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Doctors, dietitians, and health experts all seem to agree that supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids in krill is essential for our overall health.
Research shows that omega-3s can provide a wide range of health benefits, from joint health to memory and concentration. 1,2
The popularity of krill oil has led to hundreds of krill oil supplements flooding the market.
While these supplements promise benefits, the reality is that many fall short.
Some of the most popular brands use ineffective or underdosed krill oil.
Many contain impurities, dilute oils, and unwanted fillers.
How to Pick a Quality Omega-3 Krill Oil Supplement and Avoid Junk.
With so many options to choose from, many of us may still be unclear about how to look for a quality omega-3 krill oil supplement.
To help clear your mind, we've put together months of research on which key ingredients benefit your joint, heart, and overall cognitive health.
This short guide will help you understand what to look for and what to avoid so that you can make an informed decision when it comes to meeting your omega-3 needs.
Let's take a moment to understand exactly how krill oil can improve your overall health and why it's crucial to add it to your daily routine.
Health benefits of omega-3 krill oil
Improves joint health
A 2018 clinical study found that supplementing with Antarctic krill oil improved articular cartilage structure and helped inhibit gene expression that is detrimental to overall joint health. 3
Fights inflammation
Krill oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, which have been clinically shown to help reduce chronic inflammation associated with arthritis. 4
Stronger bones
A clinical study involving 65 older adults found that omega-3 fatty acids improved bone mineral density and calcium absorption in the lumbar spine. 5
Improves brain function
Many scientists have long believed that low omega-3 levels may be one of the triggers for cognitive decline and memory loss.
Recent studies have shown that the polyunsaturated fatty acids in krill oil help boost the production of choline, an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in learning, memory, and healthy brain function. 6
Boosts mood and reduces anxiety
Researchers have found that there is an imbalance between omega-3 and omega-6 in patients with anxiety and mood problems.
Omega-3-rich krill oil can help rebalance omega-3 and omega-6 levels in the body, which can reduce inflammation and thus reduce stress and anxiety. 7,8
Heart health
A clinical study in people with type 2 diabetes showed that krill oil helped raise HDL (the "good" cholesterol) levels and reduce several heart disease risk factors. 9
Better looking**
*It is the largest organ in the human body and relies on omega-3s to maintain its structure and function.
Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce redness, improve** elasticity, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and make the complexion look younger. 21
Health**
Omega-3 fatty acids may help provide satiety, which reduces appetite, and increases metabolism to help**. 13,14
4 Things to Avoid When Buying Krill Oil Supplements
1.Not from the Antarctic Ocean
Today, most oceans are filled with harmful levels of mercury and PCBs, which are toxic man-made chemicals from industrial use. 15
Avoid any krill oil supplements that do not clearly list the krill** they use.
Look for krill oil brands that source only krill from pristine Antarctic oceans.
It is one of the last oceans in the world to be free of these harmful toxins.
2.Uncoated softgels
A common complaint from krill oil users is the fishy smell of uncoated softgels.
Avoid cheap brands that use cheap uncoated softgels.
Some consumer-focused brands have started offering krill oil softgels with a natural lemon oil coating.
We prefer these varieties because they eliminate any fishy smell and help ensure that nothing is holding you back from sticking to your basic omega-3 regimen.
3.Rely on Amazon reviews
Research shows that in March 2019, there were 1.8 million new unverified reviews, an average of 996% are five-star reviews. 16
Most of these reviews come from people who pay to write reviews.
These fake reviews exaggerate the number of products and overall star ratings.
When deciding on products that may affect your health, don't rely on Amazon reviews as they can be extremely misleading.
4.The return policy is inadequate
Well-known krill oil supplement brands will show their confidence in their products by offering a 100% money-back guarantee policy.
Some people try to complicate their refund policy by limiting the types of returns they will accept.
Avoid buying any brand that doesn't have at least a 90-day no-questions-asked money-back guarantee.
Why is krill oil better than fish oil?
Better absorption
Krill oil is more easily absorbed by our bodies than fish oil.
When these oils enter our body, they need to be absorbed by our phospholipid-based fat cells.
As nature says, the fatty acids in krill oil are also in phospholipid form, making krill oil easier to absorb.
The fatty acids of fish oil are in the form of triglycerides, making it harder for the body to absorb. 17
Much less pollution
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned that much of the world's oceans are already contaminated with high levels of mercury and toxic PCBs, man-made chemicals that seep into waters in industrial complexes. 18
Fish oil is harvested from large fish that eat small fish.
The accumulation of toxins in larger fish can be potentially harmful to fish oil users.
On the other hand, krill have a short lifespan.
They do not feed on other fish, so the potential levels of mercury or PCB contamination are very low. 19
Astaxanthin
A significant advantage of krill over fish is that krill contains astaxanthin, while fish does not.
Astaxanthin is a potent antioxidant that has been shown in numerous clinical studies to help reduce joint pain and oxidative stress, while also improving blood flow, endurance, and heart health. 20
No fish burps
Fish oil supplements can cause the user to have terrible hiccups.
Krill oil doesn't have any aftertaste because it's water-soluble, can easily mix with our gastric juices, and avoids fish burps.
3 Criteria for a Quality Krill Oil Supplement
List of Quality Authors Dosage and specific aspects help distinguish high-quality krill oil supplements from regular krill oil supplements.
Here are three essential elements to consider before deciding which krill oil brand is best for your needs.
Clinically studied krill oil
What you ingest in your body is crucial, so we recommend that you choose more than just krill oil from the Antarctic ocean.
Look for a brand that also uses clinically tested krill oil that can provide the highest level of results.
These are typically premium forms of krill oil that go through a more complex extraction process that results in higher purity, freshness, and enhanced absorption.
Dosage
Experiencing the full benefits of krill oil depends on the dosage.
We have found that some popular brands have lower dosages than optimal.
Look for supplements that contain at least 1,600 mg of pure krill oil and 500 mg of phospholipids per serving.
Astaxanthin content
Astaxanthin is not cheap.
Manufacturers try to reduce costs by adding small amounts of this important anti-inflammatory antioxidant.
Supplement labels can be confused with the amount of some ingredients (milligrams (mg)) and the amount of other ingredients (micrograms (mcg)).
To help clarify, 1 mg = 1,000 mcg.
We recommend looking for supplements that contain at least 2 mg (2,000 mcg) of astaxanthin per serving.