24 Sept 2011

Krill Oil Worth Every Penny!!!


Today everybody seems to know a lot about Omega 3 and its benefits and nearly everybody knows how is it obtained and which food products should be consumed to get the benefits of it. Fish oil has always been considered to be a good supplement for Omega 3 but are fish the only option available. Apparently no; seafood like algae and krill are also some of the options available for Omega 3. So how to examine the differences between them and prove which is better fish oil or krill oil?

Krill is very small crustacean or a shrimp like creature found mainly in the open waters of Antarctica. Krill feed on tiny planktons which is found on the ocean-bed or found floating on the ocean’s surface. They are mainly microscopic plants and animals. Oil found on the tissue of krill is known as krill oil and contains the two Omega 3 fatty acids Docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentanoic acid (EPA).

Some of the benefits of using Krill oil over fish oil are that fish oil tends to spoil very quickly. Fish oil has the tendency to oxidize immediately if exposed to air for a long time thus losing its value. Krill oil is more stable in nature and less likely to go rancid. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated and can be kept in room temperature for nearly 2 years. Krill oil has a large amount of natural antioxidants like Vitamin E and Vitamin A which allows us to take a smaller daily dose and obtain better results. Since krill is found near Antarctica which is far from the polluted waters of the cities they are much better source of omega 3 than fishes.

Fishing of krill is not considered to be environmentally sound because it depletes the food source for many other marine animals which will create problems in the ecological balance. Due to which krill oil is not readily available as compared to fish oil. Fish oil on the other hand becomes less expensive as it is normally produced from farmed fish grown specifically for this purpose. Both supplements will have an adverse effect if taken more than required for the body. In some cases if the user is already on medication for clotting consumption of krill oil might result in bleeding. The only known side effects of consuming krill oils is digestion disorder, but this could possibly be due to an allergic reaction from eating shrimps or any crustacean This could become one of the main reasons why fish oils will be preferred over krill oils by some users.

Depending on the advantages which krill oil has over fish oil, the disadvantages are very minimal and depend only on the fact that the user might have an allergic reaction for shellfish or crustaceans. If it could be possible to farm krill then the cost of krill oils will reduce allowing people to enjoy the benefits of it.

Since people have started finding out ways to improve their health in the most natural manner, Omega 3 is considered to be a boon of nature. The fatty acids make a considerable difference in our health and provide two sources, namely the fish oils and krill oils. The choice depends on us and both have been found to be a worth every penny.

21 Sept 2011

Is Fish Oil Healthy?


Recently there is a lot of buzz on the effects of fish oil on the human body. The benefit of such an essential fatty acids which is contained within the fish oil is tremendous and has become a research topic for scientists, who are calling it the miracle of the 21st century. But do we have any idea of what exactly are these fish oils and what they consist of and most important why are they good for us.

Fish oils are known to contain fatty acids which are very necessary for our health. Our body doesn’t have the capacity to produce such fatty acids. The only way to get them is through either food or supplements. Fish oil is generated through the tissues of fish and hence fish is an essential food product needed by humans. This fatty acid obtained from fish is also known as Omega 3 or polyunsaturated fatty acids.

The most common way to procure Omega 3 for the human body is by eating fish such as salmon, tuna and halibut. Omega 3 is abundantly found in these fishes. But since people do not know the benefits of consuming fish oil they do not eat enough, to get the required amount of these fatty acids which is essentially needed by the body.

Some of the most important health benefits of consuming fish oils or omega 3 fatty acids every day are stated below.
The presence of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) which are the most dominant fats present in the human body are found in fish oils. DHA is required for providing optimal mental performance in the form of cognitive function, memory building, being focused and learning ability as well as for visual perception; thus making it an essential fatty acid for brain development. On the other hand EPA plays a vital role in regulating blood flow and maintains a healthy heart.

Fish oils lower the level of LDL cholesterol which is bad for the human heart and increases the level of HDL cholesterol, which is good for the human heart. It also prevents the accumulation of triglycerides which blocks the arteries hence effectively treating heart attack, strokes and abnormal heart rhythms as well as improves blood circulation. This finding is supported by the clinical trials carried out by the American Heart Association.

Arthritis, rheumatism and similar conditions can be treated by regular intake of fish oils. They reduce the impact of enzymes which destroy cartilages as well as provide relief from chronic inflammation. Studies have shown that Omega 3 has helped in increasing grip strength, reduce joint stiffness and pain and improve walking pace.

Fish oils are good for reducing depression, sadness, anxiety, restlessness, mental fatigue and stress. The central nervous system consists of a chemical named Serotonin which contributes towards the happiness and well-being in humans. Fish oils or Omega 3 is known to increase the level of serotonin. 

18 Sept 2011

The Golden Rule for selecting Multivitamins!!!


It has become extremely important to be fit and fine in today’s world where illness and diseases are rampant. Today everything is fast-paced, chaotic and unpredictable; work has kept us so busy that it rarely gives anybody time to concentrate on their health thus creating problems which is hard to sort. People who live an active life where work and social life exists, staying strong and being healthy is very necessary to support the demands of such a life.

The diet which is necessary for a human being to stay healthy is mentioned in a piece of paper and is known by most of us but never followed by any one diligently. Hence what you miss in these diets needs to be added to your system some way or the other and thus multivitamins were created. They are a supplement which consists of vitamins, dietary minerals and other nutritional elements. These are available in the form of tablets, capsules, powders and liquids. According to UN a multivitamin should consists of 3 or more vitamins or minerals but shouldn’t contain any kind of hormones or drugs. Thus multivitamins are a type of food which fulfils our dietary requirements which mostly is not fulfilled in a day-to-day basis.

The best multivitamin is one that understands the needs of the person by delivery necessary vitamins and minerals to the body and hence keeping them in optimal health. The only problem is to find such a best multivitamin among the number of multivitamins which claims to be the best multivitamin for us.

There is only One Golden Rule to find the best multivitamin for kids, men and women and that is to educate yourself about the ingredients. If we know what and how much is added in a multivitamin and we are well educated in understanding what our body needs then we can choose the best multivitamins among the lot. For example, there are a lot of multivitamin supplements available in the market; some of them are cheap while others are costly. Price should never be a criterion to distinguish which is good for our health; still instead of wasting money always go through the ingredients.

Whenever a multivitamin is bought the first thing to notice is whether they are free from chemicals or additives and second what are the key ingredients present in it. Additives like sugar, starch, gluten, silica and any artificial colours or flavours should be avoided. On the other hand ingredients like Vitamins, Minerals, Adaptogens, Speciality Nutrients, Flavonoids, Carotenoids, Antioxidants, etc. which is common for both men and women should be selected. Beta-Sitosterol, Chrysin, Lycopene, Nettle Root Extract, Saw Palmetto and Zing Acetate are all specific to men hence helping men to decide accordingly. The best multivitamin would include them to increase energy, reduce the odds of illness and rejuvenate the overall health and well-being. This is just a gist of what multivitamins should contain, but the best multivitamin will mix and match the ingredients for specific purposes.

Along with knowing about the ingredients of the multivitamin brands it is also advised to be informed about the pharmaceutical company which manufactures them and whether the multivitamins are prepared according to the FDA guidelines. If possible ask the local doctor about such multivitamins. A lot of studies are conducted when it comes to multivitamins and keeping oneself educated about its progress and advances will help to know what works and what doesn’t.

If proper research is done then it possible to find multivitamins which might be more effective and less costly compared to an expensive brand which just works okay.