Possible fish oil side effects, if any.

Although taking fish oil supplements gives many health benefits to the body, wrong dosage of such can also have harmful effects. Thus, to ensure that you get the full benefits from fish oil supplements, make sure you take ask the accurate dosage from your physician.

Smelling the Fish? One of the immediate unpleasant side effects of taking fish oil is the fishy aftertaste in the mouth and the fishy smell when you burp. You don’t have to worry, though, as the remedy is easy.

You simply need to have a slice of citrus fruit  few seconds before taking the supplement, and its acids will dampen your taste buds. This way, you will not feel the dreaded taste of fish.

Taking more than the recommended dose of pharmaceutical-grade fish oil supplements show little to nil adverse effects, according to some studies. However, it is still worth noting the alleged fish oil side effects which can include the following (some of them appear to be myths):

1. Increased Calories
Taking the suggested dose of about 2.5 grams of supplemental long-chain omega 3 fatty acids only adds about 40 to your diet. This is far fewer calories you get from eating fast food—not enough for you to get fat.

2. LDL Cholesterol-level Elevation  

There are two types of cholesterol: the bad (LDL) cholesterol and the good (HDL) cholesterol. The cholesterol that is associated with cardiovascular disease is the LDL, or the bad cholesterol, which is allegedly increased by taking fish oil supplement. The truth of the matter is, high dosage of fish oil causes a drop in the level of triglycerides, thus lowering the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio (TG/HDL). As this ratio drops, more LDLs get converted to HDLs, which, in turn, do not cause blood clot in the blood vessels.

3. Reduction of Antioxidant Level
One of the fish oil side effects is the abatement of antioxidants in the body because of the high susceptibility of fish oils to oxidize. This is because fish oils are full of poly-unsaturated fatty acids. Eating a lot of antioxidant-rich food like fruits and vegetables, however, can take care of this problem. 

4. Immune System Suppression   

One cause of immune system depression is the overproduction of bad eicosanoids that can also cause certain cancers. High dose of fish oil supplement can cure a wide range of cancer type, contrary to beliefs that it can lower the level of your immune system.

5. Excessive Bleeding 

There have been confirmed reports that fish oil can actually lead to blood thinning. However, it should be stressed that there is no proof that it can eventually place a person in grave danger, especially if he acquires injuries, cuts, and bruises. This other truth is further emphasized through comparison tests done on people that combine fish oil and aspirin, as well as between people who drink fish oil and those that don’t.

To avoid harmful fish oil side effects, it is necessary that you take only the pharmaceutical-grade fish oils striped of harmful toxins like PCBs or DDT.

Sub-standard fish oil supplements are reported to contain these harmful chemicals that can interfere with your hormonal system in a negative way. There is the risk of developing cancerous lesions as well as gastrointestinal problems like bloating and diarrhea.