Fish Oil Versus Krill Oil - What Exactly Is The Difference?

You will find research saying that there is a new omega 3 supplement around to challenge the currently respected and reliable oil supplement - that awesome is krill oil. But could there be really much major difference? Let's look at more details on the fish oil vs. krill oil issue and be aware of facts.

Fish oil has already recognized its prowess as a good supplement. Hoping to make the most out of the health advantages omega 3 in it can provide, there are experiments at present to produce supplements that are more efficient and will give more omega 3.

Lately, it has been found that there might just be an alternative source which could give as much or maybe more omega 3 than it. This has lead some to mention krill oil is one more good source of omega 3, while there are other people saying that it's just a promotion gimmick to promote this latest gimmick.

Effects of Krill and Fish Oil to our body

Krill and Fish Oil are believed to likely help lessen inflammation, boost healthy heart and even cardiovascular health, help elevate mood levels, promote weight loss and much more. These krill oil benefits are all because of omega 3 fatty acids. Anyway, Fish and Krill Oil are both natural supplements that can be safely taken everyday without the unwanted side effects.

Does krill oil have more antioxidants?

What's good with krill oil is that it contains more antioxidants to some but not all brands of fish oil. These antioxidants such as astaxanthin are readily absorbed into the body easily. But, there are some fish oil that contain added astaxanthin and deliver more of it compare to krill oil. Therefore, if you use this measurement of astaxanthin antioxidants.

Vitamin A and D maybe also present in Krill Oil

Apart from its antioxidant content, krill supplements are also known to contain vitamins A and D that are not present in fish oil. This could be bad or good, depending on whether you are already taking a multivitamin that already has enough vitamin A and D. There are doctors that advices not to take too much Vitamin A or D, so consult your doctor how much of those vitamins are good for you.

In spite of the new fad, there are still many people who stick with good old reliable, tried and tested fish oil supplements. Here are some reasons why:

Insufficient evidence and possible extinction of krill?

Although Omega 3 fatty acid health benefits have already been established, krill has not been as extensively studied as fish oil. More importantly, there's some people believing that krill will also be included in the listing of species that are already decreasing in numbers - too much consumption of krill oil might actually not good for the environment. This is also the food of whales so the question arises: are we taking away food from endangered whales?

Krill oil is expensive compared to fish oil

Currently, there are only a few trustworthy companies who manufacture krill oil. Currently, krill oil often is more costly than fish oil. What this mean is you will need to invest more cash on a supplement that has fewer studies to demonstrate whether it really gives health benefits equal to fish oil.

Fish Oil has all the important omega 3 fatty acids

Though Fish oil is said to contain large amounts of omega 3 fatty acids, krill oil remains to be superior regarding amounts of important omega 3 acids for example EPA and DFA. This means that the exact benefits as well as desired effects might possibly be better acquired with krill oil.

The verdict between Fish Oil and Krill Oil

Base on the facts above, paying more for krill oil maybe great for consumers. This means that for now, you can maybe pay more to buy krill oil supplements, taking foods of endangered whales, getting too mmuch vitamin A and also much vitamin A and D. But you can always buy the tested and proven fish oil until more studies are done on krill oil.

It's also important to remember that there are also brands of fish, have added astaxanthin antioxidants and as a result they have this ingredient just like krill oil does. So the same amount of antioxidants just like krill oil has.

These statements are not medical health advice and haven't been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Fish oil supplements are not designed to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.

Reasons why you need krill oil

It is a well-known misconception that all fats are not good for the body. This is definitely not true because there are some fats that are very good for your body. One kind of fat that is nice for your body is the Omega-3 fatty acids. Foods that provide this fat to the body should be part of your diet.

What you need to understand about krills

Krills look like tiny shrimp that resides in the base of the sea. Krills are near the base of the food chain, it also serves as food to other underwater creatures. Did you know that even whales feed on krills?

Human consumption of krills are not solely a new thing. You just have not heard of it. Krills are customary food in Japan probably even before 19th century. But, there as many types of krills as there are fish. Remember that not all kinds of krills are to our health though.

In fact, there is only one type of krill that have been examined and proven to be beneficial to us and that is the antarctic krill oil. Antarctic krill oil has plenty of benefits which I will mention after you finish reading the article below. But for the meantime, let's research the alternatives!

