Krill Oil Side Effects – Is this Safe or Dangerous?

Krill oil side effects are marginal when compared to other sources of Omega 3 fatty acids, such as fish oil.

In fact, krill oil represents one of the purest and most tolerable forms of omega 3 supplementation.

While certain environmental concerns such as pollution and heavy metal contamination should be considered, overall the side effects of krill are minimal, and the supplement is considered safe.

To get a better sense of how this natural brain-booster works with the human body, we’ve compiled a complete guide to Krill Oil effects, benefits, and risks. Read on to find out why taking this organic sea-derived supplement is a safe way to support physical and mental health.

Krill Oil

Omega 3 Fatty Acid

Heart Health

Brain Health

Anti- Oxidant

How It Works:

• Source of EPA and DHA Omega-3's
• Contains astaxanthin - a potent anti-oxidant
• Supports brain & cardiovascular health

Dosage:

Between 250 - 2,000 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Brain Health

Essential fatty acids are “good fats” which the body needs for many key functions, but which it cannot produce.

Therefore, supplementation via food or pills is necessary for optimum health (we consider the amino acids “essential nutrients” in much the same way).

Unfortunately, much of the American population is deficient in these nutrients due to low fish consumption in the average diet.

Omega 3 fatty acids, which consist of EPA and DHA (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid), help the body maintain healthy tissue and organ function. These fats act as a kind of lubricant with cell membranes, making the transport of nutrients and wastes more effective.

Many studies tie a daily intake of omega 3s with immunity, resistance to age-related decay, and enhanced cognitive power. Krill oil represents an excellent method for consuming omega 3s, a fact which must be weighed when discussing any potential for adverse effects.

Sources of Red Krill

Krill oil originates in the cold water oceans of the Pacific and Antarctic. A 5cm long shrimp, the krill is red in color and extremely resilient and hearty. In fact, it exists in vast amounts, perhaps as much as 500 million tons across the world’s oceans. For this reason, it has been an important food source for much of human civilization.

Throughout Asia, krill is a very common staple food which is prepared in countless dishes. To support this diet, as much as 110,000 tons of krill are harvested every year. This harvest also results in the collection of oil from the krill, which is widely taken as a dietary supplement.

How the Body Processes Krill Oil

Once consumed, krill oil is able to easily cross the blood brain barrier. The DHA and EFA in the oil immediately goes to work within each cell in the brain, promoting excellent functionality and healthy cell walls.

Krill oil also contains phospholipids, which act as anti-oxidants within the cells. An anti-oxidant fights damage from oxidized free radical cells. This protection is essential for guarding against long term age decay in neural tissue.

The phospholipids, known as phosphatidyl choline, also contain choline, the water-soluble brain nutrient which is required for the synthesis of acetylcholine, an important cognitive neurotransmitter. These substances promote healthy neural tissue and enhance many cognitive functions, such as reasoning, executive function and memory.

The omega 3s from krill oil also travel to other cells throughout the body, boosting organ function and providing protection against decay. Immunity and longevity are improved over long term use of the oil.

These gains do not come at the cost of serious negative side effects. As we will see below, the substance is very versatile and easy to tolerate by most people.

Krill Oil Side Effects vs Fish Oil

Fish oil has long had a reputation as a viable source of omega 3 fatty acids. Unfortunately, this kind of supplement does come with some side effects, with varying degrees of severity. The main side effect of fish oil is its unpleasant smell.

Use of the oil over time can create fishy breath, or a fishy odor to the skin and sweat. It also can cause stomach upset. Krill oil is known for producing little to no fish smell.

A more serious side effect associated with fish oil is due to a high rate of degraded or spoiled product sold by many vendors. Regular fish oil has a very short shelf life, and once it perishes it becomes dangerously loaded with free radicals. Ironically, these free radicals then create the same decay in bodily tissue that the supplement is intended to avert in the first place.

By contrast, krill oil side effects do not include this danger. Krill oil is considered mostly non-perishable, and has a long shelf life of 2 years or more. Krill oil also has a much higher phospholipid content.

This, in addition to krill’s algae food source, imbues the oil with a far higher anti-oxidant content than regular fish oil. These phospholipids also contain choline. Supplements containing choline are widely regarded as potent “brain food.”

Heavy Metal Contamination

All fish and sea life are subject to contamination from toxins in our oceans. One of the chief fears regarding krill oil side effects is the presence of toxic heavy metals such as mercury in the oil.

These toxins are the result of industrial waste and a century of commercial fishing and shipping practices.

However, it is thought that krill’s position at the bottom of the food chain means that it is less vulnerable to these toxins, making them a non-issue.

Many people are also concerned with over-fishing of krill and may be wary about using a supplement unless they know that it is fished in a sustainable way. This is also not a significant issue, as the global krill supply vastly outnumbers and outgrows annual harvesting by a factor of at least 50,000%. For this reason, krill farming is considered a renewable resource.

Safe Dosage Info

The only negative effect which may be of concern to some people is an upset stomach related to seafood. To avoid the few known side effects of Krill Oil, simply stay within daily dosage recommendations for the supplement. A daily dose should fall between 1000 – 2000 mg per day. This can be divided evenly and taken with meals.

If you have any concerns about a shellfish allergy and krill oil, it might be best to avoid the supplement altogether and explore similar methods of good fat supplementation which don’t employ seafood.

Phosphatidylserine is aminophospholipid fat which can help the body achieve some of the same benefits which Omega 3 supplements provide. The cognitive benefits can also be achieved via choline supplementation. Sources of red krill can be taken safely with either of these supplements.

Overall, krill oil side effects are minimal. This product represents a very tolerable method for boosting omega 3 levels, enhancing cognition, and improving overall wellbeing.

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