Submitted by joycemyers on Sun, 02/15/2009 - 11:57
I am highly allergic to fish. What would be safe alternatives that I can take to improve my health and memory? I have been very hesitant to take any fish oil supplements because of this allergy.
According to the NIH site http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-fishoil.html,
"People with allergy or hypersensitivity to fish should avoid fish oil or omega-3 fatty acid products derived from fish. There have been rare reports of skin rash."
While fish oil is the best source of DHA and EPA, another form of omega-3, ALA, can be found in plant foods, such as some nuts (e.g., English walnuts) and vegetable oils (e.g., canola, soybean, and olive oil. Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil are also a good alternative for people who are allergic to fish. Although similar benefits are proposed for ALA, or alpha-linolenic acid, scientific evidence is less compelling, and beneficial effects may be less pronounced.