Krill Oil and Fish Oil Comparison

People have been consuming fish oil for quite some time now because of the health benefits that we can get from it. But there are various kinds of fish which can end up in the production of fish oil and we are coming to find out as time goes on that there may be certain kinds of fish oils which are better for the body than others. Fish oil are really good to your overall health because it contains the 2 vital omega-3 fats to our well-being - the DHA & EPA. DHA & EPA helps promote healthy heart plus supports your immune system.

But, fish oil has barely any antioxidant in it. The problem with thisis, as omega-3 fats intake increased, you need to raise your ingestion of antioxidants as well! This is simply because fish oil is highly perishable. Antioxidants are needed to prevent fish oil from oxidizing and cause more damage than good.

Krill oil on the other hand, contains both DHA & EPA but it also contains strong antioxidants property. Which means you do not need to be concerned regarding increasing your intake of antioxidants!

Krill Oil Benefits

1. It Maintain healthy cholesterol levels
2. Ease premenstrual syndrome and also menstrual cramps
3. Combats signs of aging
4. protect cell membranes
5. supports liver function
6. supports memory plus learning
7. strengthen immune system
8. important for healthy skin

What's Krill Oil?

Krill are little crustaceans, a lot like shrimp, which grow to be from 1 to six centimeters lengthy. They reside alongside the oceans floor, and feed mostly on phytoplankton. Eaten by a large variety of animals this kind of as whales, seals, penguins, squid, and bass or all kinds, these creatures are pretty much on the bottom of the meals chain.

Most commercial kind krill fishing is done within the southern portions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean, as well as the northern component of Pacific Ocean, around the coasts of Japan and Canada. The fisherman catch these wildlife to use them in aquaculture and aquarium feeds, for sport fishing, or for food. If krill is used for food in Japan it's called okiami.

The oil that is naturally found in these creatures is extracted and offered as a nutritional supplement. The cause for this really is due towards the reality that it's extremely higher in omega 3 fatty acids. It also contains an antioxidant that is known as astaxanthin. The algae that is eaten by krill produces the vibrant red pigment, astaxanthin which makes krill, shrimp, lobster and other crustaceans their pinkish color.

These anti-oxidants assist to shield the cells within our physique from some thing called 'free radicals'. Totally free radicals are unstable substances which many believe contributes to a number of different persistent diseases. Astaxanthin crosses the blood to brain barrier, which makes most researchers believe that it may protect the eyes, brain, and central nervous system from the damage caused by totally free radicals. Other anti-oxidants don't cross this barrier.

Individuals ingest krill oil for the same uses that they'd ingest flax oils, fish oils, or other omega 3 fatty acids. Fish oil can occasionally cause a fishy burp or aftertaste, which is a recognized following impact if fish oil. Krill oil also has a larger amount of astaxanthin than fish oils do. Its used for a number of various well being causes which include:

• Decreasing Cholesterol- Inside a study done around the results of krill oil on high cholesterol, 120 individuals had been offered both krill oil, fish oil, or a placebo. The ones who ingested krill oil showed a discount of 34% in LDL or 'bad' cholesterol, and an increase of 43.5% in HDL or 'good' cholesterol compared to those that got a placebo. Those who got krill oil also had a lowered triglyceride count. The ones who took the fish oil showed a discount of LDL cholesterol by 4.6% compared to the placebo, and and improve in HDL by 4.2%.

• Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS- Research shows that krill oil might assist wit the symptoms of PMS, by additional analysis is still becoming conducted.

• Arthritis-According to analysis posted within the 'Journal with the American School of Nutrition' when individuals took 300 mg each day of krill oil compared to a placebo, those who got krill oil showed effective outcomes in relieving arthritis pain, inflammation, and other signs.

As far as side effects are involved, there are actually very couple of. Of course, individuals with allergy symptoms to seafood ought to not ingest these oil. Individuals who have bleeding disorder are advised to talk with a doctor and be supervised by a professional well being expert before using krill oil. It isn't recommended to make use of it with blood thinners this kind of as aspirin, warfarin, heparin, clopidogrel, or NSAIDS such as ibuprofen, or naproxen ought to not use krill oil with out checking with their medical doctors. The same goes for gingko bilobo and garlic. Side results may include looser stools and indigestion.

Choosing the Healthiest Sources of Protein

Protein from either an animal or vegetable source, once it's digested, basically works the same. It's broken down into individual amino acids that are then recombined to form other proteins found in your body - e.g. muscles, bones, organs, blood, etc.

