We hear so much about why omega 3 fatty acids are good for us, and we tend to link those to regular fish oil capsules, but have you heard about krill oil as a great alternative?
Krill oil contains the same high levels of omega 3 fatty acids, but presents it in a different way. For starters, the capsules are smaller, and that is ideal for anyone who can’t swallow large capsules! There are also many other benefits which come with taking a daily supplement of krill oil, especially for anyone who struggles to get much in the way of fish into their diet.
Not everyone likes fish, let’s face it. If you aren’t going to eat fish as part of your diet, you might struggle to get enough omega 3s into your body in another way. You can chow down on a few different types of seeds, or you could try soybeans, but again, these aren’t considered to be foods everyone would eat on a regular basis. This is the single reason why so many people opt to take an omega 3 supplement.
source: medicalnewstoday.com
Here are five reasons why you should think about going down the krill oil route.
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Krill Oil Helps to Fight Inflammation
Krill oil, unlike regular fish oil, contains an antioxidant within it, called astaxanthin. This antioxidant is super-powerful and has boosting effects on the immune system, but is also known to drastically help to reduce inflammation within the body. A body which has a high inflammation marker is likely to be quite unhealthy overall, and this is often responsible for many different health concerns.
Krill oil is thought to be very effective at reducing inflammation because it is easier for the body to process than regular fish oil.
source: naturalproductsinsider.com
Whilst there needs to be considerably more research into the degree to which krill oil helps lower inflammation within the body, this is something which studies have shown to be beneficial so far.
Krill Oil Helps With Joint Pain and Arthritis Symptoms
Fish oil has long been thought to help reduce arthritis symptoms, especially joint pain. Again, this is likely to be due to the reduction in inflammation in many ways, but the pain reduction side of things is very useful for anyone who is often hampered by niggling or agonizing pains in the joints. Krill oil is thought to be particularly useful for those suffering from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, by helping to reduce joint stiffness and impairment of being able to use the joint well.
Once more, there need to be further studies conducted in order to obtain the full picture of just how beneficial krill oil is for those suffering from arthritis, but the results so far are very positive.
Krill Oil May Help Heart Health
Omega 3 fatty acids overall are considered to be very good for heart health. The main big hitters here are called DHA and EPA, and these are both contained within a krill oil supplement.
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Both DHA and EPA are ideal for improving lipid levels in the blood, as well as lowering harmful fats and triglyceride levels. All of this adds up to optimum heart health, provided the supplements are taken as part of a healthy and varied diet. Cholesterol levels are particularly positively affected by taking krill oil on a regular basis, with studies showing a definite effect. As with most of the benefits we have mentioned, there need to be further studies to really ascertain the level of benefit possible, but an increase in heart health is never something to be sniffed at!
Krill Oil is Easier to Tolerate Than Regular Fish Oil
When compared to regular fish oil supplements, krill oil capsules are considerably smaller and they do not have the same ‘fishy’ aftertaste that many people complain about with regular fish oil. This is a big benefit because if you’ve ever taken fish oil and had that fishy ‘burp’ after effect, you’ll know how unpleasant it can be!
Krill oil is also thought to be easier for the body to digest and use, due to its biological make-up. This could mean that the benefits are delivered faster, and therefore put to use quicker as a result.
Improvement in PMS Symptoms
Another considered symptom is the improvement in PMS for women. Whilst further studies are needed, it is thought that taking a regular krill oil supplement could help to reduce pain and symptoms which work alongside premenstrual syndrome. The main reason for this is thought to be the reduction in inflammation, but some studies have shown that women who regularly suffer from PMS may be able to take less in the way of pain medication as a result of this improvement.
source: blog.cognifit.com
Any woman who regularly suffers from the pain and upset of PMS will find this benefit to be extremely uplifting and whilst the degree of improvement will probably come down to a case by case basis, the results are quite encouraging overall.
Is Krill Oil a Do or a Don’t?
So, with these five benefits in mind, do you consider Krill oil supplements a do or a don’t? For people who have always taken regular fish oil, making a change can be quite daunting, but the evidence in the camp of krill oil is very encouraging. The fact that krill oil doesn’t have the same fishy aftertaste is a major plus point, and the easier to swallow capsules are useful for anyone who has struggled in the past.
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Krill is thought to be a very sustainable way to make these types of supplements and is comparable to fish oil in that respect. Whilst it can be harder to find krill oil supplements in the regular supermarkets or health stores on the High Street, this looks set to change as more and more people awaken to the benefits and make the switch from regular fish oil to krill oil on a daily basis. For now, it’s best to shop around for your ideal supplement. For a detailed list of some of the best krill oil supplements click here.
