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There are certain vitamins which play an important role in maintaining heart health. Folate, also known as folic acid (in supplement form), along with B6 and B12, help maintain healthy homocysteine levels. Other supplements that promote heart health include plant stanols/sterol esters, which may help reduce cholesterol. Also fish and flaxseed oils, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, may help maintain triglyceride levels already in the normal range. In addition, niacin, magnesium, calcium and potassium have been shown to support heart health. For overall heart health, consider a multivitamin, B-complex and omega-3 fatty acids daily.

To ensure heart health, eat a healthy diet by including at least five to six servings of various fruits and vegetables, and about six servings of whole grains daily. Choose fat-free or low-fat dairy products and lean proteins such as fish, skinless poultry and beans/lentils. Choose healthier fats such as canola or olive oil and limit your intake of trans fats (partially hydrogenated oils), whole milk, egg yolks, fatty meats and fried foods. When grocery shopping, look for the symbol from the American Heart Association (AHA) to ensure AHA standards for a healthy diet are met. To learn more, visit www.americanheart.org. Other ways to ensure heart health include controlling your blood pressure, quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke, exercise regularly as approved by your health care provider, control or delay diabetes through weight control and a healthy diet, relaxing and handling stressful situations. In addition to those lifestyle changes, consider a multivitamin, B-complex and omega-3 fatty acid supplements to promote overall heart health.

CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant found in most cell membranes. CoQ10 may help maintain levels of other antioxidants such as vitamins E and C. Levels tend to decrease as we age and supplementation may be warranted, especially if taking statin drugs which may decrease CoQ10 levels further.

Antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamins C and E help protect our body from various factors (pollution, smoking, UV light) that could lead or contribute to, even enhance challenges to our health. Some studies suggest the antioxidant activity of vitamins C and E may slow fat buildup in arteries. To ensure adequate antioxidant intake, eat a variety of fresh fruits/vegetables and supplement to fill any nutrient gaps.

Nature Made^® continues to specify the total omega-3 content of its fish oil and guarantees that the omega-3 contains at least 180mg EPA and 120mg DHA per softgel. For heart health, the American Heart Association recommends between 500 and 1000mg of omega-3s per day, containing both EPA and DHA, but they do not provide a specific ratio. For those consumers who want more omega-3, Nature Made offers Double Strength Fish Oil, which has specifically 672mg of omega-3 EPA and 552mg omega-3 DHA (per serving of two softgels)

Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids (as found in Nature Made^® Fish Oil) may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids also help maintain triglyceride levels already in the normal range.

The essential fatty acids in this product are the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which are utilized by many tissues of the body, such as those in the eye and the brain.

We use only the oil from wild, deep-water, ocean fish, sardines and anchovies. Each batch of Nature Made Fish Oil products is inspected and tested to ensure that there are no detectable levels of the contaminants PCBs, dioxins or heavy metals such as lead or mercury. We follow the most stringent manufacturing and testing standards established by the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP), the standard setting body recognized by the FDA. Our fish oil products were the first to receive the USP Dietary Supplement Verification Seal (DSVP) for purity, quality and potency.

There is nothing wrong with your fish oil. The cloudy softgels are the enteric coated Odorless Fish Oil softgels. The special enteric coating, which helps control fish burps, gives the softgels a cloudy appearance. Nature Made non-enteric coated fish oil softgels, such as our Fish Oil Double Strength and Super Strength Omega-3 EPA Fish Oil softgels, are clear and shiny. It is likely that your last bottle was the non-enteric-coated Fish Oil and your new bottle is the Odorless Fish Oil.

It is our policy to ensure that ample time remains on the shelf life of every product we ship. It is possible that the product you purchased may have been improperly rotated in the warehouse or on the retail shelf. Please be assured that if a product is past its expiration date, it is in no way harmful. However, some of the nutrients may not be quite up to their labeled potency.

We utilize a synthetic source of CoQ10.

CoQ10 has two isomers (forms) — cis and trans. The cis form is less active and, therefore, less desirable. We utilize the trans form, which is compliant with USP guidelines.

Our CoQ10 product is a fat-soluble product.

Beta-carotene is used as a coloring agent, which benefits the softgel. The amount used is miniscule and this is why it is not listed in the supplement facts.

Phytosterols and phytostanols are found naturally in plants. Because their molecular structure is similar to that of cholesterol they decrease absorption of cholesterol, both from foods and from reabsorption of cholesterol made in the liver and secreted into the intestines.

Sterols and stanols are recommended as part of the NIH’s TLC (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes) Diet. The TLC diet recommends:

• • Limiting the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol you eat.
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  • Eating only enough calories to achieve or maintain a healthy weight.
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  • Increasing the soluble fiber in your diet. For example, oatmeal, kidney beans and apples are good sources of soluble fiber.
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  • Adding cholesterol-lowering food, such as margarines that contain plant sterol or stanol esters that lower cholesterol for some people.

Reducol, the proprietary brand of of phytosterols and phytostanols used in CholestOff, is derived from tall oil extracted from pine trees. Other manufacturers may use soy bean oil.

Because CholestOff blocks the absorption of the "bad" cholesterol that you get from food, it is important that you consume CholestOff 15 to 30 minutes before a meal for optimal effectiveness.

It is OK to take CholestOff with meals. You will, however, achieve optimal cholesterol-lowering benefits if CholestOff is taken 15-30 minutes before a meal.

Yes, CholestOff can be crushed or cut in half for easier swallowing. We do recommend that you still take 2 tablets before your meals – even if you need to cut them.

There is no time that you need to wait between taking CholestOff. The key is to try to take CholestOff 15-30 minutes before consuming your next meal for optimal cholesterol-lowering benefits.

Your body gets cholesterol in two ways - from foods and from synthesis in the liver. The class of drugs referred to as "statins" work by blocking cholesterol synthesis in the liver. CholestOff is a dietary supplement and works by blocking cholesterol absorption from food, without the risk of serious side effects.

If you are on a doctor-prescribed drug treatment program, you should consult your physician before making any dietary changes or if you have questions about the simultaneous use of medication and food. Please note that the guidelines established by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recommend that people using drug therapy to reduce cholesterol should also follow a heart-healthy lifestyle, including a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet, weight management and exercise. In addition, the NCEP guidelines encourage intake of plant sterols and stanols (as found in CholestOff) as part of a heart-healthy diet. You are already consuming a small amount of stanols and sterols through your daily diet. No adverse side effects were observed in a simultaneous trial of a phytosterol similar to Reducol and a cholesterol-lowering drug. In addition, extensive research by independent experts has shown that phytosterols are safe for general use. However, we always recommend checking with your medical doctor if you are on a doctor-prescribed drug treatment program.

There are currently no known significant side effects associated with CholestOff.

CholestOff only lowers LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and does not affect HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

There is 38.5mg of calcium per tablet.

The Food and Drug Administration has authorized a health claim based on FDA's conclusion that plant sterol esters and plant stanol esters may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol levels.