Animal source protein, however, is complete protein since it provides all nine of essential amino acids needed for human health. Vegetable source protein always lacks one or more of these vital amino acids. This is usually not a problem for people who eat a vegetarian diet, as long as they eat a wide variety of good quality protein foods.

But there's another big difference between animal and vegetable source protein that must be taken into consideration when looking for the best protein source for good health. And that's the extra food components that come along with the protein.

Take a four-ounce porterhouse steak, for example. It provides a lot of complete protein. 25 grams to be exact. But it also provides about 30 grams of fat of which more than 10 grams are unhealthy saturated fat. The same size serving of broiled salmon delivers about the same amount of complete protein - 23 grams, but only 12 grams of fat, less than 3 of them saturated. A cup of lentils, on the other hand, has about 18 grams of incomplete protein, but under a gram of fat.

So paying close attention to the dietary source of protein makes good sense if you want to get and stay healthy. Animal source protein may be complete but it also contains a lot of extra unwanted fat. Studies show, for example, that people who eat more than 18 ounces of red meat each week have a much higher risk of colon cancer. The best sources of animal protein are lean fish, and poultry.

If you enjoy red meat eat it only on an occasional basis and always choose moderate size portions of the leanest cuts. And stay away from processed meats - bacon deli meats and hot dogs - that are linked to cancer risk. When eating dairy products, choose healthier low fat milk, yogurt and cheese.

Vegetable source protein like beans, nuts and whole grains may be incomplete but they also provide vitamins, minerals and healthy fiber. When limiting animal source protein in your diet, it's vital that you eat a wide variety of protein rich foods to be sure you're getting all of the amino acids you need. Combining rice and beans and peanut butter on whole grain bread are excellent vegetarian choices that provide a complete amino acid profile.

from ezinearticles

5 Best Android Apps for Health and Fitness

it’s time to get outside and get in shape. Technology has been a great part of our lives and we should take advantage of it as much as possible. You can find a lot of phone applications today that you can use for tracking your calories and kilometers to stay in shape. As the Android is gaining popularity, here are ten popular health-related apps in the Android Market today that will help you get and stay in shape.

1. CardioTrainer + Racing

The CardioTrainer is a great Android application that challenges users to beat their own best times. It has features such as virtual race simulator and even a nifty voice that tells the user exactly how far behind or ahead he is. That's not all, for only $2.99 you will be able to enhance the free CardioTrainer app with a weight loss module.

2. Fast Food Calorie Counter

Its hard to resist the allure of fast food especially when you are trying to watch your weight. This application can help you mitigate the disastrous effects on your body of your favorite fast foods. You will find compiled data from 72 fast food restaurants. Those who are watching their diet and weight will surely love the data included in this app such as calories, fat grams, fiber, carbohydrates and protein. You can even try the free version of this app, Fast Food Calorie Counter Lite, if you are still undecided to purchase the full version.

3. CalorieQuick™

CalorieQuick will provide you with the help you need to track and control your calorie intake and exercise. Many people love how easy it is to set up and use, it is also designed for quick updating, and provides you with just the feedback you need to improve your health and appearance.

4. Endomondo Sports Tracker

Runners, cyclists, joggers and rollerskaters/rollerbladers will surely love this application. The Endomoohelps can help you track your time, distance, speed and altitude, and keeps a history of your workouts.

5. Calorie Counter by FatSecret

The Calorie Counter is a simple tool for those who would like to keep track of their calories and other nutrition facts. This app also figures the recommended daily intake for a user to achieve his or her fitness and weight goals. It even has a built-in bar code scanner to help you find healthy foods in a snap.

What Is Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux happens when the acids from your stomach "flow back" into your esophagus, causing discomfort and pain. The discomfort is also known as heartburn. The difference between acid reflux and heartburn is action and sensation. The flow of acid from your stomach to your esophagus is called acid reflux while heartburn is pain you are feeling when there is movement of acid into the esophagus from the stomach.

Common symptoms of acid reflux:
* Asthma
* Chest pain due to heartburn sensation
* Dental erosion
* Dysphagia
* Heartburn is the burning sensation brought by rising acid from the stomach towards the esophagus
* Hoarseness
* Regurgitation

Common causes of acid reflux:
* Large meals and eating habits
* Hiatus hernia (hiatal hernia)
* Peptic ulcers and insufficient digestive enzymes
* Smoking
* Alcohol

Medications

* Acid suppressant - these have been shown to be effective, such as histamine2-receptor antagonists (blockers). Histamines are good at reducing inflammation. An inflamed stomach produces more acid - blocking this extra production of acid helps prevent the acids from building up and seeping upwards.

