The Advantages of Krill Oil Over Fish Oil

No doubt, you’ve heard about the countless ways in which fish oil supplements are great for your health. But did you know that krill oil has been touted as an even better alternative? If you want to know why, read on, as we take a look at the benefits of krill oil and how it stacks up against its fishy competitor.

What is krill oil?

Krill are small shrimp-like creatures that live in the ocean and provide the main diet for baleen whales. The oil harvested from krill contains the compound astaxanthin, which gives the oil a red color. Krill oil is usually sold in capsule form.

You might find that krill oil is more costly than fish oil. This is because krill oil must be processed very quickly once the krill are harvested, otherwise the krill will spoil. While fish oil can be processed within a window of about 24 hours, krill already starts to spoil after just an hour. This means that krill oil requires specialized tools and extra labor to manufacture – hence its higher prices.

How is krill oil different from fish oil?

Both fish oil and krill oil contain omega-3 fatty acids — specifically two known as EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) that are both highly important nutrients for our mental and physical health. Fish oil contains about 30 percent omega-3s while krill oil contains about 14 percent; however, krill oil has much higher antioxidant levels and its nutrients are far more easily absorbed. This means that krill oil works out to be around 48 times more potent than fish oil.

Additionally, krill does not accumulate mercury like larger species of fish do, making it safe from contaminants. For these reasons, krill oil is a superior source of omega-3 fatty acids.

What are the health benefits of krill oil?

When taken regularly, krill oil has been shown to have numerous health benefits. Here are a few of them:

Heart health

One of the well-documented benefits of taking krill oil is that it can reduce levels of triglycerides and bad cholesterol, while simultaneously promoting the production of good cholesterol. Taking krill oil supplements may therefore assist in cardiovascular health and in the prevention of coronary disease.

Brain health

You’ve probably heard of fish oil being a “brain food”. Krill oil provides much of the same benefits, though potentially to an even greater degree. Many studies have reported that krill oil improves memory and attention as well as enhances mood and combats depression. This is because DHA increases dopamine and serotonin levels while EPA is known to reduce inflammatory processes in the brain.

Reproductive health

For many women, PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome) can be a debilitating condition that strikes cycle after cycle with symptoms like mood swings, low energy and breast tenderness. Some studies have suggested that krill oil can help to alleviate these symptoms, possibly thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to balance hormone and neurotransmitter levels.

Joint health

Some studies have shown that krill oil can reduce inflammation in the body, as well as can prevent further inflammation from occurring, thanks to the omega 3 fatty acids and phospholipids it contains. This is great news for people who suffer from joint pain and arthritis, as krill oil can work to reduce the symptoms of these problems.

In conclusion, krill oil has many advantages that make it worth a try. While fish oil may be cheaper, krill oil is more stable, more absorbable, purer, and comes with a whole list of impressive health benefits.