Both fish oil and krill oil contain the omega – 3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are good for our heart, mind and body. But is it OK to take both of these supplements? The short answer is, yes. While they share some health benefits because they both contain EPA and DHA, krill oil and fish oil also have some differences in how they react in our bodies and which additional nutrients they contain. So, taking both of these supplements on a daily basis can bring you even more health benefits than just taking fish oil.
Krill oil is a newer source of omega – 3 and while more research still needs to be done, there is already promising evidence that krill oil not only supplies us with EPA and DHA in a different molecular structure, but also acts as a natural anti-inflammatory because it contains a powerful antioxidant called astaxanthin. This substance gives the krill oil its red hue and has many other positive effects on our body.
In this article, we will look at the benefits of both fish oil and krill oil separately and then talk about the benefits of taking both of these supplements. Let’s go!
Health Benefits of Omega 3 Fatty Acids
When we hear omega – 3, we think about fish oil, and rightly so. Fish oil is one of the most popular food supplements in the world and also one of the best researched ones, too. It contains the fatty acids EPA and DHA which are essential for many processes in our body, but that we cannot produce ourselves. We therefore rely on consuming them through our diet or with the help of high-quality food supplements.
Some health benefits of those fats are that they can contribute to reducing the triglyceride levels in our blood, which in turn reduces the risk of heart disease. They can also have a positive effect on our joints because they are a natural anti-inflammatory and can even ease the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. Omega – 3s also have a positive impact on our brain and can even strengthen our immune system and help us to stay fit and healthy. They are taken by many people around the world, from models, to athletes to regular people, who want to live an active and conscious lifestyle.
But omega – 3 is not the same as fish oil, but merely a substance that occurs in this type of oil. Fish oil is gained from fatty fish like anchovies, mackerel and salmon and contains those omega 3s because the fish ingest them through their diet. Omega – 3 describes a specific type of fatty acids based on their molecular structure and these fats can also occur in other types of oils, like krill oil for example, which we will talk about now.
Health Benefits of Krill Oil
Krill oil has recently emerged as a new source rich in EPA and DHA and therefore, there is less research about this type of supplement. There are some promising results but almost all the following health benefits have to be taken with a grain of salt, as science is still not 100% sure about them! But with time and more research, we are confident that more and more positive results will show, and we already offer a high-quality krill oil supplement in our store because we believe in the power of this amazing natural omega – 3 supplement.
Just like fish oil, krill oil contains the omega – 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA and therefore shares most of its health benefits with fish oil. But there are some differences between the two, which we have elaborated on in this blog post . Krill oil also comes from an animal that lives in the sea, but this time, it is much smaller: Krill are small crustaceans that live in huge swarms in the oceans of the world. We use Antarctic Krill that lives in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica in one of the cleanest oceans of the world. Because of their small size, krill are low in the food chain and therefore contain little pollutants, which makes them a great source for an omega – 3 supplement. Additionally, krill oil has some extra benefits because of the two special substances it contains: astaxanthin and choline.
Astaxanthin is an antioxidant, which means that it can protect our body from oxidative damage that is done by so-called free radicals. Here you can read more about that!
Choline is another important substance for our body that we cannot produce ourselves. It has been shown that a diet low in choline can contribute to fatty liver disease as they are essential for the proper metabolism of fats in our system. It is therefor crucial for our health and well-being, that we consume sufficient amounts of choline in our diet on a regular basis.
The fatty acids are stored in a different biochemical form in krill oil than in fish oil, which might explain the differences in the absorption rate of the fatty acids in our body. In krill oil, many of the EPA and DHA are bound as phospholipids, in contrast to fish oil, where they occur as triglycerides. Phospholipids have a simpler digestive process and may therefore be easier to absorb for our body. How much EPA and DHA we absorb out of a capsule of fish oil or krill oil however, depends on the concentration of the supplement, which is why you should really focus on that when buying your supplement!
So, Why Not Take Both?
If you want to make the most of the benefits of the omega – 3 fatty acids you can easily take both fish oil and krill oil supplements. Like we said above, they share many of the health benefits such as their positive impact on our blood lipid levels, heart health, immune system and even our skin. But if you take them both, you can make sure to make the most of all the benefits they offer. By adding krill oil to your diet, you can ensure that you consume sufficient amounts of choline with may be beneficial for the proper functioning of your liver, as well as an extra dose of antioxidants in the form of astaxanthin, which supports your immune system and can contribute to reducing oxidative stress on your tissue
Because most people nowadays don’t eat the recommended two to three servings of fish a week, almost all of us should rely on a food supplement to hit our recommended omega – 3 target. In our shop you can find a wide selection of high-quality fish oil and krill oil capsules and on our blog there is a lot more information for you to browse!