Fish Oil - Does it really help with weight loss?

WendyFitMomCHANGED
WendyFitMomCHANGED Posts: 311 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm reading conflicting stories on whether fish oil is beneficial to weight loss. Some say yes, some say no.

Does anyone take it? Has it worked for you?

What's the best type to take? Kind that doesnt have a bad after taste or causes you to burp fish?
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Replies

  • RunningSphynx
    RunningSphynx Posts: 13
    I am curious as well! Hope someone responds back.
  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
    I'm reading conflicting stories on whether fish oil is beneficial to weight loss. Some say yes, some say no.

    Does anyone take it? Has it worked for you?

    What's the best type to take? Kind that doesnt have a bad after taste or causes you to burp fish?

    I've never read that it helps with weight loss, just that it's very good for you.

    I take it. Some do have 'fish burps'. Flax meal or flax oil and some other non-fish foods are also good sources of omega-3.

    A doctor told me many bottles on the shelf are rancid, so bite into a capsule and if it doesn't have fresh, slightly lemony taste like good canned tuna, take it back.
  • pinkly14fun2
    pinkly14fun2 Posts: 55
    I don't know about for weight loss, but I take it for my cholesterol. It is hard for me to determine the weight loss because when I started on it, I also radically changed my eating habits. I have yet to burp fish from taking it :laugh:
  • Arleigh7
    Arleigh7 Posts: 150 Member
    I started taking 6 grams of fish oil a day about 2 months ago for heart health (2 1 gram pills 3x a day with each meal). Not sure if it's helped or hurt except I'm down almost 15 lbs in those 2 months so I would say it didn't hurt. I have never heard they are good for weight loss but I have definitely heard they are great for your health.
  • chubbygirl253
    chubbygirl253 Posts: 1,309 Member
    personally I don't think it is making me lose faster. I do take it though because I know it's good for heart health. I recommend it for that alone, gotta be good to your heart. But even the ones that boast no fishy aftertaste still do I think. The Krill mega-red is the best for that though. And I take it with a meal so I don't feel like I've been sucking on a trout.:tongue:
  • Keiko385
    Keiko385 Posts: 514 Member
    I took fish oil capsules to try an lower my cholesterol, I saw little results until I started adding flax seed meal to my food. If the smell or taste bothers you, you can always pop them into the freezer to mask it
  • dward2011
    dward2011 Posts: 416 Member
    I take it for an "eye health" problem (per doc's orders), but not for weight loss. It has worked wonderfully for my particular ailment, although I occasionally get "fish burps" if I am active before it digests.
  • Momjogger
    Momjogger Posts: 750 Member
    I take two purified capsules in the morning with my multi-vitamin. Can't hurt!
  • crush86
    crush86 Posts: 113 Member
    I take fish oil...My Dr. recommended it for my cholesterol and to help aid my weight loss. Since taking it I have lost about 35 lbs. Along with diet and exercise...So...maybe it helps?! :)
  • Stuz359
    Stuz359 Posts: 81
    Not sure it's great for weight loss, but the health benefits would far outweigh any potential negative effect on weight loss, and it would only be very slight if there were.
  • Morgaine_on_the_move
    Morgaine_on_the_move Posts: 228 Member
    I've taken it for a while. I haven't noticed any real difference with it helping with weight loss, but I started taking it to help lower my bad cholesterol and up my good cholesterol, and that's definitely worked. It is also supposed to help brain functioning and mood, and maybe it does, so I'm going to keep on taking it.
  • chubbygirl253
    chubbygirl253 Posts: 1,309 Member
    I do get fish burps if I take it without a meal. And I've tried taking it with something small like a piece of fruit and that won't help. Most of my vitamins and supplements I take in the morning with a yogurt but I wait till a bigger meal like lunch to take the fish oil. That eliminates the fish burps. Krill is a good one though, much less aftertaste than other brands and tiny in size compared to some on the market.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    It has lots of benefits from the Omega 3's. But weight loss is not one of them. Calorie deficits help with weight loss.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Lot of health benefits for fish oil. Weight loss, however, isn't one of them.

    EDIT - D'oh, should've read all the way down. Taso would've saved me some typing. :tongue:
  • WendyFitMomCHANGED
    WendyFitMomCHANGED Posts: 311 Member
    I'm starting Jamie Eason's LiveFit weight trainer program next week and she recommends it for aiding weight loss, but like I said, I'm not finding any studies that prove that. I have heard it helps with muscle soreness which can't hurt if I'm going to be lifting heavier weights.

