Do Omega-3 capsules need to be kept cool?
Keep this product cool. During periods of hot weather and/or while shipping to areas experiencing hot weather, the Omega-3 capsules may soften and stick together. While product efficacy is unaffected, consuming capsules that stick together, or which have melted together, may be unpleasant. For this reason, we suggest storing our Omega-3 product in a cool place and ordering enough of our Omega-3 product during cooler months so as to avoid possible heat-related shipping problems during hot weather.
What are EPA and DHA?
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are considered the two most important omega-3 fatty acids. They are essential nutrients which means they must be obtained through your diet. EPA and DHA are found in many of the body’s organs and tissues and are vital to long-term health.*
What are the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids?
The best sources of omega-3 fatty acids are cold-water, fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and anchovy. These cold-water fish provide rich amounts of EPA and DHA, which are the long-chain fatty acids believed to be responsible for most of the health benefits associated with omega-3s. Small cold-water fish are also preferred because they provide a natural balance of both EPA and DHA with less risk of mercury contamination.
Since there is not an established RDA for omega-3s, how do I know how much fish oil to take?
The general consensus among experts seems to be a minimum of around 500 mg a day of EPA/DHA for the maintenance of good health. However, higher amounts have returned positive results in some studies. The FDA recommends that no more than 2,000 mg per day be consumed in supplement form.
Why did Mannatech decide to add vitamin D to its omega-3 product?
Vitamin D was added to Mannatech’s omega-3 product for a number of reasons. Most importantly, and much like the case with omega-3s, an enormous amount of recent research and data suggests that not only are many people deficient in vitamin D, this deficiency may also be having a significant impact on long-term health.* In addition, our omega-3 fish oil product perfectly complements vitamin D because both products are oil-based and can be combined into a single, easy-to-take gel capsule. Finally, vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that can be better absorbed when taken or combined with another fat- or oil-based food or supplement, such as omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil.
What is vitamin D3 and how is it different from other forms of vitamin D?
Vitamin D has two basic forms, D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (colecalciferol). Both forms are natural and equally effective when consumed in moderate amounts. Vitamin D3, is naturally produced in your skin during exposure to direct sunlight and is thought to be the more beneficial form of vitamin D when consumed in higher amounts. Some animal products such as fish, eggs and fortified milk provide some vitamin D3 as well. Vitamin D2 is a plant-sourced form of vitamin D and is the form found in Mannatech’s PhytoMatrix and PhytoBurst products.
Many doctors and healthcare practitioners are recommending very large amounts of vitamin D, in some cases thousands of IUs per day. Why did Mannatech choose to provide 830 IU per serving?
While some experts recommend quantities of vitamin D that exceed the Institute of Medicine’s new recommended daily intake (RDI) of 600 IUs for adults up to 70 years of age, no current research indicates a single larger serving size that would be optimal for the population as a whole.
This is significant because vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and can be toxic when consumed at very high levels. In addition, some of Mannatech’s other popular products provide substantial amounts of vitamin D, so many of our Associates and customers will be receiving more vitamin D than what’s provided by the Omega-3 with Vitamin D3 product alone. We also know that many consumers seek to take more omega-3 than the minimum serving size, so we wanted to provide an amount of vitamin D that would safely allow for additional servings of omega-3. With all these factors to consider, Mannatech chose to provide a serving size that is safe yet effective for all levels of product use.
