Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN~ THE SIMILARITIES, DIFFERENCES, BENEFITS AND TROUBLE By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Vegan and vegetarian diets….or as many people commonly referred to them as, plant-based diets. I am often told “I eat well, I’m vegetarian” or “My diet is so good, …
From a Naturopathic Point of View Part 4 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND The importance of western and holistic medicine working together! One of the key pathways to helping people become healthy is learning how to balance both western and holistic medicine. These 2 ways …
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:
ORGANIC, GMO/NON-GMO, CONVENTIONAL~ UNDERSTANDING THESE DIETARY TERMS By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT There are so many different terms when deciding what to eat that it can be confusing. There are also many different opinions on what is good for you and what to …
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 …
From a Naturopaths Point of View Part 2
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Third Party Consultations
One of the things we almost always mention is how you can call Invite for a consultation with a qualified nutritionist. You can even go to the website and schedule a consult for a time that’s best for you. However, there is one part of consultations that can be confusing. And that is the concept of third party consultations. To start with what exactly does the term third party consultation mean? Well it’s basically a consultation that is between a nutritionist and an induvial regarding someone else. In simple terms it’s when someone calls and asks questions about someone else’s health. Sometimes this is appropriate. However in many cases’ this is not appropriate and not something that is encouraged. Why exactly is it not appropriate? And just when is it ok? Well these are things that I’ll be addressing in this blog!
To start with when is it appropriate to do a third party consultation? For a minor child it is absolutely appropriate and even expected for a parent or legal guardian to call for them. Legal guardians are those who have both custody of the child and the authority to make decisions about the child’s health. (1) Very often grandparents will call with questions about what their grandchild should take. Unfortunately, since they are often not the legal guardian it is not appropriate for an Invite nutritionist to give medical advice regarding the child in question.
The next situation where a third party consult is appropriate is in the case of power of attorney where an induvial has been given the right to make medical decisions regarding another person. (2) One example would be if you’re the parent of an adult who is special needs. Another common example is a child whose parents are suffering from dementia. I know what you’re thinking, but Dr. Claire what if I need a translator because English isn’t my 1st language? Having a translator is fine as long as the person who needs the consult is involved in the conversation.
But why is it inappropriate and to be blunt dangerous to do third party consultations? To start with there is the concern that any supplements may interact with medications. In some case’s supplements can increase a medications effects. For example fish oil and blood thinners. In other case’s supplements can decrease the effects of certain medications, for example Vitamin K and Coumadin. And in some case’s supplements may have harmful or dangerous interactions with medications. As you can see this can be very dangerous. Remember just because someone is a close friend or even family it doesn’t mean you know all the medications they are on. On a similar note you may not know every single aspect of a friend’s medical history. In some cases depending on someone’s past medical history certain supplements may be inappropriate. For example for anyone with a history of seizures certain brain stimulating supplements would not only be inappropriate but in fact dangerous. Allergies are another concern that can lead to dangerous complications. It can be dangerous to assume you now everything a person is allergic to.
Lastly there is also HIPPA. Everyone is entitled to privacy. (4) Overall as you can see third party consultations, except in certain situations are both inappropriate and possibly dangerous. If you know someone who needs a consult feel to pass along Invite’s contact information!
Now for your pleasure – here’s some fun ways to use supplements!
Let’s talk about Alcar with Ala – the new capsule form!
Sources