* Propton pump inhibitors - these reduce the production of acid in the stomach. They act on cells in the stomach wall and produce stomach acids.

* Prokinetic agents - these promote the emptying of the stomach, stopping it from becoming overfull.

* Antiacids - commonly used to treat mild acid-related symptoms, such as heartburn or indigestion. They neutralize the acids in the stomach. These are not recommended for frequent heartburn.

Obama Hails Vote on Health Care as Answering ‘the Call of History’

WASHINGTON — House Democrats approved a far-reaching overhaul of the nation’s health system on Sunday, voting over unanimous Republican opposition to provide medical coverage to tens of millions of uninsured Americans after an epic political battle that could define the differences between the parties for years.

With the 219-to-212 vote, the House gave final approval to legislation passed by the Senate on Christmas Eve. Thirty-four Democrats joined Republicans in voting against the bill. The vote sent the measure to President Obama, whose yearlong push for the legislation has been the centerpiece of his agenda and a test of his political power.

After approving the bill, the House adopted a package of changes to it by a vote of 220 to 211. That package — agreed to in negotiations among House and Senate Democrats and the White House — now goes to the Senate for action as soon as this week. It would be the final step in a bitter legislative fight that has highlighted the nation’s deep partisan and ideological divisions.

On a sun-splashed day outside the Capitol, protesters, urged on by House Republicans, chanted “Kill the bill” and waved yellow flags declaring “Don’t Tread on Me.” They carried signs saying “Doctors, Not Dictators.”

Inside, Democrats hailed the votes as a historic advance in social justice, comparable to the establishment of Medicare and Social Security. They said the bill would also put pressure on rising health care costs and rein in federal budget deficits.

“This is the Civil Rights Act of the 21st century,” said Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, the No. 3 Democrat in the House.

Mr. Obama celebrated the House action in remarks at the White House.

“We pushed back on the undue influence of special interests,” Mr. Obama said. “We didn’t give in to mistrust or to cynicism or to fear. Instead, we proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things.”

“This isn’t radical reform,” he added, “but it is major reform.”

After a year of combat and weeks of legislative brinksmanship, House Democrats and the White House clinched their victory only hours before the voting started on Sunday. They agreed to a deal with opponents of abortion rights within their party to reiterate in an executive order that federal money provided by the bill could not be used for abortions, securing for Democrats the final handful of votes they needed to assure passage.

Winding up the debate, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: “After a year of debate and hearing the calls of millions of Americans, we have come to this historic moment. Today we have the opportunity to complete the great unfinished business of our society and pass health insurance reform for all Americans that is a right and not a privilege.”

The House Republican leader, Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, said lawmakers were defying the wishes of their constituents. “The American people are angry,” Mr. Boehner said. “This body moves forward against their will. Shame on us.”

Republicans said the plan would saddle the nation with unaffordable levels of debt, leave states with expensive new obligations, weaken Medicare and give the government a huge new role in the health care system.

The debate on the legislation set up a bitter midterm campaign season, with Republicans promising an effort to repeal the legislation, challenge its constitutionality or block its provisions in the states.

Representative Paul D. Ryan, Republican of Wisconsin, denounced the bill as “a fiscal Frankenstein.” Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Republican of Florida, called it “a decisive step in the weakening of the United States.” Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina, said it was “one of the most offensive pieces of social engineering legislation in the history of the United States.”

But Representative Marcy Kaptur, Democrat of Ohio, said the bill heralded “a new day in America.” Representative Doris Matsui, Democrat of California, said it would “improve the quality of life for millions of American families.”

The health care bill would require most Americans to have health insurance, would add 16 million people to the Medicaid rolls and would subsidize private coverage for low- and middle-income people, at a cost to the government of $938 billion over 10 years, the Congressional Budget Office said.

The bill would require many employers to offer coverage to employees or pay a penalty. Each state would set up a marketplace, or exchange, where consumers without such coverage could shop for insurance meeting federal standards.

The budget office estimates that the bill would provide coverage to 32 million uninsured people, but still leave 23 million uninsured in 2019. One-third of those remaining uninsured would be illegal immigrants.

The new costs, according to the budget office, would be more than offset by savings in Medicare and by new taxes and fees, including a tax on high-cost employer-sponsored health plans and a tax on the investment income of the most affluent Americans.

