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How Can You Get Omega-3 Benefits with No Fishy Burps?

Krill oil supplements can offer the same omega-3 benefits as fish oil without the disadvantage of fish-flavored burps.

We have written numerous times about omega-3 benefits, which range from delaying macular degeneration or preventing diabetes to easing stiff joints and promoting heart health. Some people make sure they get adequate omega-3 fatty acids by eating fish several times a week. Others take fish oil. One disadvantage to fish oil is the fish-flavored burps that many people experience. One reader found an alternative.

Finding Omega-3 Benefits in Supplements:

Q. I am in my mid-30s and am very interested in maintaining cardiac health. That is why I have been taking some form of omega-3 supplement for a couple of years. While I can’t say they make a noticeable impact on my day-to-day well-being, I defer to the scientific findings as far as long-term omega-3 benefits.

However, I’ve always had a huge distaste for the ‘fish burps.’ They’re enough to make me quit taking the supplements for months at a time.

Then I discovered krill oil. It appears that it is not only a vastly superior form of omega 3 in terms of absorbability and utility to the body on all relevant metrics, but comes with no fish burps whatsoever. So I guess you could say I’m hooked.

Benefits of Krill Oil:

A. Krill oil, like fish oil, is a good source of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. The research that we found indicates that krill oil is as effective as fish oil for treating dry eye disease (Deneima et al, Ophthalmology, Jan. 2017).

A small study in monkeys with type 2 diabetes reported that omega-3 fats from krill oil reduced total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Good HDL cholesterol went up (Hals et al, Lipids in Health and Disease, Jan 17, 2017). This suggests that krill oil is providing the omega-3 benefits you are seeking.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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