Krill Oil – The Health Benefits
Krill oil is a popular food supplement and one that offers many health benefits, At Nutrigold we have been supplying this food supplement for a number of years and work closely with our suppliers to ensure a clean and sustainable source. In fact, our krill oil comes from one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world. Krill oil is extracted with minimal processing leaving a clean, natural product as close to nature as it can be and as krill are at the bottom of the food chain they are naturally low in heavy metals and environmental pollutants. In this article we look into some of the health benefits and also dive into krill oil sustainability credentials.
Osteoarthritis and Joint Health
A new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study led by Dr. Welma Stonehouse from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), in conjunction with an Australian research team, investigated the effects of krill oil on adults suffering from mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis and knee pain.
The study concluded that krill oil resulted in improvements in knee pain, stiffness, and physical function in adults with mild to moderate Knee Osteoarthritis (OA). Moreover, the study found that participants with the greatest level of inflammation at baseline experienced greater improvements in knee pain. The scientific study is published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, one of the top-tier scientific journals in nutrition.
Choline – Why is it Important?
Choline is an important nutrient that is sometimes forgotten among other vitamins, but it’s actually critical for maintaining good health, beginning with pregnancy and continuing throughout life. To that end, it’s essential that you get enough choline from your diet. Choline is a key element of krill oil, making this an easy method to consume the amount of choline you need.
Brain – Choline is a critical component of the building blocks of the nervous system, including neurotransmitters that are the basis for brain messaging. Furthermore, it has been shown to positively impact brain development, decreasing your risk of poor cognition and memory with age.
Liver – Choline helps remove fat from your liver. This prevents nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). According to the Mayo Clinic, NAFLD affects an estimated 80 million to 100 million Americans. In Europe, it’s the fastest growing health epidemic, affecting 1 in 4 people.
Heart – Choline is instrumental in supporting the nerve impulse systems that promote a strong heart muscle. Choline helps to keep your heart and blood vessels healthy, in part by helping to reduce blood pressure.
Pregnancy – The importance of ensuring adequate choline intake during pregnancy is increasingly recognized. According to a 2019 study, supplementing the maternal diet with additional choline has been shown to improve offspring cognition, neurodevelopment and placental functioning.
So, do you get enough choline? Probably not, 9 in 10 Americans are not consuming enough choline for optimal health, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. Studies show that the European population is not consuming enough choline either. These days, both Americans and Europeans are eating less foods that offer the richest sources of choline – liver, eggs, and a variety of meats. The adequate daily intake level for choline has been set at 550 mg. However, actual daily intakes are considerably lower: 402 mg. In other words, a 148 mg gap.
Takeaways: Although choline is present in everyday foods, it can be quite difficult to consume optimal amounts through our diets. Most people in US/European countries, specifically, are not getting the recommended daily amount of choline in their diet, which can lead to health issues. Choline is crucially important for a healthy brain and strong memory. It helps keep your heart healthy and may help prevent fatty liver disease. This is why it’s important to consider taking a supplement to help boost your choline levels.
Phospholipids – what are they good for?
Phospholipids are natural, integral parts of cells. They are structural components of cell surface membranes and the membranes within the cells because they help maintain their strength, flexibility, and integrity. Some refer to phospholipids as the “molecule of life”, as, without them, we would suffer critical cellular dysfunction and, with that, enormous health consequences.
In addition to being structural components of your cells, phospholipids also have the responsibility of carrying long-chain omega-3s eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) into your cell membranes. These ingredients provide flexibility to the cell and travel around your body which benefit various tissues and organs. Omega-3s are proving to be just as important, with recent research proving that a relative deficiency could increase the risk of heart attack nearly 10-fold in those with the lowest levels. So where can you find both phospholipids and omega-3s? Only in a few places: fatty fish like Atlantic Salmon and Herring, and Krill Oil.
In krill oil, omega-3s are delivered in a mix of phospholipids and triglycerides. The majority of the EPA and DHA omega-3s are bound to phospholipids. In contrast, other marine oil omega-3s have EPA and DHA bound to triglycerides, the form of fats the body uses for energy — a form that is also stored as body fat for future energy needs.
Phospholipids versus Triglycerides – The physical characteristics of triglycerides differ from phospholipids and this affects how they are tolerated by the body. One clear difference is that triglycerides don’t disperse and have a tendency to float on top of stomach fluids, which can result in the fishy burps often associated with fish oil supplements. On the other hand, phospholipid omega-3s do disperse in water and are easily blended in the stomach fluids, which is why there is no fishy aftertaste when you take krill oil supplements.
Krill Oil and Sustainability
As mentioned before our krill oil comes from one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world, from one of the most pristine waters on earth, the Antarctic Ocean. Our krill oil is MSC certified which is the gold standard for independent sustainable fishery management, and also Friends of the Sea accredited. MSC standards require auditing of the entire supply chain. Focussing on the sustainability of the stock to ensure enough krill to maintain healthy and replenishable levels. Ecosystem impacts, minimising the impact on the surrounding environment to ensure a healthy ecosystem and effective management for operations that comply with all international regulations and laws.
In summary, krill oil supplementation has many health benefits and provides a sustainable option for consuming essential nutrients.
