By Meghan MacKinnon, ND
Naturopathic Doctor in Aurora and Markham
Fish oil is a staple in most naturopathic doctors’ supplement collections. The research supporting fish oil is vast with application in heart disease, high cholesterol, anxiety and depression, weight loss and in women’s health concerns such as menstrual cramps. The credit for this miracle supplement is largely given to the omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA which help to balance inflammation.
Well, now there’s a new kid on the block- krill oil. Krill oil is derived from krill which are small plankton-like sea creatures that supply the greatest proportion of the world’s food chain. Krill live in the cold waters of the Antarctic ocean and have a higher amount of DHA and EPA to help them cope in this harsh climate. In addition to the high EPA and DHA content, krill oil contains astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant. This combination has shown that krill oil may be more beneficial than fish oil in a variety of conditions including premenstrual syndrome (PMS), dyslipidemia and inflammatory markers in arthritis. If this isn’t enough, krill oil is a much more sustainable and environmentally friendly choice making it the fish oil of the future.
References: Krill Oil Monograph, Alt. Med Review, 10 (1), 2010