Step aside, salmon; another sea creature is creeping into your territory and has become a widely popular alternative to fish oil sources of omega-3 essential fatty acids. If you haven’t heard of krill, they are tiny shrimp-like crustaceans that serve as a food source for whales, rays, sharks, squid and seals. Krill travel in swarms, mostly in coldwater oceans, and feed on phytoplankton, microscopic algae organisms.
Oil extracted from krill is rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids EPA and DHA, as well as a powerful antioxidant known as astaxanthin, which gives the krill their reddish pigmentation. Krill oil has become popular not only for its contents, but for its possible advantages over other fish oils. For starters, proponents say that krill oil does not induce the “fishy burp.” Some people choose it for the added antioxidant factor, although it is worth noting that wild salmon does contain some amount of this beneficial compound as well.
So, what can this helpful crustacean do for you? Well, as with other omega-3 EFA sources, krill oil may help support healthy cholesterol levels already in the normal range, as well as healthy inflammatory response, healthy skin and normal joint function. Krill oil may also help reduce certain mild discomforts associated with normal PMS.
Unless you’re frequently dining in a Japanese restaurant (or you happen to be a baleen whale or other large coldwater fish), you likely won’t come across krill as a food. Luckily, krill oil supplements are easy to find. They generally come in the form of softgels and are available in a variety of different potencies.