A Deep Dive into Krill Oil
What exactly is krill oil? The word “krill” is Norwegian and means ‘small fry of fish’, but krill are not actually fish at all. These small, shrimp-like crustaceans really pack a punch for human health! Krill oil, similar to other omega-3 supplements, contains the essential EPA and DHA, but unlike other fish oil, krill also contains choline and astaxanthin.
Choline is a nutrient often grouped with the B vitamin family. It is essential for liver, heart, and brain support, among others. Astaxanthin (pronounced AS·TA·ZAN·THIN) is a potent antioxidant that works to protect cells and tissues from damage. Krill feed on an algae that contains astaxanthin, which is responsible for giving krill oil its red hue (and flamingos their pink hue).
Not all krill is created equal – there are a whopping 86 different species of krill. Innovite uses wild caught Euphausia Superba from the Antarctic Ocean which has the highest concentration of EPA and DHA.
Why would someone typically reach for an omega-3 supplement?
Typically, most people think of taking omega-3’s when a specific condition or health issue arises such as:
- Inflammation and joint pain
- Heart health – high blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides
- Cognitive function – lack of mental focus, ADD, cognitive decline
- Mood imbalance
- Skin issues – acne, eczema, psoriasis
But, omega-3’s are in fact essential to our daily health (even more so during pregnancy). Our bodies don’t make these healthy fats and therefore we either need to consume ample amounts via our diet or introduce a supplemental form of omega-3 fatty acids.
Symptoms of omega-3 deficiency
Omega-3’s play a fundamental role in many different aspects of health, symptoms of deficiency often overlap with other health issues, which can make it difficult to detect. Some symptoms of omega-3 deficiency include dry skin and hair, excessive ear wax, joint pain and inflammation, cognitive difficulties, low mood, and dry eyes.
To find out if you’re deficient, ask your Naturopath or Medical Doctor to run an omega-3 index test. The average North American has an omega-3 index of less than 4%. The lower your omega-3 index, the higher your risk. Raising the omega-3 index level to 8% may reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death by up to 30%. On average krill oil can increase an individual’s omega-3 index level up to 3x faster than a typical fish oil.
What to look for when choosing an omega-3 supplement?
There are quite literally hundreds of options when it comes to choosing an omega-3 supplement. Here are a few things to take into consideration.
Absorption and Digestion
Krill is absorbed up to 3x faster than fish oil due to a few factors. It’s molecular structure is similar to our own cellular structure, and it’s uniquely both fat and water soluble which helps it break down much easier. Krill is a great option for anyone experiencing difficulty digesting fats due to low stomach acid or gallbladder removal. Better digestion and absorbability means no fishy burps! Bonus: Innovite’s 500mg softgel is about half of the size of a green pea, making it ideal for anyone who has difficulty swallowing pills.
Potency and Toxicity
Krill, similar to other omega-3 supplements, contains the essential EPA and DHA, but unlike other fish oil, krill oil also contains choline and astaxanthin. Krill are significantly smaller than any fish found in a typical fish oil supplement. The smaller the organism, the lower on the food chain, the lower the toxicity levels.
Sustainability
Sustainability is an important factor when it comes to choosing an omega-3 supplement. Krill oil happens to be one of the most sustainable sources. Innovite harvests’ less than 1% of the total krill population per year. Krill make up the world’s largest biomass – that means by weight and volume, there are more krill on earth than any other species! In fact, about twice as much biomass as humans.
Whether you’re experiencing a health issue, or you feel fit as a fiddle, omega-3’s are essential to human health. Innovite offers krill oil in a 500mg and 1000mg softgel – add a daily dose of this omega-3 powerhouse to your routine for optimized health and wellbeing.