 eggs or eat more grass-fed beef/lamb.

Krill oil (NKO as abbreviation) is a bit expensive but apparently it works better because of the phospholipids, so as a result you need far less than the equivalent amount in ordinary fish oil.