A few days ago I posted on a fish oil/krill oil/curcumin regimen that I’ve been using to treat joint and muscle soreness after golf. I had a number of comments wanting to know about krill oil and why I made it part of the treatment protocol. Your wish is my command. Krill oil, logically enough, comes from krill, which are small, shrimp like crustaceans that inhabit the cold ocean areas of the world, primarily the Antarctic and North Pacific Oceans. Despite their small size–one to five centimeters in length–krill make up the largest animal biomass on the planet. According to Neptune Technologies, the Canadian company that holds the patent for krill oil extraction, there are approximately 500 million tons of krill roaming around in these northern seas, 110,000 tons of which are harvested annually. Krill oil, like fish oil, contains both of the omega-3 fats eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), but hooked together in a different form. In fish oil these omega-3 fatty acids are found in the triglyceride form whereas in krill oil they are hooked up in a double chain phospholipid structure.
(The fats in our own cell walls are in the phospholipid form.) Attached to the EPA leg of the phospholipid is a molecule of astaxanthin, an extremely potent anti-oxidant. The phospholipid structure of the EPA and DHA in krill oil makes them much more absorbable and allows for a much easier entrance into the mitochondria and the cellular nucleus. In addition to EPA and DHA krill oil contains a complex phospholipid profile including phosphatidylcholine, a potent source of reductive-stress-reducing choline, which also acts as a natural emulsifier. Krill oil contains vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin D and canthaxanthin, which is, like astaxanthin, a potent anti-oxidant. The anti-oxidant potency of krill oil is such that when compared to fish oil in tems of ORAC (Oxygen radical absorptance capacity) values it was found to be 48 times more potent than fish oil. The astaxanthin found in krill oil provides excellent protection against ultravoilet light and UV-induced skin damage. It was for this reason that I started taking krill oil to begin with–I only discovered its other virtues later on.
A number of studies have shown that krill oil is tremendously effective in reducing LDL-cholesterol, raising HDL-cholesterol, and lowering blood sugar. It has been shown to be effective in treating the pain and inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis and aches and pains in general. One large study showed that krill oil has tremendous benefits in terms of symptom reduction in PMS and dysmenorrhea. And it has been shown to be effective in the treatment of adult ADHD. In all these studies krill oil was tested against fish oil and not simply a placebo. Due to the rapid absorption of krill oil and the high anti-oxidant content there is virtually never the fishy burping and aftertaste sometimes experienced with fish oil. And there are no other side effects to speak of. The jury is out right now on if and to what degree there is a problem for those people allergic to shrimp. Until the jury is in, I would be careful in taking krill oil if I had a shrimp allergy. Are there any downsides to this miracle substance?
It is a little more pricey than fish oil, but, as with all things, you get what you pay for. Virtually all krill oil is produced by Neptune Technologies and shipped to the various supplement manufacturers, so any krill oil you get will have come from the same place and be the same dosage. The only unknown is how long it has been sitting around in a warehouse somewhere, which is, of course, the same unkown with fish oil. At least with krill oil, thanks to the high anti-oxidant content, the shelf life is much longer.I neglected to mention in my previous post that popping a couple of fish oil and krill oil caps don’t give the same immediate relief as popping a NSAID. It takes a while–a couple of weeks in my case–for the fish oil/krill oil to provide the same degree of pain relief as the NSAID. So, the take home message is: don’t take your first dose and compare it to the relief you got with a dose of NSAID. If you do, you will not believe the program works and will probably think me an idiot.
It takes a while, so give it time. In the study I mentioned in the last post, the subjects took the fish oil for two weeks along with their NSAIDs, then tapered off the drugs and treated their pain with the fish oil alone.by BONNIE ESTRIDGE, Daily MailThere is now a dizzying number of expensive treatment creams on the market, which claim to make your skin look younger, smoother and more radiant - but do they live up to their promise? Is a £300 cream worth every penny, or could a cream with budget ingredients be just as effective? Femail decided to make up its own cream from very basic ingredients, at a cost of under £3. We then put it into a line-up of seven much more expensive face creams and asked two experts to test them in a blind trial, with astonishing results. Dr David Fenton - consultant dermatologist at St John's Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, says: The main criteria for me is the therapeutic value. That is, if the cream - whether expensive or cheap - sits on the skin and rubs in well, leaving a silky rather than greasy film.
Colette Haydon - a cosmetologist who has a cosmetic skin-care product design company called Elixir de Beaute, says: I look for a cream that will absorb well and leave a silky feel - on the skin. But I also appreciate the sensory and aesthetic aspects, such as a pleasant smell. Femail face cream (£2.90 for 50ml) Possibly the most important benefits a cream can have - moisture and little expense. Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, essential oil of rosewood, rose water, almond oil. What do they do? The rose water is for subtle fragrance and soothing properties. The essential oil of rose-wood is known for its calming properties, while almond oil is a vegetable oil to moisturise. David Fenton says: Good, non-greasy whiteish cream that absorbs well and has useful moisturising properties. A basic but very effective moisturiser. 8/10 Colette Haydon says: This has a rather pretty powdery rose fragrance - it is quite a comforting smell that makes me think of babies. However, when you apply the cream it feels light, but leaves a rather coarse film when it has sunk in.
