If you've had it with the fishy smell and taste that occurs after you take a fish oil supplement, you should try its alternative, krill oil. Krill oil is not only an alternative to fish oil, in many ways it's even better. It contains not only omega-3 fatty acids; it also contains a powerful antioxidant.

Krill are tiny crustaceans that live in the ocean. They're only 1 to 6 centimeters long and look much like shrimp. These phytoplankton-consuming crustaceans provide tasty meals for whales, penguins, squid, seals and fish. The antioxidant, astaxanthin, comes from the food that the krill eats. The algae, phytoplanktons, create a bright red pigment and a reddish pink color in the krill. You see the same color in lobster and shrimp.

The omega-3 fatty acids in the krill don't create the after taste like their fish oil counterparts, yet do the same job, even better than plain fish oil. The krill oil also has more astaxanthin than the fish oil.

Even though both krill oil and fish oil contain, both omega-3 fats docosahexanoic acid, called DHA, and eicosapentanoic acid, known as EPA, the make up of the fatty acid is different. The krill oil forms double chains that are similar to those in the human body's cells. This means that it is easier for the krill oil to be absorbed and enter the mitochondria and the interior of the cell.

It also has an important form of choline acting as a reductive stress-reducer. Reductive stress tends to cause more biologically abnormal oxygen radical activity. Because it contains Vitamin A, D, E and canthaxanthin, another potent antioxidant, it has 48 times more capacity for absorbancy of oxygen radicals than fish oil does.

While most people use fish oil, flax oil or krill oil for lowering their cholesterol, studies on krill oil found that krill oil did a better job. In the study, there were three groups. The first group was the placebo group used primarily for comparisons. The second group took krill oil and the last group used fish oil.

When they computed the results, the group that took krill oil reduced their LDL, the bad cholesterol, by 34 % more than the placebo group. The group taking the fish oil only lowered their LDL by 4.6 % more. Both groups taking oil increased their good cholesterol, the HDL over those in the placebo group. However, the krill group raised the level over ten times higher, increasing it by 43.5% compared to the increase over the placebo of only 4.2% by the fish oil group. The results also showed krill oil lowered the triglycerides too.

There are a number of other medically recognized uses for krill oil. One of them is to fight the symptoms produced by arthritis. A study using a placebo group and one taking 300mg of krill oil daily found that the krill oil was effective in not only reducing the symptoms of arthritis but also the inflammation caused by it. It does take a bit to build the amount necessary to produce pain relief, so if you have arthritis pain, it's best to wean yourself from the medication while you take the krill oil. Always discuss your decision first with your doctor.

Even though there's still a need for more research, early studies indicate that krill oil is beneficial at reducing the symptoms of PMS.

This oil from the tiny creature now finds its way into the homes of those that want to use alternative options for their medical health. Krill oil is a food substances that provides nutrition and benefits for those that use it.

There are possible side effects if you're taking a medication that's a blood thinner or even an herbal remedy known to thin blood like garlic or ginkgo. It potentially increases the risk of bleeding. Please always consult your physician first before beginning any health related regimen.