Pure vs. Purified- What's the Difference?

It can be difficult to wade through the vocabulary related to health-food products and nutritional supplements, even for pets. There is little regulation of terminology on what is considered “natural” and other terms can be equally ambiguous. When it comes to omega fatty acid supplements such as omega-3 and omega-7, two terms are especially confusing: pure and purified.  What is the difference? Is there a difference and is it important? Will I be purchasing an ‘inferior’ product if I pick one over the other?  Don’t worry - I’m going to set the record straight on what these terms mean and why it is important to choose the right one.

What is "purified" omega-7 oil?

-This is what "purified" omega 7 looks like-

Omega-7 oils are beneficial for your pet’s health in a variety of ways, but not all products are created equal.  When a product says “purified” on the label, it can be very misleading, this usually means the product has been heavily processed by chemicals like bleach and surfactants to “purify”, or isolate a specific nutrient. Many “purified” omega-7 oils start as anchovy crude oil and go through a series of 6 or 7 processing steps to reach the final product. (refer to the image above)

Why choose a pure, whole-food sourced omega-7 oil?

‘Purified’ oils may contain residual chemicals from processing, which can be harmful to your pet’s health. Some of the residues may even contain known carcinogens! This purification process also exposes the fatty acids to high temperatures, breaking them down and causing the oil to go rancid. Rancid oil can not only have a funny flavor or smell, making it less palatable to your furry friend, but it also loses its nutritional value.

Pure sea buckthorn oil naturally contains the world’s richest source of omega 7, up to 40%, without ever having to process or isolate the nutrient in order to achieve these high levels. SeaBuck produces oil extracts using a simple process called CO2 supercritical extraction. Basically, this works like a big espresso machine. High-pressure, recyclable CO2 is put through ground sea buckthorn seeds, forcing out the oil component. 

This low-temperature (90-100 F), whole-food processing of SeaBuck products retains the integrity of the omega-7 fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants.  SeaBuck’s pure oil extraction is free from any chemical washes, surfactants and residues. You can’t find that level of purity with a “purified” fish oil product. 

In short, mother nature knows best. Whole-foods and minimally processed supplements are better absorbed and assimilated into the body than man made/altered supplements. As a veterinarian, I have a hard time recommending products that may contain chemical residues or harmful carcinogens. You will certainly gain more from selecting the purest, least refined products to include in your and your pet’s diet. Your pet will thank you!

What's your opinion on "pure vs. purified"? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.