8 Reasons Why You Should Trade Out Your Fish Oil For Krill Oil
POSTED ON March 12, 2015 BY Shantha Kalia


Written by: Shantha Kalia
You are probably one of those people who take fish oil supplements because it is considered a miracle supplement and great for treating and maintaining a host of conditions, including heart health, cognitive health, hormone regulation, etc. You also take it because it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, right?
Well, there is another type of omega 3 rich oil – krill oil – which is more potent than fish oil and comes from small crustaceans – like shrimp – instead of fatty fish.
Krill thrive in the Antarctic Ocean and constitute the largest biomass on the earth and are a dietary staple for seals, penguins, fish and whales with their nutritional needs. Apart from being a highly renewable source, krill is harvested wild in the cold, unpolluted seas surrounding Antarctica and is thus free from mercury, heavy metals and other toxins.
So, what’s the difference between krill oil and fish oil?
Krill Oil vs. Fish Oil
Both krill oil and fish oil contain omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are essential to human health, but the human body is incapable of manufacturing them and so it must be obtained from diet or supplements.
What makes krill oil special is that its long-chain fatty acids are structurally different from fish oils because it comes in the form of a phospholipid, which is easier for the body to absorb. It has the added bonus of containing another essential nutrient, choline, as well as an antioxidant astaxanthin, which imparts the bright red pigment to the krill oil and colors other crustaceans like crab, shrimp and lobster. The absorption rate is up to 60% better than fish oil, which means less capsules a day than fish oil are needed to achieve the desired health benefits.
Nearly 40% of krill oil is bonded omega-3 phospholipid, which unlike fish oil omega-3’s, doesn’t need any conversion. The phospholipid structure of the EPA and DHA in krill oil makes them much more absorbable and allows for a much easier entrance into the mitochondria and the cellular nucleus. The rapid absorption of krill oil eliminates the “fishy burp” and its aftertaste. Krill oil capsules are also smaller in size than fish oil capsules, making them easier to swallow.

Here Are 8 Major Benefits of Krill Oil and WHY You Should Be Using This Miracle Elixir Daily:
- Krill oil helps sustain healthy cardiovascular health.
- Improves and maintains HDL (good cholesterol) and lowers LDL (bad cholesterol).
- Reduces arthritic symptoms by reducing pain, stiffness, loss of function and inflammation measured by C-reactive protein (CRP), which is linked to chronic inflammation.
- Reduces pre-menstrual syndrome symptoms and painful menstruation.
- Sustains healthy inflammatory pathways.
- Promotes skin health.
- Promotes brain health.
- Helps with management of chronic diseases.

Healthcare Professional and Certified Health Coach at
Shantha Kalia Shantha Kalia is a healthcare professional in New York City.After completing her Masters in Public Health, she has worked in different capacities in health care for over 15 years.
Shantha is a medical writer and contributes articles to several websites on various medical and health-related topics. She is a certified health coach and graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Her interests include cooking, health and wellness and nutrition.
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