Can Fish Oil Supplements Protect Your Heart? <\/p>\n
While fish oil supplements are popular among U.S. consumers, there\u2019s not much evidence to show that these supplements benefit heart health, said Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH<\/a>, director of Mount Sinai Heart in New York.\n<\/p>\n \u201cIn fact, it\u2019s quite the opposite. There is data from large trials showing that they don\u2019t provide any cardiovascular benefit,\u201d Bhatt told Verywell.\n<\/p>\n If anything, he added, fish oil supplements have been shown to increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation<\/a>\u2014the most common type of irregular heart rhythm.\n<\/p>\n Bhatt said that omega-3 fats<\/a> are typically better consumed as part of a healthy diet<\/a>, rather than \u201cisolating one component and taking it at a large dose\u201d with a supplement.\n<\/p>\n Should You Start Eating More Sardines? <\/p>\n Sardines and other types of fatty fish are heart-healthy if they\u2019re consumed<\/a> along with a dietary pattern that\u2019s also rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, according to Maya Vadiveloo, PhD, RD<\/a>, an associate professor of nutrition and food sciences at the University of Rhode Island.\n<\/p>\n \u201cRegular consumption of fish and seafood, which sardines would fall into, aligns with a heart-healthy diet,\u201d Vadiveloo told Verywell. \u201cWhen people are consuming more fish, ideally they\u2019re replacing less healthy sources of protein<\/a>, like red meat, with that fish.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Sardines could also be a more accessible and affordable alternative to salmon<\/a>, especially since canned sardines are readily available and have a long shelf life.\n<\/p>\n What to Look for When You Buy Sardines <\/p>\n However, you might need to pay attention to what other ingredients are added to the canned sardines, which are sometimes packed in olive oil, water, or tomato sauce and might be high in sodium, according to Emma Laing, PhD, RDN<\/a>, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics based in Athens, Georgia.\n<\/p>\n \u201cIndividuals who must monitor their sodium intake<\/a> for health, such as those who have high blood pressure, should be mindful of the ingredient labels,\u201d Laing told Verywell in an email.\n<\/p>\n You should also avoid canned sardines that have a damaged, rusted, or swollen container, she added.\n<\/p>\n Are There Any Health Risks to Sardines? <\/p>\n Sardines may be a nutrient-dense fish, but they\u2019re also increasingly contaminated with microplastics<\/a> and heavy metals like arsenic<\/a>.<\/p>\n Laing also cautioned that sardines contain purines, which may cause a buildup of uric acid<\/a> and worsen symptoms like joint pain and swelling for people with gout<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Even if you don\u2019t eat seafood, she added, you should still be able to get enough omega-3s from other dietary sources without needing to take a supplement.\n<\/p>\n For example, walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds<\/a>, and certain fortified foods are also rich sources of omega-3s<\/a>.<\/p>\n Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process<\/a> to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.<\/p>\n![\"Stephanie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/StephanieBrownnewheadshot-e5ca9ba2a404491384e9300a7871f190.jpg\")
<\/p>\n