When it comes to good health and wellbeing, we’re constantly bombarded with news articles about what we should and shouldn’t be doing to our bodies. Eating too much of this or too little of that will eventually lead to our demise; the latest must-have health supplements come and go like fashion trends, singing their own praises on cyber shelves till the trend runs its course.
The truth lies in a balanced, healthy diet. But of course if that were easy to achieve, there wouldn’t be a thriving, multi-billion dollar health supplement industry. But there are some essential elements that have been conclusively proven to benefit our health, and even prevent potentially fatal diseases. Top of the list are omega-3 fatty acids, scientifically identified as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Our bodies can’t produce these essential fats, so we need to look to our diet or supplements. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has endorsed the fact that fish oil and marine supplements as a source of omega-3 can directly contribute to a marked reduction in the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes and many other life threatening ailments.
Krill oil is fast becoming even more popular than fish oil as a preferred supplement because of its high EPA and DHA content. Krill are tiny shrimp-like crustaceans which are part of the principal diet of whales, small fish and many sea birds. Some of the primary benefits of krill oil supplements:
- Krill oil helps to lower high cholesterol
- Controls blood sugar, which can help prevent and control the symptoms of diabetes
- Anti-inflammatory properties can relieve rheumatoid arthritis and reduce joint stiffness
- Helps prevent and treat osteoporosis by increasing calcium deposits and improving bone strength
- Krill oil has been used to help treat ADHD with surprising results
- Can reduce the symptoms of menopause and PMS
Krill oil contains the vitamins E, A, D as well as potent antioxidants, which help to combat toxic free radicals that attack our immune system. Scientific studies have shown that the antioxidant properties of krill oil are up to 48 times more powerful than fish oil.
As with any supplement, don’t expect to see radical changes in your health overnight. Krill oil supplements should be taken daily on an ongoing basis for the cumulative effects to become evident. After a month, those suffering arthritic complaints or joint pain should see a noticeable difference. Have your cholesterol checked before and during your course of krill oil to monitor how well it’s working. It should be said that those with allergies to shellfish should avoid krill oil supplements, and of course it’s always best to check with your health care professional.
Ideally, our nutritional needs should be satisfied through our daily diet, but with the ever-increasing pace of life, it’s becoming more and more difficult to stay healthy through diet alone. Adding krill oil to your daily nutritional regime could help increase your chances of living a longer, healthier life.