I am going in for in-depth blood work and my doc said to stop fish oil for now. The reason given is that fish oil is being found to be contaminated with mercury and even radioactive elements (Fukushima fallout). This can cause neurological symptoms.

I stopped the fish oil for now and replaced it with cold pressed virgin olive oil and avocados.

You have to be careful where you get your fish oil. And yes, there are other oil products (I think flax seed oil may be one) that you can substitute with.
I think Dr Oz did a show one time on proven brands of fish oil and posted it on his web site. It was about a year ago.

Anyway you have to find a reputable brand. If I find something out I will let you know.
Here is what Dr Oz said: http://www.azcentral.com/health/fitn...-oil-tips.html

Great memory, Karilann!
Thank you.
ANN

craziness!
Makes me wonder about my Fish oil

Flaxseed oil is awesome.

I personally LOOVEE Grape Seed Extract. When I started Grape seed extract, my hands were SEVERELY numb very hard to move, after 3 days on the grape seed extract the severity of numbness died down and they began to move much easier.

GREAT for fighting inflammation!

Olive oil and avocado are good for you.

Avocado does not have much Omega-3 in it. You need the Omega-3's in a ration of 3 to 6 to be about 1:5

If you load up only on 6's...you will push inflammatory reactions in the body.

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/...-juices/1843/2

Olive oil:
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fats-and-oils/509/2

Also high in Omega-6's.

I'd suggest some flax oil or ground flax seed in some form or other to provide more Omega-3s.
Notice that flaxseed oil has enormous amounts of Omega-3:
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/...nd-oils/7554/2
And a very high anti-inflammatory index.

Flaxseed oil is very tasty in salads ..you can make your own dressing with it..either with a vinegar or a Seasoning mix kit.
Flaxseed oil should be kept in the refrigerator as it is not stable over long periods of time.

Females will convert to EPA and DHA more so than males. So flax seed sources will work for females better.

There are peanut butters with flax now, and also many breads and cereals. You can grind your own, as well, and sprinkle it in food or smoothies.

Barlean's has been the industry leader in flax products for many years. Keep Flax seeds in the frig as they go rancid quickly.

I just bought Nature Made Organic Flaxseed Oil 1400mg:

700mg - Alpha Linoleic Acid (Omega-3)
154mg - Linoleic Acid (Omega-6)
168mg - Oleic Acid (Omega-9)

300 softgels for $15 @ Costco

I eat a baked potato every day covered with Pompeian Cold Pressed Virgin Olive Oil. That gets me my Omega 6 plus the potassium and other nutrients from the baked potato.

Is there a point where one can have TOO MUCH Omega-6 or Omega-3?

What about EPA & DHA #'s?

Those are not listed on the container. I looked online and could not find them either

As long as you eat healthy, and it sounds like you are, it isn't going to make a big difference for the minor details that you are stressing about. If you worry so much about this, the stress will negate any benefit you get from your efforts. I know because I have been doing this for decades.

Eat healthy foods, get your vitamins and healthy fats, and forget about the rest. You will see that some of the people touting meticulous vitamin regimens do not have better health than anybody else. Be healthy, and enjoy life.

@Eddie... flax contains the basic precursor to formation of EPA and DHA... it is the basic ESSENTIAL fatty acid Omega -3. Females convert in a higher percentage than males, because they carry fetuses who need those two long chain Omega-3's for developing their nervous systems. So females do well on flax oil if they choose not to use fish oil. Males less so.

The ratio suggested of omega-3 to 6 intake is 1:5.

In studies measuring US patients, the ratio is about 1:20.
When that second number is so high... then the benefits of the omega-3 are very low. A high omega-6 intake leads to inflammation and other unpleasant effects.

Taking a product with Omega-6 in it therefore is not necessary. Because we consume so much omega-6 in our foods, we get plenty without taking more in a capsule. Omega-6's are sunflower, soybean, peanut, cottonseed oils and many others.

This is my essential fatty acids thread:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread6092.html

This chemistry is very complex, and that is why doctor's don't tell about it. They don't understand, for the most part. Over the past 10 yrs I have seen the food industry now incorporated "smart foods" into our choices. So read the labels and see if you can find some to use. We even get Costco's chicken nuggets, which have Omega-3's in them! Some eggs, peanut butter, butter substitute spreads, and mayo's have omega-3's in them now.

They are ESSENTIAL meaning you cannot live without them. If you consume less than your body needs, you will start to deteriorate and eventually die sooner than planned.