The look in the jar is a little strange, with no gloss. 5/10 Neal's Yard Frankincense Nourishing Cream (£9.50 for 40mls) Has a firming, tightening effect on the skin helping to reduce fine lines. Key Ingredients: Essential oil of frankincense, oils of sunflower, almond, wheatgerm What do they do? Frankincense is said to be a good nourishing oil for mature skin. Sunflower and almond oils are for moisturising. Wheatgerm is a good source of vitamin A. David Fenton says: Good basic moisturiser with firm consistency and rich, creamy appearance. Could be too heavy for some 7/10 Colette Haydon says: This has a strong smell - it obviously contains essential oils, which is good. But I don't like the texture. 6/10 Clarins Moisture Quenching Hydra Balance Cream(£26 for 50ml) Moisture care your skin cannot be without. Key Ingredients: Plant extracts (cactus, pinus lambertiana, white lupin) What do they do? Plant extracts regulate evaporation of water in the skin; white lupin is reputed to be anti-ageing.
David Fenton says: A rich cream with a good consistency, which is not greasy and looks luxurious.' Colette Haydon says: I quite like this smell. It's quite flowery with a hint of grapefruit. It feels lovely on the skin, as though it is really nourishing. 9/10Oil of Olay Total Effects Intensive Overnight Treatment (£19.50 for 50ml) Helps reverse seven signs of ageing. Key Ingredients: Vitamin B3, Panthenol, Vitamin E What do they do? These B vitamins, Panthenol or pro-vitamin B5 are claimed to provide deep moisturising properties. Vitamin E is also for moisturising and an antioxidant. David Fenton says: Very nice constancy for face cream although may be too light for dry skin and so may require frequent application. 9/10 Colette Haydon says: This is nice and discreet, the smell is pleasant. It feels very nice to apply and slides on well. 7/10Lancome Primordiale Nuit Visibly Regenerating Night CReam (£39.50 for 50ml) A visibly regenerating night cream. Key Ingredients: Pure Vitamin E, Vitamin A, wheatgerm, violet, rose and iris fragrance.
Vitamin E is to moisturise the skin and has anti-oxidant properties; Vitamin A has mild exfoliating properties. David Fenton says: Very similar colour and appearance to the first cream but slightly heavier, so, better moisturising properties but it feels slightly greasy. 6/10 Colette Haydon says: This has a lovely fresh fragrance. The cream has a lovely texture on application. The look is attractive and the effect is subtle, leaving a nice smooth feel to the skin.10/10 SK II Refining Cream (£55 for 30mls) Specially formulated to reveal your skin's natural radiance and vitality. Key Ingredients: Pitera (pure yeast extract); Pitera is said to smooth the skin and prevent wrinkles. It is a vegetable replacement for natural collagen. Amino acids constitute proteins for firming, toning and strengthening the connective tissues of the skin, while the nutrients in minerals improve metabolism and nourish the skin. David Fenton says: Good, light cream. Good emollient moisturising properties.
White, clean, light appearance. 7/10 Colette Haydon says: I can hardly detect any fragrance here at all - although there's a hint of lemon. This is a very light cream. It is very white in the jar, but it does appear to slip on the skin well. 8/10 Creme de la Mer (£115 for 60ml) Living sea kelp, vitamins and nutrients. Key Ingredients: Living sea kelp, vitamins and nutrients. Sea kelp is a type of seaweed that has a sophisticated composition containing vitamins, minerals and sugars. David Fenton says: A paste-like cream that is too heavy . I'd say better as a hand cream rather than a facial moisturiser. 6/10 Colette Haydon says: This has a hint of citrus, but smells soapy. The consistency is much too sticky it is difficult to apply and looks extremely opaque. But I think that someone with very dry skin would benefit.6/10Kanebo La Creme (£330 for 40mls) Nothing before has ever been so luxurious to your skin. Key Ingredients: Apricot essence, kanzou, Tocopheryl Nicotinate, Y-Orizonal.
Apricot essence is an essential oil to give a natural fragrance. Kanzou is said to soothe the skin. Tocopheryl Nicotinate is another name for Vitamin E - an antioxidant that has moisturising properties. Y-Orizonal is said to counteract dry skin. David Fenton says: It is a reasonably good consistency for the face, but is quite light and may need frequent application for therapeutic effect. Colette Haydon says: The smell is familiar, but not too heavy. The texture left on the skin is quite coarse and it doesn't leave my skin feeling silky. This has a soapy feel. I don't like it at all.5/10 2. Lancome and Oil of Olay (16/20) 4. Femail and Neal's Yard (13/20) 5. Creme de La Mer (12/20) David Fenton's verdict: The Femail cream is a very good, non-greasy basic moisturiser that would do as good a job of keeping the skin supple as any. I find many expensive products on the market disappointing because in my opinion, they promise far too much. The only ingredients that the skin needs are oil and water and the proportions of these determine the feel of the final result - too much oil and the cream will be too heavy, too little and it will be too light.
There's often a lot of pseudo-science on the packaging to impress and baffle us, but nothing to suggest that these products do anything more than moisturise the skin and, if they look luxurious and come in classy packaging, may have a feel-good factor. Colette Haydon's verdict: Just because a cream is an expensive one does not mean it is a great one. I ended up giving the same lower marks to the most expensive (Kanebo) as the least expensive (Femail) simply because I did not like the feel of either on my skin. It just happens that the Lancome cream - which is pretty pricey - fulfilled my criteria for the perfect product out of those tested. A good cream should be easy to rub in and leave a film on the skin like a fine denier stocking rather than something that feels like support tights. The Femail cream was let down by the base emollient, which did not appeal. How the Femail cream was made...We used the most basic, least expensive emollient recommended for moisturising, and chose simple ingredients that often appear in cosmetic creams.
