Recently I was asked on Twitter what my number one anti-aging tip would be?
That was a tough one. And I only had 140 characters to answer her.
There are several anti-aging tips that I think are important and the question wasn’t specific. My follower didn’t ask about a cream, a specific treatment or about a supplement.
So, I thought about the question for a while.
You might be surprised to learn my answer.
It’s not sexy.
It’s Simple.
Drum roll, please …
My answer was fish oil (or krill).
So why is my most important anti-aging tip fish oil?
That became clear to me as I thought about the question –It’s all encompassing.
In my 10+ years, in the field of anti-aging, it’s the one thing that does so much.
This one little supplement helps:
- Your skin
- Your hair
- Your bones
- Your heart
- Your brain
- Age-related eye diseases
- Reduce high cholesterol
- Hardening of the arteries
- Depression
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Inflammation
- Diabetes
- Lower blood pressure
Fish oil (omega 3 fatty acids) is to us what the oil was to the tin man. It keeps you moving and is essential to your well being. Almost as much as air and water.
Is there a difference between fish oil and krill oil?
The research is still inconclusive1,2. The main thing that has been studied is the bioavailability of krill versus fish oil. Meaning, which one gets into your system better. The studies have had conflicting results and further testing still needs done and is being done as I write this.
So which one should you choose?
If you have a sensitive stomach, get fish burps or can’t swallow large pills, then your choice should be krill. But krill doesn’t have as much DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) so you usually will have to take more than what is directed on the bottle (more about dosing later).
Which reminds me of a recent trip to Wal-Mart. I was in the vitamin aisle and the woman next to me was looking at krill oil. She kinda grunted and looked at me so I asked her, “Is something wrong?” “It’s so expensive” she said. So I pointed her to fish oil that was less expensive and began to explain about krill and fish oil. Just then my fiancé appeared. He had heard the exchange and said to the woman, “she knows’. We laughed and the woman thanked me.
So, if cost is a concern then fish oil is the way to go.
Because there are so many choices it is confusing. So, how do you pick a fish oil?
The way to know if you are getting a good fish oil is the DHA amount. A high-quality fish oil is going to have a high DHA amount. You want to look for something that has at least 600mgs and up to 1200mgs.
Why you need DHA.
DHA is an omega 3 fatty acid and is the primary component of the brain, retina, skin and every cell in your body. Your body produces a very small amount of DHA but you need more. You get it from your food (salmon, tuna, seaweed, sardines, trout, herring, mackerel, anchovies, nuts, seeds and dark-green leafy vegetables) but most people don’t eat enough in their diet so supplementation is important.
Who shouldn’t take fish oil?
Anyone allergic to fish or iodine. Also if you are on a blood thinner or are pregnant you should check with your doctor first.
We all need a little oiling up with healthy omega 3’s – too bad the tin man didn’t know.
To a younger more healthy you!
Sandy DeRose
References
1Vigerust NF, et al. Krill oil versus fish oil in modulation of inflammation and lipid metabolism in mice transgenic for TNF-α. Eur J Nutr. 2013 Jun;52(4):1315-25. doi: 10.1007/s00394-012-0441-2. Epub 2012 Aug 25.
2Schuchardt JP, et al. Incorporation of EPA and DHA into plasma phospholipids in response to different omega-3 fatty acid formulations–a comparative bioavailability study of fish oil vs. krill oil. Lipids Health Dis. 2011 Aug 22;10:145. doi: 10.1186/1476-511X-10-145.
