| Krill oil is extracted from Krill that are shrimp-like | | | | Antioxidants protect our body cells from damage |
| crustaceans that are approximately 1 to 6 | | | | from free radicals, unstable substances that are |
| centimetres long. They live in the ocean, where | | | | thought to contribute to certain chronic diseases. |
| they feed mainly on algae and phytoplankton. | | | | Unlike many other antioxidants, astaxanthin |
| They're near the bottom of the food chain and | | | | crosses the blood-brain barrier, where it could |
| are eaten by whales, seals, penguins, squid and | | | | theoretically protect the eye, brain and central |
| fish. | | | | nervous system from free radical damage. |
| Commercial fishing of krill occurs primarily in the | | | | Why do people use Krill Oil? |
| southern ocean and the northern Pacific Ocean | | | | People use krill oil for the same reasons they use |
| along the coasts of Canada and Japan. Krill that | | | | fish oil, flax oil or other omega-3 fatty acids. Unlike |
| are caught are used for aquaculture and aquarium | | | | fish oil, krill oil doesn't cause fishy burps or an |
| feeds, sport fishing bait or they are eaten as | | | | aftertaste, a common side effect of fish oil. Also, |
| food. In Japan, krill that's caught for food is called | | | | krill oil contains higher amounts of astaxanthin than |
| okiami. Krill oil, the oil that's found naturally in krill, is | | | | fish oil. Here are some specific conditions for |
| extracted and sold as a nutritional supplement. It's | | | | which it's used. |
| sold in pharmacies in a red soft gel form under | | | | Cholesterol |
| the brand of Cardiosterol Krill. | | | | Krill oil is being studied as a natural remedy for |
| Krill oil contains astaxanthin and omega-3-6-9 fatty | | | | high cholesterol. In one study, 120 people were |
| acids, which is the main reason it's becoming | | | | given krill oil, fish oil or a placebo. Krill oil reduced |
| popular as a nutritional supplement. | | | | LDL (commonly referred to as "bad") |
| Cardiosterol Krill oil is becoming popular is because | | | | cholesterol by 34 per cent and increased HDL |
| it contains an antioxidant called astaxanthin. The | | | | ("good") cholesterol by 43.5 per cent |
| algae that krill eats produces the bright red | | | | compared to the placebo. In comparison, fish oil |
| pigment astaxanthin that gives krill and other | | | | reduced LDL cholesterol by 4.6 per cent and |
| crustaceans such as lobster and shrimp their | | | | increased HDL cholesterol by 4.2 per cent. Krill also |
| reddish-pink colour. | | | | lowered triglycerides. |