June - Omega3
June - Omega3
June - Omega3

Krill Oil: A Great Source of Omega-3s

omega-3

Story at-a-glance -

  • Omega-3 fats have been long-valued for their benefits to the body, especially in improving endothelialfunction, promoting growth of new blood vessels, boosting mood, maintaining bone health and lowering risk for certain diseases.
  • Krill oil definitely deserves recognition because of its potential contributions to improved your omega-3 levels and boost your health and well-being.

 

Unlike fish oil, krill oil carries its omega-3s (EPA, and DHA) in the form of phospholipids that deliver the fatty acids directly to your body’s cells. Support a healthy heart, overall joint comfort and your immune system with bioavailable Krill Oil.

Fish Oil VS Krill Oil

Omega-3 fats have been long-valued for their benefits to the body, especially in improving endothelialfunction, promoting growth of new blood vessels, boosting mood, maintaining bone health and lowering risk for certain diseases. These healthy fats are abundantly found in animal sources like fish and seafood.

However, most seafood today tends to be contaminated with mercury and other toxic substances. If you’re looking for an alternative omega-3 source that can help greatly improve your body’s omega-3 levels without the risks, krill oil is a good, bioavailable choice.

What Is Krill Oil?

Krill oil is harvested from krill (Euphasia superba), a small shrimp-like crustacean. Most krill are found in Antarctica (125 million to 6 billion tons), and in oceans off of Japan and Canada.1 Krill are known for their longevity (they can live from five to 10 years),2 and their omega-3 fat, antioxidant and phospholipid content, all of which can deliver substantial benefits.3

Although krill are small in size, the roles they play in the global food chain are enormous. Krill serve as “fuel” that help the Earth’s marine ecosystems to run consistently. Krill feed on microscopic and single-celled plants called phytoplankton. In turn, birds, squids, other fish and whales feed on krill.

The Many Health Benefits of Krill Oil

You cannot talk about krill oil’s health benefits without discussing its capabilities in addressing various health issues such as:4

Cardiovascular disease and hyperlipidemia5,6

Neurological and cognitive dysfunction

Inflammation and reduction of C-reactive protein

Oxidative stress7

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis8

Metabolic syndrome9

Crohn’s disease

Dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome10

Kidney disease11

Colon cancer12

Premature delivery

Poor brain development in infants

Autoimmune diseases like nephropathy and lupus

 

Is Krill Oil Better Than Fish Oil?

Fish oil, which is extracted from the livers of oily and cold-water fish, is often compared to krill oil, probably because both substances come from marine sources. However, there are notable differences between the two, and upon careful inspection, you can see why krill is the superior choice:

Krill oil delivers a higher potency: Krill oil is said to have 48 times more antioxidants than fish oil.

Plus, krill oil’s higher potency when it comes to its metabolic effects means that you can consume less krill oil to reap its benefits.

Krill oil is often free of contaminants: Because krill are small and are at the bottom of the food chain, they have a lower chance of being contaminated.

On the other hand, fish oil is often extracted from  farmed fish that are contaminated with heavy metals and mercury.

Krill oil contains phospholipids: These play a significant role in how krill oil is absorbed by the body.

Omega-3 fatty acids in krill oil are water-soluble, but cannot be transported in your blood while they’re in their free form.

Readily available phospholipids may then help krill oil be absorbed 10 to 15 time

Krill oil contains phosphatidylcholine: For better absorption of omega-3 nutrients, phosphatidylcholine is highly needed.

Phosphatidylcholine is partly composed of choline (an acetylcholine precursor responsible for sending nerve signals to the brain) and trimethylglcycine (contains liver-protective effects).

In terms of phosphatidylcholine bioavailability, krill oil is more superior compared to fish oil because it readily contains this particular substance. If you take fish oil, however, your liver will still need to find phosphatidylcholine where omega-3s can be attached to, so they can be better absorbed by the body.

Krill oil is less prone to oxidation: Krill oil’s astaxanthin content allows this substance to become more stable and less likely to oxidize in the body.

Fish oil, which doesn’t have astaxanthin, is more prone to oxidation. This can result in the production of harmful free radicals, increasing the body’s demand for antioxidants.

Krill oil is more environmentally sustainable: Krill harvesting is a strictly monitored process.

Don’t be fooled by claims saying that krill oil supplements greatly reduce the ocean’s krill supply, because only 1 to 2 percent of the overall krill biomass is harvested yearly.

When buying krill oil supplements, purchase those that have been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). An MSC certification indicates that every segment of the supplement’s manufacturing process underwent a high global standard, ensuring that the finished product is truly sustainable. Other factors to look for when buying krill oil supplements include:

  • Krill oil must be produced using Antarctic krill.
  • It must be free of heavy metals, dioxins, PCBs and other contaminants.
  • The krill should be cold-processed in order to preserve their biological benefits. Avoid products that utilize a dangerous chemical agent called hexane to extract the oil.
  • Krill oil should be encased in hard capsules instead of soft gels. The latter allows more oxygen to enter and thereby promote oxidation. While krill oil naturally contains astaxanthin, an antioxidant that can reduce oxidation, hard capsules can add another protective layer and deliver a product that’s optimally fresh and effective.

Krill oil definitely deserves recognition because of its potential contributions to improved your omega-3 levels and boost your health and well-being. It’s also an environmentally friendly source because of its sustainability, making it a supplement that can benefit almost anyone in years to come.

Click Here to Learn More About the Benefits of Omega-3 Fats