Krill oil – A good source of Omega 3?
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Krill oil is a pure and natural source of Omega 3 oil, which also contains a powerful antioxidant. Our Krill Oil is sourced exclusively from sustainable fisheries in the Antarctic through our partners, Aker BioMarine™, who work with World Wildlife Foundation Norway to ensure sustainable krill harvesting.
Krill oil comes from a species of krill (Euphausia superba), which are shrimp-like marine crustaceans.
Three of the key nutrients in krill oil are: (1) omega-3 fatty acids, similar to those in fish oil, (2) omega-3 fatty acids attached to phospholipids, mainly phosphatidylcholine (alternatively referred to as marine lecithin), and (3) astaxanthin, an antioxidant.
What are the benefits of krill oil?
Krill oil has many purported health benefits. taking in the Omega 3 fatty unsaturated acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in phospholipids instead of triglycerides allows the body to absorb them more easily. So, supplementing your eating regimen with krill oil results in the more efficient uptake of DHA and EPA.
Oftentimes, people use krill oil for the same reasons they use fish oil, flax oil or other Omega 3 fatty acids. However, unlike fish oil, krill oil doesn’t cause fishy burps or an aftertaste, a common side effect of fish oil.
In addition, experimental tests suggests that krill oil is a more beneficial source of Omega 3 oils than regular fish oil. It carries noteworthy benefits for heart and brain health and slows down the ageing process for the reasons set out below.
One of the key reasons why krill oil is becoming increasingly famous is because the EPA part of the phospholipids in it contains an antioxidant called astaxanthin. The algae that krill eat produces the bright red pigment astaxanthin, which gives them and other crustaceans (such as lobsters and shrimp) their reddish-pink colour. Krill oil has an extraordinary oxygen radical absorbance capacity and the antioxidant properties are over 40 times more powerful than those of fish oil.
Antioxidants protect our bodies’ cells from damage by free radicals, unstable substances that are believed to contribute to certain chronic diseases and the ageing process. Unlike many other antioxidants, astaxanthin crosses the blood-brain barrier, where it could theoretically protect the eye, brain and central nervous system from free radical damage. It may also protect your skin against the harmful effects of UV rays and the reduction of collagen, amongst other things.
Premenstrual syndrome
Taking krill oil supplements can have incredibly helpful effects on the health and well-being of women. In particular, it may help to assist the symptoms of dysmenorrhoea (a gynaecological medical condition characterised by severe uterine pain during menstruation), as well as the emotional symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Cholesterol
Krill oil is being researched as a possible natural remedy for high cholesterol and is thought to boost levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol and reduce the negative effects of LDL or “bad” cholesterol substantially. Krill oil is also a rich source of Omega 3 Fatty acids which is a very important supplement for the human body. As such, it is possible that krill oil could also reduce the risk of heart attacks, because it helps to keep cholesterol at healthy levels, helps to decrease bad cholesterol and is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties that are highly useful for the cardiovascular system.
Arthritis
Another suggested health benefit of krill oil is that it demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory properties, i.e. it could help to reduce chronic inflammation (such as rheumatoid arthritis and other joint pains). It is believed that this is because krill oil acts by inhibiting inflammatory mediators like thromboxane, prostacyclin and leukotrienes produced by cells in response to inflammation.
Chronic inflammation is known to increase the risk of developing heart disease. Krill oil is therefore also thought to be helpful in reducing or preventing the risk of heart disease, by reducing the deposition of fat in the coronary arteries and generally keeping them clean and in good condition.
Weight management
Krill oil may promote weight-loss by controlling blood sugar and lowering high cholesterol. The Omega 3 unsaturated fatty acids contained within it are considered likely to support a phenomenon known as “fuel partitioning”, the storage of glucose as glycogen in muscle, while at the same time diverting fatty acids away from fat synthesis and into oxidative pathways. As such, Omega 3 fatty acids stimulate the use of fatty acids as fuel instead of in fat deposition (i.e. krill oil may help you burn fat).
Depression
Krill oil is also believed to be helpful in the treatment of resistant depression and cognitive conditions. It is not just in the treatment of depression that EPA has potentially beneficial effects: taking pure EPA supplements also has purported benefits for concentration, ADD, ADHD (attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder), OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), mood, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression) and cardiovascular health.