Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
PRIMARY FOOD, LIFESTYLE AND OUR HEALTH~CAREER by: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Most people do not think about their career and work environment when discussing their personal health and wellness. However, it can be a driving force in managing a healthy lifestyle. I even …
PRIMARY FOOD, LIFESTYLE AND OUR HEALTH~SOCIAL LIFE By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Many people don’t think of having a social life as being part of a healthy lifestyle. I didn’t either for a long time. However, like many of us, my mind was …
Krill Oil vs Fish Oil
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
One of the most confusing topic’s in the vitamin world is the difference between krill oil and fish oil. I get asked pretty much all the time what exactly is the difference between the 2. How does one pick which one they should use? Well these are all important questions that I’ll be reviewing in this blog. So let’s get into it, shall we?
Before I get into this topic too deeply I want to emphasize that I’ll be strictly talking about Invite’s Krill Oil and Fish Oil. For example some krill oil brands may have fish oil added which would alter some of its properties. Other brands of fish oil may contain different types of fish when compared to Invite. This is neither good nor bad but just different. So to start with just what are krill oil and fish oil? Well both krill oil and fish oil are natural sources of EPA and DHA, or omega 3 fatty acids. Krill oil is an oil derived from tiny shell fish called krill. Invite Fish Oil is derived from Anchovy! Now before you go any further if you are allergic to shell fish it’s not advisable to use krill oil since it is extracted from a shell fish.
As I said fish oil and krill oil are both omega 3s. Krill oil omega 3s are attached to a phospholipid whereas fish oil is attached to a Triacylglycerol. This change in attached molecule can affect how well the omega 3s are absorbed. (1) Studies have found that in some cases krill may be easier to absorb. (2) Another difference is that krill oil is a natural source of Astaxanthin, which studies have shown is good for the heart. (3)
Fish oil has the benefit of being more easily assessable. It has also been studied more since it is older than krill oil. This means we have more information on how it works and any potential side effects or drug interactions. Another benefit to using fish oil over krill oil is that it tends to be higher in omega 3s at a lower cost. (4)
So when to use fish and when do you use krill? And then there is perhaps another of the most frequently asked questions, can I use both fish and krill at the same time? The simple answer is you absolutely can! Using either fish or krill oil is something that can involve several questions to help decide. First off are you allergic to shell fish? Well then you shouldn’t use krill but rather should use fish oil. Are you allergic to Anchovy? Well then you should use krill rather than fish. What is your budget like? Depending on our budget you may find it more convenient to choose one over the other or it may not matter. The next question is what are you goals in taking krill oil or fish oil? In my clinical experience as a Naturopathic I have found that krill oil use is associated with reports from customers as being better at improving memory and overall brain health. That is why when it comes to memory and brain health I usually recommend krill. Now when it comes to heart health and inflammation I find that customer feedback favors fish oil as being more helpful. So basically to sum things up in my clinical experience based on customer feedback I use krill oil for memory/ brain health and fish oil for heart/ general inflammation.
Now I know I mentioned allergies however I also want to mention that due to the fact that krill oil is attached to a phospholipid whereas fish oil is attached to a Triacylglycerol this means that krill is less likely to cause “fish burps” in anyone who is sensitive. Additionally krill oil capsules are smaller than fish oil so if you have trouble swallowing pills you may want to choose krill. Lastly if you do not eat shellfish due to religious reasons you may want to choose fish oil.
Now if you’re still feeling confused feel free to email me at [email protected]!
Next up will be a Naturopathic viewpoint on the importance of Western and Holistic medicine working together to meet your health goas!
Sources:
From A Naturopaths Point of View Part 3 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Self-diagnosis? One of the most integral parts of a consult with an Invite nutritionist t is knowing exactly what is going on in your body. In other words it’s important to see …
Hair and Skin Changes Due to Cancer Treatments Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Cancer treatments can have different side effects when it comes to our hair and skin. Let’s start with our skin, shall we? Certain cancer therapies can cause skin to become dry. They …
Iron Plus
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
One vitamin that seems to come up in conversation quite frequently is Iron Plus. People often ask questions such as I’m tired all the time, do I need to take Iron? Or I’m a vegan I must need to take iron! And last but not least I have frequently heard I am a woman does that mean I need iron? While yes in some of these situations iron is appropriate it is more complicated than that. Taking iron is more complex than just taking it because you’re tired. As I always say iron is something you take if you need it not just because you have read it on the internet that it is good for you. Why do I say this? Because iron isn’t something everyone should take. Let’s explore this in depth, shall we?
As I said iron isn’t just a vitamin you take to stay healthy. Iron can build up in our body over time. If you have a deficiency that means that over time taking iron will fill in or correct that deficiency. However this means that if you don’t need iron but take it any way you can end up with it becoming abnormally high in your body. This is called hemochromatosis.
What can happen if you have too much iron in your body? Well it can build up in vital organs and cause damage. These organs include the liver, heart and endocrine glands. If the iron concentrates in the liver it can trigger complications such as cirrhosis. Complications due to having an excess of iron can also include cardiomyopathy, diabetes and even hypothyroidism. Also iron overload can weaken our immune health leaving us at an increased risk of infection. (1)
All that being said how do you know if you need iron? According to the American Society of Hematology anemia is diagnosed when a blood test shows a hemoglobin level of less than 13.5 gm/dl in a man or 12.0 gm/dl in a female. (2) Basically if your doctor suspects you’re anemic they will recommend a complete blood count or CBC. This test looks at the number of Red blood cells (RBC) or hematocrit and the level of hemoglobin. The doctor can also check the color, size and shape of the RBC. (3)
Now I bet your thinking but Dr. Claire what is the plus in the iron plus? Well the plus refers to nutrients that are basically the cofactors that make iron work better. Vitamin C has been found to increase the absorption of iron. It works better if you take the iron and the vitamin c at the same time. (4) Taurine is an amino acid that helps the body to use iron better thus it can help correct a deficiency more effectively. (5) Both vitamins B12 and folic acid can help us to produce healthy RBC. (6) Overall the nutrients in Iron Plus all work to improve iron absorption, utilization and even RBC health.
Now I know that I said not to take iron unless you know you need to. So what are some signs that you should talk to your doctor about iron? Well some signs can include pale skin that is cold especially on the hands and feet. You will also notice extreme fatigue and weakness. You may experience shortness of breath and chest pain. There may be inflammation on your tongue and your nails may be brittle. Symptoms can also include headache, dizziness, and even changes in appetite. Lastly you may find yourself craving things such as ice. (7)
Iron Plus is an amazing non-constipating form of iron. To find out if it’s right for you feel free to contact a qualified Invite Health nutritionist.
Our next topic is changes to our Hair and Skin that can occur after cancer treatments.
Sources: