What is Krill Oil?
Krill are basically tiny shrimp-like crustaceans with high nutritional value. They are believed to be the largest animal biomass on Earth, making them very plentiful and easy to harvest. Research suggests that oil from krill can help to ease inflammatory conditions in the body, improve brain function, promote a healthy heart and relieve joint discomfort. It has also been suggested that krill oil can help to ease the symptoms of PMS and menopause, including menstrual pains and cramps. Anyone with shellfish allergies should consult their physician before taking a krill oil supplement.
There are many other health benefits of krill oil. In a study that appeared in the Journal of Nutrition, it was stated that krill oil can help with weight loss by reducing fat in the body, including as much as 42% of fat accumulated around the heart and the liver.
What to Look For in a Krill Oil Supplement
To choose the best krill oil supplement, make sure that you pay attention to the basic ingredients, which can be found on the product label. The serving size should be at least 500mg and you should try to avoid supplements with small serving sizes.
Look for the supplement’s Omega-3 quantity and make sure this is as high as possible. Omega 3s are necessary for your body to function in a healthy way, yet the body cannot produce it. Humans normally acquire Omega-3s through food sources, but they can also be obtained through supplements to ensure that your body does not have a shortage. Omega 3 helps your organs to function properly and reinforces the cell membranes. They also create healthy tissue by delivering nutrients to the body and removing wastes. Omega-3 also helps to keep your skin resilient and detoxes the liver. It has been shown to improve cognitive function and protect against age-related illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Krill oil also contains phospholipids, so ensure that this number is high as well, since you don’t want to buy a bad quality product. An ideal amount of phospholipids is about 400mg per 1000mg serving. You also want to ensure that your krill oil supplement contains EPA and DHA (fatty acids) and astaxanthin (an antioxidant).
Krill oil supplements can be easily purchased from most nutritional online retailers without a doctor’s prescription. A quick search on Google will reveal that the options are numerous as there are currently more than 800 different krill oil supplements available. While fish oil has even more supplement options available, it still leaves the consumer with a ton of options to sort through. To make your search easier, below are some of the best krill oil supplements that you can try.
- Natural Stacks (Editor’s Choice)
- Viva Naturals
- Onnit Labs (Editor’s Choice)
- Absorb Health (Editor’s Choice)
- Nootropics Depot
- Sports Research
1. Natural Stacks – (Editor’s Choice)
Natural Stacks Krill Oil has been cold pressed from humanely harvested Antarctic krill, while still preserving its biological benefits before going through a refined purification process. It is then lab tested to ensure that there are no toxins in the krill oil such as metals or other impurities.
This supplement contains key nutrients such as choline, vitamin A, and vitamin E. It also contains cell-building phospholipids, omega-3 fatty acids and seven times more astaxanthin than other krill oil products. Natural Stacks offers a 30-day money back guarantee to any customer who is unsatisfied with the product. They also offer several tips on their blog as well as a newsletter to help consumers maximize their performance with any Natural Stacks products.
2. Viva Naturals
Viva Naturals Krill Oil contains a high concentration of Omega-3 in each serving. This daily supplement contains 1,250 mg of krill oil per serving and can be taken as two small, easy-to-swallow capsules.
It also includes the powerful antioxidant astaxanthin to fight free radical damage. Their krill is frozen immediately after harvesting and the oil is extracted without the use of hexanes. Viva Naturals Krill Oil has received a 5-star certification for purity by the International Krill Oil Standards Program.
3. Onnit Labs – (Editor’s Choice)
Onnit’s Krill Oil supplement is loaded with essential fatty acids such as DHA as well as phospholipids and carotenoid. Onnit ensures that its krill is only harvested in clean waters and emphasizes the importance of not catching other sea life unintentionally. In fact, Onnit has been certified by Friends of the Sea for their commitment to having sea-friendly harvesting policies. Onnit Krill Oil capsules can be purchased at an extra strength formula for customers wanting to see the benefits sooner.
4. Absorb Health – (Editor’s Choice)
Absorb Health Krill Oil contains very high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids like EPA and DHA; far higher than regular fish oil. The Omega-3 fatty acids are in phospholipid form, making them much easier for the body to absorb. It also contains the antioxidant astaxanthin. Absorb Health Krill Oil is manufactured in FDA approved facilities and comes with a full refund if you are not happy with the product.
5. Nootropics Depot
Nootropics Depot is a well-known nootropic brand that also manufactures liquid softgel krill oil supplements which work by quick release so that you can feel the benefits of the supplement faster. It is a potent source of omega 3 fatty acids and is easily absorbed by the body. It also does not contain any unpleasant fishy aftertaste. This krill oil supplement is nearly 50 times more potent than ordinary fish oil and contains additional antioxidant properties.
Nootropic Depot prides itself on the purity of its products and ensures that its krill oil supplements are free of any harmful toxins such as mercury.
6. Sports Research
Sports Research’s krill oil supplements are unique because they are geared toward athletes who want to achieve the benefits of krill oil. Sports Research is a sports nutrition company founded in 2012 that is known for its charitable work. It has also become known for its supplements for athletes. Its krill oil products are made in the USA from sustainable wild krill and are respected for their high quality and potency. This is a good product for athletes wanting to improve their overall health and performance.
8. MegaRed
MegaRed Krill Oil capsules contain a high concentration of both fish oil and krill oil for high absorption, which means that only one daily softgel is needed to get the maximum benefits. Their supplement has twice as much Omega-3 as standard fish oil and is sustainably harvested from independently certified fisheries which meet the highest MSC standards.
9. Bronson
Bronson is a highly regarded manufacturer that has been producing vitamins and supplements for more than fifty years. Bronson prides itself on using only the best ingredients in their supplements and 100% pure Antarctic krill oil. They also back up their products with a 365-day money back guarantee.
10. Renew Naturals
Renew Naturals Krill Oil is rich in omega-3s, Astaxanthin (a powerful antioxidant) and phospholipids. It also does not have the rancid scent that many krill products do, so customers don’t have to worry about the fishy aftertaste. Renew Naturals prides itself on being fresh and pure and for the capsules having a healthy red color that is close to the natural color of krill. Renew Naturals also offers a 90-day 100% money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied.
11. Dr. Mercola
Dr. Mercola’s Antarctica Krill Oil claims to have a higher bio-availability than regular fish oil, with 1000mg of krill oil per serving. It has a high level of pure krill oil that is loaded with EPA and DHA, unlike regular fish oils which only provide one serving of EPA and DHA per day. Dr. Mercola also claims that its krill oil is free of any fishy aftertaste or unpleasant fish odors due to its special nitrogen sealed cap which prevents the capsules from oxidizing. Their krill oil also includes 1mg of astaxanthin per serving, which is a powerful antioxidant that reduces free radicals in your body and protects your immune system.
In addition, Dr. Mercola’s Antarctica Krill Oil is rich in phospholipids, which helps to deliver Omega 3s to your cells. Another great thing is that all of the Dr. Mercola’s krill oil products are backed by a 30-day money back guarantee.
12. Pure Nootropics
Pure Nootropics Krill Oil is known for its unique fatty acid composition and rich antioxidant content. The balanced fatty acid content includes EPA and DHA as well as Omega-3, Omega-9 and phospholipids. The supplement is a rich source of Astaxanthin to help support the immune system.
Various studies have shown that taking this supplement can ease joint discomfort and promote healthy lipid levels in the blood. Pure Nootropics krill oil is a 500mg krill oil product that is enteric coated and odor controlled. The softgel design also makes it makes it easier to swallow.
Pure Nootropics products are manufactured using strict quality control standards and are regularly tested to ensure that all products are free of harmful contaminants such as mercury and dioxins.
Things To Consider
The best product for you will largely be determined by your personal tastes. If you want to get the benefits of krill oil but dislike the fishy taste of the capsules, you may want to try one of the odorless supplements mentioned above first.
Your next consideration will likely be the cost of the supplement. Based on your own financial circumstances, you will have to decide how much you are willing to pay for a krill oil supplement. The prices tend to vary from anywhere between $16 for the Jarrow supplement to as much as $80 for a 4-month supply of the Dr. Mercola supplement. This will largely depend on how many capsules you want to buy at one time.
Final Words
You may want to spend some time reading some of the user reviews. This may give you an idea of which product is most suitable for you and how satisfied other customers are. However, this is not a substitute for trying out the product yourself.
When shopping for krill oil, it is important to look for quality rather than just quantity to ensure that you’re buying pure krill oil from a reputable source. Currently, the International Krill Oil Standards Program (IKOS) is the best predictor of krill oil quality. The IKOS is a third-party program that handles testing and accreditation for all krill oil products. The program is run by Nutrasource Diagnostics, Inc. and provides free reports to consumers on krill oil supplements. The IKOS evaluates krill oil supplements using a 5-star rating scale with 5 being the highest rating. If you are interested in starting a krill oil supplement you may want to read some consumer reports from IKOS or check their rating for a particular supplement.
If you want to try a krill oil supplement, start slowly and experiment with one brand for at least a month to see if you notice a difference in the way you feel and look. Take only the recommended amount with plenty of water. You can switch up supplements until you find one that you like the best. If you have any underlying medical conditions, speak to your physician before starting a new supplement regimen.
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