What Is Krill Oil

What Is Krill Oil?

If you are concerned with your health, you may have considered taking an all-natural krill oil supplement. Krill are small crustaceans similar to shrimp that live in the ocean and are eaten by many marine species such as, penguins, seals, fish, and squid. Although most krill is used for aquaculture, sport fish bait, aquarium feeds, or food in Japan, much of it is used for krill oil extraction for nutritional supplements.
 
Krill oil is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which makes it popular as a nutritional supplement. Omega-3 fatty acids are also contained in other cold water fish like salmon, herring, mackerel, and sardines. They can affect cardio health through the management of cholesterol. Inflammation, respiratory health, immune health, eye health and brain development in infants, mood, and more can also be positively affected by the use of krill oil.
 
Krill oil also contains astaxanthin, the anti-oxidants that give shrimp, lobsters, and krill their pink color. These anti-oxidants can protect the cells in your body from free radical damage, which is caused by unstable substances that can contribute to chronic health problems. Astaxanthin can move across the blood brain barrier and can help to protect the eyes, central nervous system, and brain from free radical damage.
 
Many people wonder about krill oil compared to fish oil. Krill oil does not have a fishy aftertaste or cause you to burp fishy burps. Krill oil also has powerful antioxidant astaxanthin whereas fish oil supplements do not contain. Astaxanthin is known to be beneficial for body in many different ways.Krill oil is often used to remedy high cholesterol levels. Researchers conducted a study with 120 people who were given fish oil, krill oil, or placebo. Users who took krill oil had a reduction in their bad LDL cholesterol of 34% and an increase in good HDL cholesterol of 43.5%, compared to the users who took the placebo. The users who took fish oil reduced their LDL cholesterol at 4.6%, while their HDL cholesterol increased by 4.2%. The krill oil was also found to lower triglycerides.
 
The Journal of the American College of Nutrition performed another study in which they gave users 300mg of krill oil each day to compare to a placebo group, and discovered that krill oil effectively reduced arthritis symptoms and inflammation. There has been some preliminary research that suggests premenstrual syndrome symptoms may be reduced by krill oil as well, and more research should be conducted for other health benefits of Krill Oil in women.
 
Although the typical dose of krill oil contains less EPA and DHA than fish oil, the krill oil’s omega-3 fatty acids are bonded to phospholipids, not triglycerides. This gives unique biological attributes when ingested by humans so they are more easily absorbed and retained by the body.
 
Krill oil has been proven to provide many benefits to the body; more than fish oil, even. If you are looking for in all-natural supplement that can benefit many parts of the body and improve your health you may want to try a krill oil supplement each day.

 

 

Krill Oil Consumption History
The Japanese have been harvesting krill (also known as okiami) for human consumption since at least the 1800s.  In the last 50 years Japan has set up large scale fisheries to capture krill in Antarctica waters and in the northern pacific close to home.  Japan is the largest harvester of krill in the world.  Human consumption comes in the form of diet, medical products and supplements.In terms of the actual human consumption of whole krill, it has a mild flavor and is quite salty.  Their exoskeletons contain high concentrations of fluoride which is toxic so the tiny crustaceans have to be peeled before they can be used. The Japanese market 6 different krill products that are available which include: fresh frozen, boiled-frozen, peeled, canned, concentrate and Freeze dried.
 
Freeze dried krill is actually a concentrate of peeled tail meat and is used as a food additive.  The dried krill are said to retain all their nutritional value and have a long shelf life.  Frozen or freeze dried krill can be added to a number foods such as fish balls not unlike meatballs, Chinese dumplings, egg rolls and fish cannelloni to mention a few.  The concentrate comes in flakes or loose powder and is used as flavoring and as a coloring agent in soups, stews and seafood casseroles.   Unlike some spices and herbs, krill carries high nutritive value as a food additive.
 
Krill paste and krill protein concentrates are also available for human consumption.  Packets of dried krill and canned krill are readily available in Japan at the grocery store.  Cans of krill are not unlike our cans of tuna however, krill is a much healthier choice.It is believed that within the next 30 to 40 years may experience worldwide starvation.  Researchers are considering krill as a possible solution to the problem.  Krill is high in protein, omega-3s and antioxidants, abundant and very sustainable which makes it attractive in terms of providing a staple for the world.