We all know how bad rotten fish smells. And no one wants to end up smelling like old fish, even for the sake of our health.
Will fish oil make me smell fishy?
There are typically two areas that people are concerned with when it comes to fish odor concerns: actual fishy body odors and the fishy taste or aftertaste of taking a fish oil product.
1. Fishy body odor
I can understand your concern if you think a fish oil supplement will give you some sort of “fishy body odor.” There is no evidence that taking a fish oil supplement changes your body odor in any way. So fish oil and smelly skin don’t go together.
Some people experience a bit of diarrhea or digestive discomfort at first, but this usually goes away fairly quickly anyway. So smelly gas after taking fish oil is not impossible, but it shouldn’t last.
2. Capsules with a fishy smell with a golden aftertaste
I warn you now though: some fish oil capsules smell. But that is why you should avoid those products like crazy. It is exactly the same as fresh fish. If you pull a fresh fish straight out of the ocean, it smells like that fresh, salty ocean smell you get when you’re at the beach. In other words, it smells clean and fresh.
Old, decaying fish smells like “fish.” And exactly the same principle applies to fish oils. Fresh oils simply don’t smell or taste bad.
So the same goes for the burped fishy aftertaste or taste – it shouldn’t happen if the oil is fresh. Research has shown that sufficient amounts of omega 3 can reduce the levels of bacteria in the mouth. So instead of having fishy breath, omega three can stop bad breath.
The key is freshness
Fresh oils don’t just smell good, that fresh from the ocean way, but fresh oils mean you’re getting the benefits of omega three fatty acids.
An oil that doesn’t smell good may not actually be bad, but it certainly doesn’t give much of an indication that the manufacturer took care during the production process.
You can, and should, try the ‘smell test’ on any fish oil supplement you buy.
Smell one of the capsules. But don’t just sniff it, cut the capsule open to release the oil inside. Because some manufacturers will coat the capsules to prevent the bad smell of the oil. Don’t go too close, though, if you bought a nasty cheap brand.
Also keep an eye out for unexpected ingredients in fish supplements – it’s not uncommon to see flavorings or fragrances to disguise a product’s lack of freshness.
In conclusion
Any reputable manufacturer must provide a lot of information about the exact origin of their product and the standards they apply when manufacturing it.
Make sure any fish oil products you buy are as pure and fresh as possible, and you shouldn’t have a problem with a fishy odor.
Disclaimer: Any statement here is not medical advice, nor has it been evaluated by the FDA. The supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The reader is responsible for consulting with their own healthcare professional on any health issues raised or opinions expressed.