Cost estimates by the budget office, showing that the bill would reduce federal budget deficits by $143 billion in the next 10 years, persuaded some fiscally conservative Democrats to vote for the bill.

Democrats said Americans would embrace the bill when they saw its benefits, including some provisions that take effect later this year.

Health insurers, for example, could not deny coverage to children with medical problems or suddenly drop coverage for people who become ill. Insurers must allow children to stay on their parents’ policies until they turn 26. Small businesses could obtain tax credits to help them buy insurance.

The Democratic effort to secure the 216 votes needed for passage of the legislation came together only after last-minute negotiations involving the White House, the House leadership and a group of Democratic opponents of abortion rights, led by Representative Bart Stupak of Michigan. On Sunday afternoon, members of the group announced that they would support the legislation after Mr. Obama promised to issue an executive order to “ensure that federal funds are not used for abortion services.”

Mr. Stupak described the order as a significant guarantee that would “protect the sanctity of life in health care reform.” But supporters of abortion rights — and some opponents — said the order merely reaffirmed what was in the bill.

The vote to pass the Senate version of the bill means that it will become the law of the land as soon as Mr. Obama signs it, regardless of when — or even whether — the Senate acts on the package of changes the House also passed.

The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, has promised to take up the package of changes in short order, and he has said he has the votes to pass it. The Senate will consider it under a parliamentary maneuver that will allow the Democrats to pass it with a simple majority, averting the threat of a Republican filibuster.

Indeed, Senate Republicans were quickly faced with a need to recalibrate their message from one aimed at stopping the legislation to one focused on winning back a sufficient number of seats in Congress to repeal it.

Mr. Obama, in his remarks shortly before midnight in the East Room, urged the Senate to complete the final pieces of the legislation. “Some have predicted another siege of parliamentary maneuvering in order to delay it,” he said. “I hope that’s not the case.”

He continued, “It’s time to bring this debate to a close and begin the hard work of implementing this reform properly on behalf of the American people.”

Mr. Obama watched the roll call with Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. in the Roosevelt Room in the White House.

The House galleries were full, and the floor was unusually crowded, for the historic debate on health care.

Working together, Mr. Obama and Ms. Pelosi revived the legislation when it appeared dead after Democrats lost their 60th vote in the Senate and with it their ability to shut off Republican filibusters.

Republicans said they would use the outcome to bludgeon Democrats in this year’s Congressional elections. The White House is planning an intensive effort to convince people of the bill’s benefits. But if Democrats suffer substantial losses in November, Mr. Obama could be stymied on other issues.

The campaign for a health care overhaul began as a way to help the uninsured. But it gained momentum when middle-class families with health insurance flooded Congress with their grievances. They complained of soaring premiums. They said their insurance had been canceled when they got sick.

“It’s not just the uninsured,” said Representative Jim McGovern, Democrat of Massachusetts. “We also have to worry about people with insurance who find, for crazy reasons, that they are somehow going to be denied coverage.”

In the end, groups like the United States Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business tried to stop the bill, saying it would increase the cost of doing business. But other groups, including the American Medical Association and AARP, backed it, as did the pharmaceutical industry.

Lawmakers agreed that Sunday’s debate was historic, but they were poles apart in assessing the legislation.

Representative Rodney Alexander, Republican of Louisiana, said, “You cannot expect to expand coverage to millions of individuals and to curb costs at the same time.”

Republicans said the picture painted by the budget office was too rosy, because the new taxes and fees would start immediately, while the major costs would not show up for four years.

Moreover, Republicans said Democrats would pay a price for defying public opinion on the bill.

“Are you so arrogant that you know what’s best for the American people?” Representative Paul Broun, Republican of Georgia, asked the Democrats. “Are you so ignorant to be oblivious to the wishes of the American people?”

Lawmakers spoke with deep conviction in explaining their votes.

“Health care is not only a civil right, it’s a moral issue,” said Representative Patrick J. Kennedy, Democrat of Rhode Island, who invoked the memory of his father, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat and a lifelong champion of health care for all.

After the legislation passed, Mr. Obama sought to place the day in perspective.

“In the end what this day represents is another stone firmly laid in the foundation of the American dream,” the president said. “Tonight, we answered the call of history as so many generations of Americans have before us. When faced with crisis, we did not shrink from our challenges. We overcame them. We did not avoid our responsibilities, we embraced it. We did not fear our future, we shaped it.”

Source: nytimes.com