Health Blog: Why we need omega-3s … and krill oil

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Why should we take omega-3 supplements, especially if we are consuming a balanced and nutritious diet?

One major reason is because the nutritional value of our foods today has changed dramatically, largely as a result of how they are produced and distributed. Far from the ideal 1:1 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats, average diets today contain 6-20 times as much omega-6s as omega-3s. This poses serious health risks. In fact, omega-3 deficiency is so rampant that mainstream health media now considers the lack of omega-3 fats in diet as among society’s most pressing health issues.

However, many people are still confused about how to incorporate omega-3 fats into their diets. We can’t rely upon seafood as the only source because of the implied exposure to toxic substances from industrial pollution. Children, pregnant women and nursing mothers, in particular, are warned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to avoid certain seafood in quantity and frequency. Even among those of us who regularly consume omega-rich foods such as flaxseed, chia seed, fish and seafood, concern lingers that our food choices may not be providing us with enough benefits.

What's so good about krill oil?

So where can we turn? In the realm of multi-faceted nutrition and supplementation, krill oil is the veritable cream of the crop, one of nature’s perfect marvels. Supplementation with krill oil, in addition to nourishing the body with omega-3 and antioxidants, also helps fight oxidative stress, inflammation and free radicals. And krill oil is a safer substitute for seafood because of krill’s low rank in the aquatic food chain and, thus, less exposure to marine pollutants.

Like fish oil, krill oil is a rich source of omega-3 acids—docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentanoic acid (EPA)—but with a significant difference. In krill oil, the omega-3s are attached to phospholipids. Our cell walls contain fats in the phospholipid form. The phospholipid structure of the omega-3s in krill oil therefore makes them rapidly absorbable and allows for easier entry into our cells and on to the mitochondria (often called the power center of cells) and nuclei. The rapid absorption has an added benefit for consumers: there is virtually no aftertaste or fishy reflux that some experience with fish oils. 

The conjugation of phospholipids—mainly phosphatidylcholine—with DHA and EPA gives krill oil an edge over fish oil in a number of ways. The phospholipids, by virtue of their connection with omega-3 fatty acids are also exactly right for proper brain function. Furthermore, they are a part of the eicosanoids system—an extremely important hormone-messenger system in the cells of the body.

What else is in krill oil?

In krill oil, phosphatidylcholine, also known as marine lecithin, is a rich source of choline—a water-soluble essential micronutrient generally grouped within the B-complex vitamins. Choline, naturally found in the lipids that make up cell membranes and in the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, is ideal for energy and mental alertness. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences has established adequate intakes (AI) for choline of between 425 to 550 milligrams daily for adults.

Another advantage of krill oil over fish oil is that in the former, the EPA chain is attached to a molecule of astaxanthin—a potent antioxidant and carotenoid. Besides astaxanthin, krill oil contains other carotenoids such as canthaxanthin, tunaxanthin, zeaxanthin, diatoxanthin, cynthiaxanthin and lutein—all of which are powerful antioxidants and lend it ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorptance Capacity) values as much as 48 times that of fish oil. Astaxanthin prevents the highly unsaturated omega-3 oils in krill oil from going rancid as rapidly as they do in fish oil and also protects us against ultraviolet light. Thus, krill oil is becoming increasingly popular in the cosmeceuticals industry. Scientific research shows that astaxanthin in addition to anti-aging effects, is effective in lowering LDL-cholesterol and raising HDL-cholesterol and reducing blood sugar. 

One cannot stress the overall systemic protection one can get from krill oil. It is simply nature’s perfect recipe for nutrition. One caution: if you are allergic to shellfish and shrimp, or if you’re taking a blood thinner such as Coumadin, then krill oil may not be for you. Check with your health provider.

You can read Kantha Shelke's food blog, Is Homogenized Milk Better or Worse for You?, here, or the rest of Kantha Shelke's food blogs here. 

Read other WellWise health bloggers here.

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