subject: Who Will Win The Great Krill Oil Vs Fish Oil Debate? [print this page] Krill oil verses fish oilKrill oil verses fish oil. Which one is better for your health? Just about everyone now is aware of the health benefits of omega 3 essential fatty acids called DHA and EPA. And whilst fish oil is a good source of Omega-3 Krill oil also contains Omega-3 fatty acids. You can get both in Omega 3 supplements.
There is ample scientific evidence of the health benefits of increasing the amounts of EPA and DHA in your diet. The health benefits of increasing your intake of essential fatty acids known as Omega 3 fats include reducing your risk of death from heart disease, improving your mental function, reducing the risk of Alzheimer's, improving the outcome of cancer treatments and reducing the risk of some cancers, and more.
Krill are small shrimp like creatures found in the colder waters of our oceans. They are eaten by whales in huge numbers and also contain Omega 3 fats, including DHA.
There is currently a debate going on about the health benefits of Krill oil versus fish oil. Fish oil is high in essential fatty acids, and is normally the source of the omega 3 fats found in most essential fatty acid supplements. However it is now possible to buy omega 3 supplements from the oil of Krill alone. Let's examine the truths about some of the claimed benefits of Krill oil soft gels.
1.That They Are Contamination Free.
It is said that because Krill live in the more remote cold water areas of our oceans, including around Antarctica and in the north Atlantic, that they are free of the chemical contamination normally found in fish oil. However scientists have found that all parts of the planet are subject to chemical contamination from any chemicals which can become airborne, and many can. Scientists have found contamination in penguins which live Antarctica.
The only way to ensure that your Omega-3 fats are contamination 3 to buy high quality fatty acid supplements which have undergone a rigorous decontamination process. All fish oil supplements should have an independent certificate of analysis displayed on the website demonstrating clearly the cleanliness of the supplements.
Krill oil does not undergo any decontamination process at all and so the level of contamination is unknown, though it is highly unlikely that they are not contamination free.
2. The Cost Of The DHA.
The most important of the Omega 3 essential fatty acids is DHA. There are other Omega3 fats, including those found in flaxseed oil, called ALA, and there are also Omega-6 fatty acids, however it is generally considered that DHA is the most important to your health. Oil from Krill is very low in DHA and the price that you are paying for the DHA in it is over 5 times more expensive than buying DHA in fish oil supplements.
3. That There Is Astaxanthin In Krill Oil.
Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant which benefits your health and it is found in Krill oil. However the best fish oil supplements contain more astaxanthin than is found in Krill oil capsules.
4. That The Omega 3 Fats In Krill Oil Are Attached To Phospholipids.
Whilst the scientific aspects of this get a little technical, the bottom line is that there is no scientific proof that this has any health benefits it all. The supposed double chain phospholipid structure of Krill oil is not shown to add any health benefits.
5. The Scientific Studies Support The Health Benefits.
It is said that there are scientific studies backing the claims that oil from Krill is tremendously effective against various health problems. The patent for it is owned by a Canadian company and virtually all the studies which supposedly establish the benefits of Krill oil versus fish oil are financed by that company. It obviously has a financial interest in the results of studies. There are very few independent studies demonstrating that Krill oil is more potent than fish oil, or that it has any particular health benefits at all.
There is no doubt that increasing the amount of Omega 3 essential fatty acids in your diet, particularly DHA, is very important to improving your health and there are thousands of studies backing this up. However there is very little evidence of the health benefits of Krill oil. It is exceedingly well marketed, however is extremely expensive for the quantity of DHA obtained, and it's cleanliness is completely unknown.
If it's cleanliness is unknown the potential side effects from taking Krill oil capsules are also unknown. So if you are wondering about the Krill oil versus fish oil debate, there's something for you to think about. Fish oil capsules are dramatically cheaper, more proven and probably cleaner.
