I want to get the benefits of OMega-3 but I have been diagnosed with fish allergies. I have even had reactions when anchovy paste in Caesar salad dressing or even when Asian restaurants use shrimp broth or a pan that fish oils have been in with the previous dish.
My doctor says there are new allergies out there related to toxins in the ocean and she suspects this is what it could be because my allergies vary from very strong allergic reaction to bottom feeders (shrimp crab, etc.) to top feeders like cod which I have a low allergy to. She suspects that fish on the bottom have more time to feed on pollutants in the water and have a denser level of toxins in their meat. Because of my allergy I do not take fish oil supplements what can I do?

Hi Kate,


Here's the reply I just posted in the other Zone forum where you asked this question:


Hi Kate!


Here are a couple articles from Drsears.com in which Barry Sears replies to questions similar to yours. Maybe you could show them to your doctor and discuss it with her further:


Allergies to fish - Relevance: 2012
Q: what should I do if I am allergic to the fish oil pills? I have taken 9 grams for 30 days, and my blood work came back with big improvements; however, I have started to develop skin rashes, and I have a known allergy to halibut and wild salmon. Elana Dear Elana, A : People who are allergic to fish have their allergies coming from the fish protein, which has been totally removed in the oil. I would reduce your intake to four grams per day, and the rashes should disappear if they have any relation to the fish oil. They may be coming from enhanced release of arachidonic acid from the adipose tissue in response to the EPA and DHA.
http://www.drsears.com/SearchIndexe...fault.aspx - 4/4/2008 12:08:57 PM




Seafood allergies - Relevance: 2011
Q: I have seafood allergies. When I eat certain seafood, such as salmon, oysters, crab, etc, I become very ill, with swelling in my throat and face. I am interested in taking fish oil but not if it makes me sick. Any experience or thoughts? Thanks, Jeff Dear Jeff, A: Allergies to seafood are due to the protein, which is totally removed in highly purified fish oils. I would suggest taking a small dose of purified fish oil (about 0.5 gram of EPA and DHA) to see how you respond. If you don t have any allergic responses, then you can go to higher levels with confidence.
http://www.drsears.com/SearchIndexe...fault.aspx - 1/27/2009 8:44:12 PM

If you are worried about allergies, it is definitely best to err on the side of safety, especially as severe as yours seem to be. I was going to suggest algae oil until I read the second part of your post. Not sure that this is even an option for you.

So, in your case, your only option may be to take flax.