Because only a small percentage of ala is converted into EPA and DHA inside the body, it may not have the same heart benefits, cardiologists say.

FORBES: Snake Oil in Your Snacks

If you want omega-3s for your heart, read the fine print and look for products with EPA or DHA. Kashi says people don't get enough omega-3 and that it makes no specific health claims.

FORBES: Snake Oil in Your Snacks

Research suggests that DHA and EPA are only effective for bipolar disorder when they are used in combination.

FORBES: The Fish Oil Debate: Great Brain Medicine, or Just an Expensive Placebo?

According to the National Institutes of Healt h, most fish oil studies have involved the use of 300 to 3, 000 mg of the essential fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

FORBES: The Fish Oil Debate: Great Brain Medicine, or Just an Expensive Placebo?