    Great feedback from everyone.
  • Silverkittycat
    Silverkittycat Posts: 1,997 Member
    maybe, maybe not. ;)
    http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/fishoil.shtml
    http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/unsaturatedfats.shtml

    throwing Matt Stone's opinions in for an alternative view. http://180degreehealth.com/2011/06/ray-peat-pufa
  • butterfliesflyfree
    butterfliesflyfree Posts: 1
    Two days ago my husband had a scare. He had really bad chest pains. His EKG came back abnormal. Immediately his doctor insisted that he is to start taking fish oil, her words exactly were,"I want you to load up on the fish oil." Now, with that said, I want to let you all know that I have a co-worker whose diet consists of fish oil. We both were overweight, however everyday she begin taking the fish oil in March of that particular year and by Christmas the same year she was 45 lbs. lighter, and I was 15 lbs., heavier. She told me that she also walks everyday on the treadmill for about 20 minutes. Also,she cut out the drinking of alcohol. One more thing, she told me that the fish oil made her feel better and it help her cleanse. I'm going for it!
  • rinnismom
    rinnismom Posts: 190
    interesting question... i was researching for vitamins/minerals/supplements that could help with weight-loss and i found this one article that talked about how flaxseed oil or fish oil can help promote weight loss. though the guy backed up his opinion with a bunch of facts, i didn't really seem to see it the way he did, not to say that he was wrong....

    i take 1000 mg a day of fish oil in the morning with my other vitamins (multi-vitamin/multi-mineral, kelp, selenium).

    i've never seen it help/hurt my weight-loss because i struggle to lose anything. i take it because i'm really active and my joints need all the help, nutrients, and recovery they can get.

    i've never had fish burps, either. regardless what i eat/drink when i take them, if i'm active, if i'm not.... it's never happened and, with all honesty, i don't want to experience one, either, lol.

    unless your doctor says otherwise, or you're vegetarian (flaxseed oil is what vegetarians use), it doesn't hurt. i wish there were a site out there that i could check with to see if i'm taking the right things. if anyone knows of a good one, please share. (sorry OP, not trying to hijack your thread)
  • mandipandi75
    mandipandi75 Posts: 6,035 Member
    I started taking them last week for heart health. I take the burpless capsules and have not had any problems. I don't know if they help with weight loss though.
  • wftiger
    wftiger Posts: 1,283 Member
    No, there is no magic pill to help lose weight. They are good for the Omega 3.
  • Islasgirl
    Islasgirl Posts: 19 Member
    I have taken fish oil capsules for about 4 or 5 years now for health reasons as I don't like fish and have never included it in my diet. I have never heard the weight loss benefit. I do keep mine in the refrigerator and have never had any after taste problem. I do prefer Krill as it is a smaller pill.
  • msstuard
    msstuard Posts: 131 Member
    From what I've been able to find its for the cardiovascular system. I've been taking it for a year or so with Ground flaxseed. Fish oil is supposed to be a better form of Omega 3 oil than Flaxseed, but flaxseed has great nutrients including soluble fiber.
  • jcraig1980
    jcraig1980 Posts: 34
    I have been taking fish oil for years because of high blood pressure. When I am consistent in taking it, it really does help with my BP. For me, it does not help me with weight loss. My father in law also takes it for high cholesterol and high blood pressure and for those it has worked for him.
  • meglet175
    meglet175 Posts: 98
    Fish oil is a powerful anti-inflammatory and helps with any inflammation-related issues. I started taking it about five years ago because Dr. Oz recommended it, and I've seen a tremendous improvement in my seasonal allergies - sneezing, itchy eyes, etc. The Omega-3s are also supposed to promote brain and heart health - a good reason to try them, as I think most of us would agree the brain and heart are rather critical organs:) Try them, but give them several months to see what happens. I never have fish burps, but I take them with a meal and am not prone to reflux.
  • Halie_Bird
    Halie_Bird Posts: 47 Member
    I've read several places that it is supposed to help with weight loss. I've been taking it (irregularly) and I've been losing weight but don't know if it has really helped at all. I've also read that it's supposed to help with joint health which is the main reason I started taking it.
  • Get_Me_Fit1
    Get_Me_Fit1 Posts: 194
    I dont know if it helps with weightloss, but i take non-fish-burpy ones, and i know that it makes me feel good to exercise! I use to get pains in my chest near my heart before i took them, but after i started taking them i noticed that i didnt get pains anymore. Dont know if its just me thinking that (mind over matter), or if its actually helping :wink: hahaha!
  • vyanadevi
    vyanadevi Posts: 134 Member
    Can anyone recommend a good brand?
  • marmar306
    marmar306 Posts: 2
    I'm curious I'm starting fish oil today what can go wrong I'm doing webbers natural extra strength
  • Tjgonz
    Tjgonz Posts: 6
    Personally I got depressed after gaining some weight and really dont want to take crazy anti depressants.
    So I use it to bring up my mood and I do notice it works when I forget to take it or it runs out for a week.
    I use generic capsules from a bulk store but you are mostly paying for labels with name brands.
    Good luck guys!
  • Odinisgod
    Odinisgod Posts: 46 Member
    Weight loss is just about the calories, unfortunately there are no gimmicks.

    Fish oil is a good supplement in general, but it's more for heart health.

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