What is Krill Oil?
Krill are a type of shrimp-like marine invertebrates and are a common food source of baleen whales, manta rays, whale sharks and numerous other marine animals. The oil derived from Krill is rich in phospholipids, the building blocks for cell membranes, and Essential Fatty Acids including Omega-3, 6 and 9. Krill Oil is very stable, free of heavy metal content and considered more efficient in the body than regular fish oil capsules. Supplement Spot's Krill Oil delivers a potent 500 milligrams of purified Krill Oil in every easy to absorb soft gelatin capsule.
Why Krill Oil?
Besides being a great source of essential fatty acids, krill oil is becoming popular because it contains astaxanthin. Astaxanthin crosses the blood-brain barrier, where it could theoretically protect the eye, brain and central nervous system from free radical damage.* The ORAC factor in krill oil can be up to 48 times higher than basic fish oil.
Also, the phospholipid structure of the EPA and DHA in krill oil makes them much more absorbable and allows for a much easier entrance into the mitochondria and the cellular nucleus. In addition to EPA and DHA krill oil contains a complex phospholipid profile including phosphatidylcholine, a potent source of reductive-stress-reducing choline, which also acts as a natural emulsifier.
Krill is the collective name of small nektonic crustaceans, reaching commercial size from 10 to 65 mm and forming clusters in the surface layers of marine and ocean waters. They live in the high and temperate latitudes of both hemispheres of the earth. This representative of the zooplankton is similar to the small shrimp in appearance, his body is composed of the abdomen and cephalothorax, with abdominal and thoracic pairs of limbs (pleopods and torakopods).
This pink shrimp during the period of active feeding and growth has a green color of cephalothorax. It's base has legs with bundles of gills which ensure saturation of blood with dissolved in the water oxygen.
Extraction of krill in small quantities started in the XIX century, but the commercial importance in industrial amounts was purchased in the second half of the twentieth century, especially related to the Antarctic species, inhabiting the coasts of Japan and the USSR. In the 80's of last century trawl catch of not specified krill was 500 thousand tons annually, and its stock equaled to four hundred million tons, which exceeded the global amount of fish caught by several times. Currently, the crustacean fishery decreased five-fold in response to the need to distinguish the species composition to obtain a license. Speaking about the krill, we mean now exceptionally Euphausiids, though often many other species are caught in the net: amphipods, hyperiids, previously included in the concept of "krill". There are also geographically isolated species: the Pacific and the Norwegian krill.
Amazing health benefits of Krill oil
Krill Oil (KO) is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which lower triglyceride levels, slow the stockpiling of plaque in the arteries, reducing blood pressure, inhibits the growth of cancer cells in the gut, also lower the risk of heart attack, stroke and dying. In fact, the Commission on Food and Drug Administration stated that "consumption of EPA/DHA and other Omega-3 fatty acids may prevent the risk of coronary heart illness".
Great interest in omega-3 fatty acids appeared in the early 80s, when Danish scientists J. Dyerberg and H. Bang found that the inhabitants of Greenland have extremely low levels of cardiovascular disease, due, most likely, drinking large amounts of seafood, rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Researchers found that blood plasma of Greenland inhabitants, compared to the Danes, has a higher concentration of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) acids and less content of linoleic and arachidonic acids. These data confirmed by the results of epidemiological surveys in coastal areas of Japan, the Netherlands and other countries. Later It emerged that the omega-3 fatty acids, along with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities, improve blood circulation, reduce blood cholesterol levels, and also protect the skin from ultraviolet rays, so slow down photoaging. Krill oil is very useful for kids, especially for those, who have autism or aspergers symptoms. However, not all omega-3 oils are equally useful.
Krill Oil in scientific magazine
According to U.S. magazine, "Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition", fish oil, which is still considered very useful, yield to neptune krill oil. Studies have shown that KO slows the production of fat in the liver much more effective than fish oil.
Currently, there are a lot of foods containing polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 class in web and other markets. But only omega-3 from the Antarctic krill in the phospholipid compounds form with potent natural antioxidant astaxanthin shows so pronounced and obvious scientifically proven results.
Krill is a tiny crustacean, found in the northern seas. Krill oil doesn't have any serious side effects, it contains in its structure a unique combination of natural phospholipids, EPA, DHA (omega 3), powerful antioxidants such as vitamins A and E, astaxanthin and omega-9 (oleic acid) fatty acids. KO have a perfect ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which is approximately 15/1. KO also contains flavonoids and carotenoids, and its antioxidant capacity is 500 times more than in vitamin E. And Phospholipids are the basis of the cell membranes of whole human body, they maintain stability and normal functioning.
You should know, that KO is 40% composed of phospholipids, while some kinds of fish do not contain phospholipids at all.
In addition, usefull acids from fish oil are polyunsaturated, therefore they can easily be oxidized. Vitamin E, which is present in krill oil supplements, has antioxidant properties. It helps to prevent the prooxidant effect of valuable acids. Also vitamin E has many useful features by itself.
KO with high content of phospholipids and omega-3 fatty acids provides the brain cells unique combination of structural components, which can not be obtained from other marine life forms. Phospholipids consist of a glycerol molecule, two long-chain of fatty acids and phospholipid group (usually phosphatidylcholine). Krill phospholipids structure helps to protect omega-3 fatty acids in the complex process of digestion, because other phospholipids, coming with food, are usually destroyed without any benefit. Thus, krill phospholipids with omega-3 acids enter the bloodstream in an unmodified form. Than they are digested by the cells of the brain, including in the composition of their cell membranes, as well as taking part in the process of nerve impulses transmission and prostaglandin synthesis.
Krill Oil risks
And what about the risks and dangers of using Krill Oil? Many professionals and pharmacists say that it is absolutely harmless. Their argument is that the KO - absolutely pure natural product, extracted from ecologically clean area. Indeed, krill dwell in the Antarctic region, which is isolated from other ocean by water stream. And Krill Oil, in fact, is the best of the presently known sources of omega 3 fatty acids. But do not forget about allergic reactions, compatibility with other drugs and overdose. It's also very important to store this product properly - at room temperature, but not refrigerated. Otherwise, phospholipid compounds may lose their effectiveness.
Dosage Table of Krill Oil
For whom dosage frequency
Kids (age: 1-5 years) 500mg Every day
Kids (5-10 y.o.) 1000mg Every day
Kids (10 and older) 1000-1500mg Every day
Cats and Dogs (huskies/malamutes) 1000mg (1capsule per 20lbs) Every day
Arthritis patients 300mg Every day (during 7-14 days)
High Cholesterol and Triglycerides patients 1-3 grams (depends on body mass) Every day
Menstrual Problems patients 2 grams Every day (for 1 month)