The COVID-19 pandemic has put the spotlight on health, propelling consumers toward an even greater sense of healthy living. And according to Euromonitor there are three pillars to the healthy living trend: prevention, nutrition and lifestyle. When it comes to prevention, proactiveness and protection is key, and this is where dietary supplements and healthy ingredients come into play.
In fact, the pandemic has spurred a sharp growth in dietary supplements globally as more and more people are turning to known ingredients and products that support immune health, as well as overall health and wellbeing. Omega-3 fatty acids are becoming a larger part of that conversation, and for many good reasons.
The need for omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are among some of the most important nutrients to support long-term health. And since our bodies cannot make them on their own, we need to obtain them from our diet. While the best way to get the correct amount of the essential fatty acids, EPA and DHA, is in the form of "oily" fish, supplementing with a marine based omega- 3 that contains EPA and DHA (such as krill oil) will also help you to efficiently raise your omega-3 levels.
Not all omega-3s are created equal
There are many omega-3 choices on the market and it’s important to understand that not all omega-3s are created equal. There are some important differences between various sources and how they are delivered in the body.
With krill oil, you are getting more of the right nutrients to fuel your body, in comparison to other sources of omega-3. Krill oil naturally contains four important nutrients—omega-3 (EPA&DHA), phospholipids, choline and astaxanthin—all of which are well known to support several functions in the body from nerve signaling and muscle function to regulating liver functions, protecting the blood vessels and the cardiovascular system and much more.
Since krill oil is a natural phospholipid complex of omega-3 and choline, it acts more as a multi-nutrient supplement. With krill oil, the body immediately recognizes phospholipid omega-3 (EPA & DHA) and incorporates them into the cells before carrying them to the tissues and organs that need them the most, such as the heart, brain, joints and more. This happens due to krill oil’s phospholipid advantage.
Check out the "HIGHWAY TO CELL" video below:
On the contrary, other sources of omega-3s in triglyceride form must be processed in the liver before they can be taken up by the cells and used by the body. With krill oil, you are ensuring a solid foundation for your cells to function at their best, helping to promote good overall health and wellness.
Moving beyond heart health
From a market perspective, krill oil is traditionally most well-known for its heart health properties. While there is still plenty of room for krill oil to grow in the traditional heart health segment, research in recent years suggests that krill oil has far reaching benefits beyond heart health.
Krill oil’s phospholipid bound omega-3s and choline are especially important for liver health, and even have beneficial effects on skin hydration and muscle activation in sports performance.
The Sustainability Imperative
In addition to the increased need for health-related products, the pandemic has also accelerated the rise of brands with a strong sense of purpose, placing society, planetary welfare and collaboration at the heart of recovery.
COVID-19 has highlighted the huge role that businesses, governments and individual actions play if we all work toward similar goals, bringing about new solutions to sustainability challenges.
See how we work with sustainable harvesting in Antarctica!
Krill oil, a healthy & sustainable solution
Aside from its many health benefits, krill oil is a sustainable ingredient and there is a growing demand for products that come from sustainable sources. We take supplements, such as krill oil, as part of a healthy lifestyle, but at the same time, we want to know that these products are coming from sustainable sources. Many of us recognize that the health of the planet is as important as, and naturally linked to, the health of an individual.
The majority of krill comes from the Antarctic Ocean which is under the purview of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), whose goal is to preserve marine life and environmental integrity in and near Antarctica. CCAMLR has set a strict catch limit of 1% of the total krill biomass each year.
Aker BioMarine, a leading krill harvesting company and biotech innovator, is 100% vertically integrated which means that the company owns and controls its entire supply chain from top to bottom. When it comes to health promoting ingredients such as krill oil, sustainability and accountability are a must.
According to Matts Johansen, Aker BioMarine’s CEO, “Either we do it sustainably, or we don’t do it all. Sustainability was at Aker BioMarine’s core since the beginning and it has been deep-seated in our company’s DNA since. From ‘A ratings’ in sustainability audits to our exclusive technology techniques and platforms for sustainable harvesting and production, we are on a mission to improve human and planetary health simultaneously.”
Krill oil, a must-have solution
The evolving health and wellness industry continues to present new opportunities for companies like Aker BioMarine to work closely with their customers and partners to bring new and novel krill oil products to market. There is no question that krill oil is a super supplement and a solution when it comes to a proactive approach to a healthier lifestyle, and it’s sustainable.
