Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are the brain-boosting, cholesterol-clearing good fats (monounsaturated). There are 3 basic forms of omega-3:

• Alpha-linelenic acid (ALA) found in English walnuts and vegetable oils like flaxseed, soybean and olive which the body eventually, but in small quantities, converts to DHA.
• Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found primarily in fish oil, this is the ultimate form of fatty acid in humans. Most people get far too little of this all-important fatty acid, especially since the conversion of ALA to DHA is slow and minimally yielding. Getting a daily dose of of DHA (600 to 1000 mg) from supplements is preferable to reap the health benefits. You have a choice of taking a fish oil supplement or one derived from algae or krill, a shrimp-like crustacean.
• Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is also found in fish oil, so it's absorbed if you're taking a daily dose of DHA omega-3.

Omega-6 vs Omega-3

What to look for when buying fish oil supplements:

• Fish oil supplements vary in the amounts and ratios of DHA and EPA they contain. For example, salmon oil naturally contains more DHA than EPA; a supplement derived from algae may only contain DHA. Krill oil contains significant amounts of both EPA and DHA. Read the labels and remember whatever supplement you buy, it must have at least 600 mg of DHA.
• Be aware that only about one-third of the oil from fish is rich in EPA and DHA. Many supplements also contain vitamin E or other antioxidants to stabilize the oils and prevent them from becoming rancid. If you choose to buy a fish oil supplement, check the label carefully to see if it recommends refrigeration to prevent spoiling.
• Most brands of fish oil have been proven safe, free of detectable traces of mercury, and do not contain unsafe levels of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), a toxin and pollutant believed to pose various health threats. To avoid contaminants in an unrefined supplement, it's best to choose a fish oil supplement made from small, oily fish like anchovy, sardines or menhaden.

Here's how a daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids can improve and protect vital aspects of your body's daily functioning:

• Lubricates joints Helps provide the lubrication joints need to function at an effective level. By keeping joints lubed, you experience less grinding and less overall wear and tear - and thereby - less pain as you age.
• Decreases inflammation in inflamed joints.

• Fights wrinkles As we age, fat cells in our skin's third layer thin out and tend to get a bit bumpier; omega-3s help make that layer thicker and smooth. The effect? Wrinkles go away and skin becomes fuller.
• Protects Vision Our eyes' retinas are a membranous structures and the whole eye is covered in a soft double layer of membranes, making your eyes' health dependent on the liver (who knew?). The liver helps metabolize fat-soluble vitamins that feed and maintain those membranes. If you're deficient in DHA, it affects how we see by delaying the system that converts light into neural energy in the retina.
• Pumps the heart Where to begin?! Omega-3s reduce triglycerides, stabilize your heartbeat, make platelets "less sticky" and can even lower blood pressure. The EPA you get with your daily DHA dose helps prevent artery-blocking clots. In the Iowa Nurses Study (and 3 others), 1 ounce of nuts a day decreased the incidence of heart disease between 20 and 60%.
• Attacks Acne It may surprise you to know that an inadequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids contributes to breakout-prone skin. Trade sugar (and meat) for avocados, walnuts, salmon or trout to help control acne.
• Clears Cholesterol Boosts levels of HDL (the good cholesterol) and helps clear your arteries.
• Boosts the Brain In keeping your arteries clear, you're immediately improving brain function. They also alter your neurotransmitters to help reduce depression.
• Enhances Fertility Improves fertility rates in both males and females by improving sperm's swimming ability and the environment for implantation in women.
• A Pregnancy Prerequisite Omega-3 fatty acids directly affect brain development, making it crucial for expectant mothers. Additionally, research indicates they decrease a mother's risk of depression. When the mother doesn't have enough of these essential fatty acids, the baby borrows from her. Some prenatal vitamins now include omega-3s, so be sure to check the label or grab a handful of walnuts each day.

Astaxanthin

Algae is the source of astaxanthin, one of the most powerful antioxidants.

Astaxanthin delivers powerful benefits, such as

• Combats aging, reduces fine lines and wrinkles and protects the skin from sun damage


• Aids in fat metabolism and encourages weight loss by helping the body burn more fat during exercise


• Improves cardiovascular, eye and brain health


• Delivers powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection that can dramatically improve overall health 
• works as an internal nutritional sunscreen and actually boosts your skin's tolerance to ultraviolet radiation.

Scientific research has shown that astaxanthin is a true anti-aging wonder because it protects against collagen degradation, cell damage and wrinkles due to the rays of the sun.

In studies from Carotenoid Science and others, topical application of astaxanthin was shown to increase the skin’s moisture level as well as reduce wrinkles after four weeks of application . In another study, women with dry skin saw significant improvements in spots, acne and dark rings around their eyes . Still another showed that astaxanthin improved fine lines and skin elasticity.


Astaxanthin is found in microalgae, yeast, salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, crayfish, crustaceans, and the feathers of some birds. It provides the red color of salmon meat and cooked shellfish.  This red-orange pigment, closely related to other well-known carotenoids like beta-carotene and lutein, has stronger antioxidant activity than either of them (ten times higher than beta-carotene, in fact).

MegaRed Omega-3 Krill Oil is a good source of astaxanthin; it's an oil from pure Antarctic krill, tiny crustaceans that thrive in the frigid water of  the Antarctic. 

MegaRed Omega-3 Krill Oil

Q: Is red krill oil really all that much better for you than regular fish oil?

A: Red krill oil has about the same amount of omega-3 content as regular fish oil pills, but the way that the omega-3 molecules are conjugated in krill oil, it may be better absorbed and utilized by the body.

Red krill oil's capacity to reduce LDL or bad cholesterol and raise the HDL or good cholesterol seems to be better than fish oil alone and its anti-inflammatory properties appear to be better as well. There are some reports stating that after 2 weeks of taking red krill oil supplements that the anti-inflammatory potential is similar to ibuprofen.

A northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica)

To recap here are four great reasons why Krill Oil beats the pants off fish oil:

More Omega 3s. Krill Oil contains the richest supply of DHA and EPA attached in phospholipid form. Phospholipids are much more absorbable by the body which means... more DHA and EPA at each serving.

Phospholipids. Krill Oil is rich in brain-essential "good fats" found in phospholipid form – the same as the human body which means there are no conversions or extra work the body needs to do. This makes absorption faster, easier and more effective. You won't get fish burps, upset stomach or unpleasant side effects from Krill Oil.

Antioxidant power. Krill Oil contains astaxanthin, the carotenoid that gives shrimp, krill, lobster and other foods their pink color. Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant. Krill oil has a very high ORAC value -- tens od times more antioxidant power than fish oil.

Purity. Krill are at the bottom of the food chain. They are virtually free of toxins, metals and other contaminants. Even better, Krill oil is harvested and collected in its natural environment – the pristine waters of Antarctica!