I have read a lot of articles stating the importance of DHA/EPA for a multitude of functions. And have decided to start comsuming it in large amounts.

After looking at the cost of the actual oil, I have decided to go for the cheaper option of salmon. I am talking large quantities of Salmon.

This is not only because of the large amounts of EPA/DHA, but also it is very cheap(something that I have only just discovered), and easily accessable for me(more so than any other protein+fat source)

I will be eating

525g on high carb days
700g on low/no carb days

By my calculations that averages out at about 660g per day.
This in turn =10.6g DHA/EPA per day on average.(100g salmon=1600mg EPA/DHA)

My questions.
1. I assume the DHA/EPA would be absorbed equally well in this form as in capsule form?
2. Will this much EPA/DHA have any negative effects?

All I can say is, its a good job I like fish!

Thanx for any help,

James

Depending on what your goals are, slamon oil is great for cutting/general health, however, in amounts over 12 grams (estimation, no literature to back this claim up) it can be considered anti-anabolic. A good dosage for cutting is 10-12 grams, a good dosage for bulking or maintenance is 4-8 grams. That is total content, not epa/dha content.

also with eating large amounts of the fish rather than taking the capsules, I would believe you are subjecting yourself to higher amounts of pcbs and heavy metals.

Based on fresh salmon with skins or canned salmon?

EDIT:

After a while I found my answer:


Approximate amounts of EPA/DHA per 60g serve (60 g of fish/meat looks like the size of 2 match boxes) (Sinclair et al. Aust J Nutr Diet 1998; 55: 3: 116-20):

canned salmon 500mg, canned tuna 145mg

So meathead, you're getting 833 mg EPA/DHA per 100g serving. That's assuming you are getting canned salmon--otherwise you'd have to have brought in a few 40lbers to afford that much salmon.

that is absurdly high. Do you not realize that 500g fish oil= 500g fat!?

In addition, toomuch fish oil can thin your blood to dangerous levels.

Layne "toomuch of anything is a bad thing"

He's talking about salmon, Layne

Yes, its 500g salmon, not 500g fish oil. It equates to about 30g fat on high carb days. 42g on other days.

I think going on your guys advice, and some other threads I've read on this site, I'm gona half my amounts at least. Probably just have 400g per day(1 big can). This equates to 6400mg DHA/EPA per day. That is the recommended dosage i have read a few times.

I got my values from www.nutritiondata.com there it says that there is 845mg EPA and 806mg DHA per 100g of canned salmon.

If this matters, I am cutting for 1 more week, then I start a 11 week bulk(to finish TP PT). I also have important exams coming up, and thought the omega 3's would help with memory.

I think its far more economical to take fish oil capsules.

And the benefits of EPA/DHA will only manifest in the long term and i dont think you can really "feel" the effects as well.

Assuming (CAD prices)

Tuna= 80c
Salmon= 100c

(assume both are about 100g of food)

Tuna x 500g = 4.00
Salmonx500g=5.00

Over a month, this amounts to 30$ less for the tuna group, which also allows you to purchase alot of fish oil, and you dont have to stand the taste of canned salmon. The trade off is omega-3s (salmon) for protein (tuna). Since protein is likely more expensive, I'd get omega-3s from oil.

242mg fish oil per 100g tuna, and 833 per 100g salmon, you are already taking in 1/4 of the DHA that the salmon contains, so supplementation can contain 1/4 less.

It looks like tuna is a winner (according to me)--but for health I'd intertwine the two types of meats, considering salmon has calcium and omega-3s.

The salmon will also make up a bulk of my protein intake aswell as dietary fat. When you consider this, it is much more economical to buy salmon, <20pence per 100g