If you have eye trouble or joint pain, read this 

The Good Life Letter

26th March 2010

• Revealing the unique benefits of krill oil
• The amazing antioxidant that guards your cell walls against disease
• How to ease join pain, improve brain function and protect your eyesight 
  

There's a book I used to read my youngest...

It's called Fish Tails.

The book is annoying, because out of the six featured sea
creatures who explain to the reader what their tails look like,
only FOUR are fish. One is an octopus and one is a blue whale.

So 2/3s of characters in the book Fish Tails aren't actually fish.
And the octopus doesn't even have a tail. Which renders the
book flawed in my view.

Anyway, the last page of the book goes like this:

"I'm a big blue whale and I have the biggest tail."

One day my son asked me exactly how big the blue whale's tail
is. And I thought for a moment, and pronounced, in my most
scientific tone: "Very big."

"It must eat lots of fish... and sharks... and crabs... and other
whales" he said.

"Well no," I said, realising the absurdity of nature. "He eats
really tiny prawns."

And it's an amazing thought isn't it? The biggest creature on the
planet eats krill. These tiny shrimp are responsible for pretty
much its entire nutritional intake. During the high feeding
season, a blue whale consumes between four and six tons
every day.

You don't find the blue whale nipping out of the ocean for a bag
of grapes, just to add variety to its mundane diet.

Nope, the krill does very nicely thank-you-very-much! MORE
PLEASE!
 
So what does the blue whale get from these mini-shrimp?

Aside from the protein it delivers, krill contains highly beneficial
oils that also do humans a lot of good too.

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The unique benefits of krill oil
****************************************

Like other fish oils, krill is packed full of omega-3 fatty acids. It
also contains a powerful antioxidant called astaxanthin, which
helps protect you from free radical damage.

As you know, free radicals are unstable invaders that have
been linked to many chronic diseases.

A little like the chemicals in green tea, which I discussed a few
weeks ago, this astaxanthin is able to pass from the blood
directly into the tissues of the brain, eyes and nervous system. 

If you imagine one of those headache tablet adverts.... this
chemical penetrates right to the source of the problem!
 
This is what gives krill powerful extra benefits above and
beyond those of regular fish oils....

The omega 3 fatty acids in krill come in the form of
'phospholipids'. The American alternative health guru Dr
Mercola explains these as "the building blocks for your cell
membranes, regulating cellular transport by functioning as
'gate-keepers.'"

In other words, they guard the walls of your cells and protect
them from the onslaught of free radicals.

Because of these phospholipids, your body finds it easier to
pass the crucial omega-3 fatty acids from your intestines to the
cells that need them the most. .

One of the main phospholipids in krill oil is called 'phosphatidyl
choline' Choline has been shown as an important substance for
brain development learning and memory.

All in all, then, these tiny sea creatures punch above their
weights when it comes to their health benefits.

No wonder the blue whale has the biggest tail.

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A natural remedy for cataracts, joint pain, depression and
high cholesterol
******************************************************************

Here are some of the ailments you can help remedy with krill
oil....

* High levels of bad cholesterol. In one study, where
  subjects were given krill oil, fish oil or a placebo krill
  lowered bad cholesterol by 34% and increased levels of
  good  cholesterol by 43.5%. The fish oil only managed to
  reduce bad cholesterol by 4.6% That's quite a difference.

* Joint pain. Some studies suggest that like other fish oils
  (like green lipped mussels for instance) krill can help
  reduce inflammation.

* Depression. Upping your intake of omega 3's is vital if
  you suffer from depression, persistently low mood, or
  S.A.D. Obviously this isn't a magic bullet solution. This
  kind of supplement needs to work in conjunction with
  getting more sunlight (vitamin D), doing more exercise
  (to unlock your body's natural mood enhancers) and
  talking about your issues with a professional or trusted
  friend.

* Cataracts and macular degeneration. The astaxanthin
  in krill oil can penetrate the eye tissue. Like green tea,
  this is another natural substance that could help prevent
  cataracts and macular degeneration (declining vision as
  you grow older).

* Disease prevention. Krill oil can help protect you
  against free radicals, which are linked to numerous
  diseases.

* Dementia and age-related cognitive decline. Many of
  the problems with memory, recall and concentration in
  old age aren't inevitable. With good nutrition you can
  keep your brain sharper for longer.

Obviously, krill is an animal, so this isn't suitable for
vegetarians. Also, if you have a seafood allergy, then avoid.

If you're either of the above, I would stick to flax oil, which I've
covered in previous Good Life Letters.

But if you're concerned about the rape and pillage of our
planet's precious resources, the good news is that krill is
plentiful and renewable. So there's a lot going for these little
fellers.

I'll be back with more tails that may or may not involve fish, or
fishlike creatures, very soon.