Each year, worldwide, consumers buy millions of bottles of omega 3 fish oil supplements. It is only recently that people have wondered if omega 3 krill oil is a viable alternative. However, there are three things that need to be considered in making a choice - nutrition, the environment and cost.
Krill are small, shrimp-like crustaceans that are the food base of the marine ecosystems in the Antarctic and northern Pacific oceans. They also live in areas surrounding Japan. They are the main course for thousands of different animals - fish, birds, various types of whales. In fact without them, many Antarctic life forms be extinct.
What are the claims of omega 3 krill oil?
1. It is rich in the same omega 3s that are in fish - DHA and EPA. I checked the content of the most popular omega 3 krill oil and this is what it had per capsule [60 per bottle]:
EPA - 2,700mg
DHA - 1,500mg
Total - 4200mg per capsule
My fish oil product which also has 60 soft gel capsules contains:
EPA - 7,200mg. That is just under 3 times as much.
DHA - 16,800mg. That is more than 11 times as much.
Total - 24,000mg per capsule. That is about 6 times as much.
At $24.95, the krill product is also about $8.00 more per bottle. In other words, you pay more for a lot less.
2] It has natural antioxidants. The popular krill supplement has a small amount [.3mg per capsule] of an antioxidant called astaxanthin in it.
Large doses of any omega 3 product can cause too much free radical formation. That is why some quality fish oil companies add antioxidants like Rosemary extract and mixed tocopherols. Typical numbers are about 5mg of these two per capsule. This is a lot more potent than 0.3mgs of astaxanthin.
3] Krill is very low in contaminants. True. In general, large predatory species are the worse. However, if the fish oil is sourced and processed correctly, their levels of ocean toxins will be as low if not lower.
4] It is more environmentally friendly than fish sources. I do not understand this claim at all. Fish oil is not a drain on resources because the fish are caught to use their flesh for food. The oil is a byproduct, of which, less than 10% is used for supplements. It is true that many species are over harvested but this has nothing to do with the supplement market.
On the other hand: Omega 3 krill oil comes from catches mainly used for the supplement market, not food.
The National Geographic recently reported that recent studies "show Antarctic krill stocks may have dropped by 80 percent since the 1970s." It is thought this is due to a shrinking habitat but what ever the reason, the population is as endangered as many other species.
Remember, krill is also a primary source of marine food. One whale will eat 4 tons per day. Without it, these whales and thousands of other animals will starve.
If the point of the marketing is to say that omega 3 krill oil is better than substandard fish supplements, then I would agree. However, it is not necessary to radically upset the oceans food chain to solve a non existent problem.
Pollutant free fish oil products with large DHA and EPA doses do exist. My supplement meets both of these standards. It also is sourced from a fish whose catch is closely monitored by the New Zealand government - hoki. This means there will be plenty of hoki for future generations.
Author Resource:
Get my free five-part mini course on the benefits of omega 3, including critical information on why you should take omega3 fish oil .
To sign up for the course and get more tips on the importance of omega 3, visit my website: http://www.omega-3-guide.com/
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