Krill Oil VS Fish Oil Supplements – Which Omega 3 Is Better And Should You Be Taking Them?
For years we’ve heard all of the experts tell us how important it is to take Omega 3 supplements. But when it comes to “the best,” who wins the battler of krill oil vs fish oil? Chances are that if you ended up here you have probably heard that krill oil is better than fish oil supplements. Let me just clear this up right away — it’s true. Although I wouldn’t say that I wouldn’t take fish oil, it’s clear that krill oil is the superior choice for an Omega 3 supplement.
Before I get into this I want just say that I’m not bashing fish oil supplements at all. In fact, I’ve taken them for years and I believe that they do provide great benefits. All I’m saying here is that since I’ve learned of the fish oil alternative, the decision between krill oil and fish oil is an easy one. There has even been a lot of different scientific research that prove the benefits to taking krill oil supplements are better than fish oil supplements. Either way though, I feel that the quality of the supplement you choose is very important.
Krill Oil VS Fish Oil
Okay, so just why is krill oil better than fish oil? As I mentioned, there have been numerous studies that have proven krill oil is a more beneficial Omega 3 supplement than fish oil. In the research paper referenced above from Pub Med the study was conducted with this objective:
To assess the effects of krill oil on blood lipids, specifically total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
The outcome was clear as we can see by their findings:
Krill oil 1-3 g per day (BMI-dependent) was found to be effective for the reduction of glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and HDL, compared to both fish oil and placebo … At lower and equal doses, krill oil was significantly more effective than fish oil for the reduction of glucose, triglycerides, and LDL levels.
In addition to these findings there are still other reasons that in a direct comparison of krill oil vs fish oil, krill oil is the better choice. Some of the reasons why krill oil was found to be superior to fish oil are:
- Krill oil does not contain the contaminants that regular fish oil has because krill are a deep see fish. They also do not contain the high mercury levels that regular fish oil has.
- Krill oil is pure and concentrated which provides much more benefit than regular fish oil.
- The Omega 3 fatty acids in krill oil bind to our cells better than regular fish oil.
- The antioxidant levels in krill oil vs fish oil is much greater and highly concentrated.
- Krill oil is absorbed into our blood stream quicker than fish oil which helps prevent the fishy after-taste.
These facts seem to indicate that fish oil is a poor choice for an Omega 3 fatty acid. I don’t think that they really are “bad” choice though. In fact, if it weren’t for krill oil I’d still recommend fish oil. When it comes to krill oil vs fish oil though, krill wins hands down.
Here’s a comparison chart that shows just a few of the benefits mentioned above:
If you’re interested in a full-on report comparing krill oil versus fish oil, you can click here to get Prograde’s 32 page PDF for free — it’s pretty interesting to say the least.
Is Krill Oil Good For Weight Loss?
What about the benefits krill oil has for weight loss?
Omega 3 supplements — whether krill oil or fish oil — aid in fat loss because they reduce your insulin levels. When insulin levels are high, your body cannot use it’s fat for fuel. Because of all of the benefits to krill oil when compared to fish oil, I have to say krill oil wins hands down.
As far as which brand of krill oil, I recommend Prograde’s krill oil because they really concentrate on the quality of all of their supplements.
Whether for weight loss or for overall health, krill oil (and even fish oil) does have great benefits. In addition to what we’ve already mentioned, you can
- improve your memory,
- alleviate PMS symptoms,
- protect your heart,
- lower your cholesterol,
- boost your energy levels and
- relieve joint pain
by supplementing your diet with some form of Omega 3. To answer the first question on whether or not you should be taking either fish oil or krill oil, yes — you should take a good quality Omega 3 supplement, preferably krill oil.
Click here to see the nutritional facts and to see some of my other recommended weight lifting supplements.
References:
Kalmijn S, van Boxtel MP, Ocké M, et al. Dietary intake of fatty acids and fish in relation to cognitive performance at middle age. Neurology. 2004; 62(2): 275-80.
Innis SM. Dietary (n–3) fatty acids and brain development. J Nutr. 2007; 137: 855-859.
Lagarde M, Bernoud N, Brossard N, et al. Lysophosphatidylcholine as a preferred carrier form of docosahexaenoic acid to the brain. J Mol Neurosci. 2001; 16: 201-4.
Wainwright PE. Dietary essential fatty acids and brain function: a developmental perspective on mechanisms. Proc Sci Nutr. 2002; 61: 61-69.
Dave - Not Your Average Fitness Tips
July 5, 2011 @ 10:10 am
Krill oil is great. I started taking it a few months ago and will be very interested to see how my blood work changes going forward. Previously I avoided fish oil supplements due to the aftertaste. That’s the biggest benefit of krill oil in my opinion … all the benefits without the taste.