Krill Oil Plus
What’s the deal with krill oil?
My grandparents took cod liver oil, as a liquid, from a bottle. Gross, but understandable.
Traumatized by cod liver oil, my parents chose instead to take fish oil in capsules.
Far better than
raw, liquid oil - but still not at all appetizing.
And me? Well, after all my research, I’m giving krill oil a go. It’s supposedly the new generation of
fish oil, with a bunch of unique advantages.
People have taken some form of fish oil for ages. Seafood is considered to be especially beneficial
when included in the diet, and the reason for that is the presence of two special omega-3 fatty oils:
EPA and DHA. While some other non-seafoods contain omega-3’s, it’s not remotely close to the
amount contained in various fish - and most importantly, it’s a very different kind of omega-3.
Many different health advisory groups have identified a problem with North American diets: we
don’t eat enough fish nowadays. The average American eats roughly one fish meal per week.¹ I
usually eat zero fish meals per week!
Thankfully I found VitaPost Krill Oil Plus. There’s nothing fishy about these little red softgels - all I
taste is a hint of vanilla flavoring. They’re Friend of the Sea Certified, and best of all, the price is
right.
Why Do People Take Fish Oil?
Omega-3s in general became popular in the 1930s after they were discovered
Advantages of Krill Oil
Since the main benefit of fish oil is the omega-3’s, it makes sense to choose a strong omega-3
supplement, right?
For a dietary supplement to be strong, your body has to make use of all of it. The thing about fats
and oils is they can be hard to digest.
Too much oil and it’ll just pass right through you. The omega-
3s in krill oil is considered to be more easily absorbed than those found in fish oil. This is because
half of krill oil’s EPA and DHA is attached to ‘phospholipids,’ which are easier to digest than the plain
‘triglycerides’ in fish oil. Another perk that krill oil has, is that it’s considered to be very stable and
free from heavy metals.²
I think many people who don’t get many omega-3’s in their diet could benefit from krill oil
supplements. Omega-3’s are believed to support heart health, skin health, joint health, and brain
health, things which are relevant to many people. I have dived into some of the research below to
see what is believable and what needs further investigation.
Heart
Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to support a healthy cardiovascular system. Krill oil
contains phospholipids that are believed to support healthy cholesterol levels within the
normal range. Phospholipids are a special type of lipid (fat) that forms a part of every cell
membrane and helps to regulate molecules and ions passing in and out of the cell. Krill Oil
Plus contains 100mg of phospholipids in a typical serving.
The studies have shown a mix of results, some good, some bad. I found a study that
compares older and more recent studies to find the reasons for the different results of
omega-3 fatty acids. The meta-analysis found overall evidence still supports the American
Heart Association’s recommendation of having 2 servings of fatty fish per week.³
Skin
Some people are blessed with a naturally gorgeous glow. For the rest of us, we turn to skin
care, serums and supplements to help achieve the same effect. One nutrient you may want
to consider is astaxanthin. This antioxidant has growing evidence that it can be taken for skin
appearance, particularly aging skin.
Astaxanthin is believed to help support the appearance of aging skin by affecting the
expression of collagenases (the enzymes that break the peptide bonds in collagen). Krill oil is
a natural source of astaxanthin, and it is the ingredient responsible for krill oil’s bright red
‘pop’.
Brain
A higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA has shown potential in supporting
cognitive function, particularly for people with mild cognitive impairment.
Great news for expecting mothers,
supplementing with very-long-chain omega-3 fatty acids
(EPA & DHA) during pregnancy and breastfeeding can also benefit baby’s IQ. In one study,
pregnant women supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids from halfway through pregnancy
through to 3 months postpartum. Children whose mothers had taken these omega-3 fatty
acids later scored higher on intelligence tests.
Joints
Although fish oil has far-reaching benefits, supporting joint health is the reason so many
people start reaching for this supplement. People who supplement with omega-3 daily.