Krill Oil vs. Fish Oil: What to Know About Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Omega-3 fatty acids are vital to every cell in your body. Taking an omega-3 supplement helps ensure you regularly get enough omega-3s to keep your cells in top shape.
- You can find different levels of omega-3s in chia seeds, fish oil and krill oil. For the biggest benefits, you want an omega supplement that puts krill oil front and center.
- With Bulletproof Omega Krill Complex, you get a unique blend of essential fatty acids, plus powerful antioxidants to support healthy aging.
You might have heard that fish is a great source of omega-3s. These fatty acids benefit everything from your brain to your heart, and taking an omega-3 supplement helps ensure you regularly get enough in your diet.
The question is, what’s the best omega-3 supplement? It might not be fish at all. Keep reading to find out the advantages of taking krill oil and how to get more of it.
What are omega-3 fatty acids?
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential parts of your cells. They’re found in everything from your hair and skin to your bones and blood.
There are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids:
- Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
- Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
- Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
Your body isn’t good at producing omega-3s. That’s why they’re called essential fatty acids—you have to get them from food or supplements.
What do omega-3 fatty acids do?
There are big health benefits to omega-3s.
They are essential to the structures of cell membranes and play an important role in brain and nervous system function. Omega-3s also support your mood, heart function, insulin sensitivity, muscle growth and sleep quality.
In 2013, scientists established a connection between living a longer life and eating about two servings of fish per week.[1] In the study, people with higher levels of omega-3s had a 27% decrease in overall mortality risk.
So, what’s the secret? Omega-3 fatty acids may help support heart health and reduce markers of inflammation.[2] [3] [4]
You can find these fatty acids in foods like fatty fish, grass-fed beef, algae oils, sardines, brussels sprouts and walnuts. But if you want the biggest benefits, krill oil delivers in more ways than one.
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Why is krill oil better?
The omega-3s from krill and fish oil supplements are better for you than the vegetable-based omega-3s found in sources such as flax oil. Here’s why: Vegetable-based sources also contain oxidized omega-6 fatty acids, which can contribute to inflammation—not what you need from a supplement.
Also, the majority of the omega-3 fatty acids in vegetable sources come in the form of a single type of fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). ALA can be converted into the other two essential fatty acid forms (EPA and DHA), but here’s the catch: Humans can convert only about 1-4% of ALA.
This means with vegetable-based sources of omega-3s, your body won’t get enough of the other two types of fatty acids it needs.
Luckily, krill oil and fish oil are both excellent sources of EPA and DHA.
Krill oil vs. fish oil: What you should know
Krill oil supplements deliver all the omega-3s (ALA, EPA and DHA) and they’re easier for your body to use because they’re packaged as phospholipids.
Why is that important? Every cell membrane in the body is made of phospholipids, so your body can put phospholipid building blocks to work repairing cell damage and building new cells.
Krill oil supplements also contain a bonus: a powerful antioxidant called astaxanthin to support your eyes and brain. Antioxidants also protect fats from oxidizing and generating those dangerous free radicals that increase the effects of aging.
The bottom line: The omega-3s in fish and krill oils deliver the full count of essential fatty acids. Krill oil is special because it’s easier for your body to use, and it gives you a dose of a powerful antioxidant called astaxanthin.
Related: The Bulletproof Guide to Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids
Why Bulletproof Omega Krill Complex is a pure catch
For the most complete omega-3 supplement, choose one that offers optimal doses of EPA and DHA, as well as an antioxidant to help defend against free radicals. Omega Krill Complex delivers it all.
You get a unique blend of omega-3s from Antarctic krill oil, Norwegian herring roe, Atlantic and Pacific fish oils. Plus, astaxanthin and olive fruit extract level up your body’s free radical fighting power.
The real bonus comes with a dash of GLA from borage seed to support healthy skin, plus a dose of flavor from real California lemons.
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This is an updated version of an article originally published December 2014.