Best 4 Adults™ Brain Power

Best 4 Adults™ Brain Power
Best 4 Expectant Moms™ Baby Development

*Ingredients are common to both products except where specifically indicated otherwise alongside the ingredient name

WHAT IS KRILL OIL?

Krill oil comes from small shrimp-like crustaceans called Krill that only measure between 1-6 centimetres long.

• Krill are mainly found in the deep, cold oceans of the Antarctic and North Pacific, where they feed on phytoplankton.
• The krill themselves form a major part of the diet of larger marine creatures such as whales, penguins, squid and fish. 
• Despite their diminutive size, Krill form the largest animal biomass on the planet. 
• Krill is actually a generic term used to designate 85 species of cold deep-water marine crustaceans.

SPECIAL FEATURE – ASTAXANTHIN

• Krill oil is so special and so effective because of the type of omega 3 that it contains and because it also contains a very powerful antioxidant called ASTAXANTHIN that is not found in fish oils. 
• Astaxanthin is a natural pigment from a group of natural pigments called carotenoids, and is found in a wide variety of living creatures. 
• It is astaxanthin that gives crustaceans such as crabs, lobsters and shrimps their pink colouration. 
• Astaxanthin is a particularly powerful antioxidant because it has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, giving it the potential to help defend the health of the eyes, brain and central nervous system from damage caused by free radicals.

WHY IS KRILL OIL SO SPECIAL??

1. TYPE OF OMEGA 3

Both fish oil and krill oil contain omega 3, but what makes krill oil so special is the type of omega 3 that it contains.  Krill oil has both EPA (Eicosapentanoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexanoic acid) just like fish oil, but the fatty acids are joined in a different way that makes it easier for our bodies to absorb.  The EPA and DHA in fish oil are linked in the triglyceride form, whereas in krill they are connected in a double chain phospholipid arrangement, which is just like the structure of the fats in our own cell walls. This phospholipid structure of the EPA and DHA makes it much easier for the krill oil to be absorbed into the nucleus of our cells and the mitochondria, so it is easier and faster for our bodies to access the healing benefits of the omega 3.

2. PRESENCE OF ASTAXANTHIN

Krill oil also contains vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin D and Astaxanthin, which is a potent anti-oxidant and a unique marine-source flavonoid that creates a special bond with EPA and DHA. This allows direct metabolism of the antioxidants, increasing the bioavailability, which means that lower doses can be used.

In fact, the antioxidant potency of Krill oil is 48 times more potent than fish oil, and independent ORAC evaluations have also established that krill oil contains:

• Over 300 times the antioxidant power of vitamin A and vitamin E
• Over 47 times the antioxidant power of lutein
• Over 34 times the antioxidant power of coenzyme Q-10

The major drawback for fish oil is that as you increase your intake of omega-3 fats by consuming fish oil, you actually increase your need for even more antioxidant protection.

Fish oil is quite perishable, and oxidation leads to the formation of unhealthy free radicals. Therefore, antioxidants are required to ensure that the fish oil doesn't oxidize and become rancid inside your body. So, you need to consume additional antioxidants both for your health in general AND for your increased need for antioxidants when using fish oil.

3. HEAVY METALS

The concern with normal Fish Oils is the presence of Heavy Metals.  Krill Oil has almost no Heavy Metals, therefore making them safer for general use as well as during pregnancy.   The vast majority of our fish supply is now so heavily contaminated with industrial pollutants and toxins like mercury, PCBs, heavy metals and radioactive poisons.  Krill live at the bottom of the sea, so the exposure to harmful, poisonous substances is very little.

4. BIOAVIALABILITY

Due to phospholipid binding discussed earlier, Krill oil is absorbed more readily into the system.  Fish Oils are contained within Triglyceride and Omega 3 in Krill Oil are contained within Phospholipids, which are part of the human body, therefore increasing the bioavailability of EPA and DHA to 98% as compared to the 50% in Fish Oils.  This means that lower doses are needed. 

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FISH OILS AND KRILL OIL

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF KRILL OIL?

• Taking omega 3 can help to protect your heart.  Can help protect against heart attacks and strokes, as omega 3 can break up clots before they can cause any damage
• Taking omega 3 in krill oil supplements helps to lower cholesterol, triglycerides, LDLs and blood pressure, while at the same time increasing levels of good HDL cholesterol.  Studies have shown that taking omega 3 in krill oil can reduce LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol by around 34% and increases HDL cholesterol or ‘good’ cholesterol by 43%
• Can significantly reduce PMS symptoms and dysmenorrhea
• Improves mental agility and promotes improved brain function.  When taken by adults as a health supplement, krill oil can help to enhance memory, recall, reasoning and focus.
• Helps alleviate the symptoms of pain and inflammation caused by arthritis, as it naturally boosts the inflammatory response of the body
• The omega 3 in krill oil can help alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety
• Can help with eye health, especially retinal health
• Can help with ADD and ADHD in both adults and children – and can also aid dyslexia, dyspraxia, and compulsive disorders

PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE

• When taken orally, phosphatidylcholine is absorbed rapidly and reaches maximum serum concentrations in 8-12 hours. 
• Phosphatidylcholine is used for removing vascular fat deposits and cosmetically for reducing subcutaneous fatty tissue. Phosphatidylcholine is thought to act as a detergent which causes lysis of fat cell membranes resulting in cell breakdown. 
• Phosphatidylcholine is the largest reservoir of choline in the body. Choline is a precursor to acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is thought to be involved in memory. Since phosphatidylcholine might increase acetylcholine, there is interest in using it for improving memory and for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. 

PHOSPHATIDYLSERINE

Phosphatidylcholine is used for removing vascular fat deposits and Phosphatidylserine is a fat-soluble phospholipid that occurs endogenously in humans.

• It is the most abundant phospholipid in the human brain and is important in neuronal membrane functions such as maintenance of the cell's internal environment, signal transduction, secretory vesicle release, cell-to-cell communication, and cell growth regulation.
• Phosphatidylserine is also a component of the mitochondrial membrane, where it might function as a metabolic reservoir for other phospholipids. Although the body is able to synthesize phosphatidylserine, the body obtains most phosphatidylserine from dietary sources. Phosphatidylserine is present in small quantities in most foods.
• cosmetically for reducing subcutaneous fatty tissue.
• Phosphatidylserine also appears to minimize age-related neuronal dendrite loss and atrophy of cholinergic neurons. The fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is readily present in neuronal cells, appears to further promote the accumulation of phosphatidylserine in cell membranes, which in turn prevents apoptotic cell death. 

OMEGA-6 FATTY ACIDS

Omega-6 fatty acids are essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) with a double bond at the 6 position of the carbon chain. Some omega-6 fatty acids include linoleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid.

• Linoleic acid is found in vegetable oils, including corn, evening primrose seed, safflower, and soybean oils.
• Gamma-linolenic acid is found in black currant seed, borage seed, and evening primrose oils.
• Omega-6 fatty acids are components of cell membrane structure and play a role in cell signalling pathways and epithelial cell function. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, make up a third of all lipids in the brain's grey matter.
• Arachidonic acid is a membrane component in the central nervous system, and may have a role as a neurotransmitter. 
• Arachidonic acid is present in human breast milk but not in standard infant formulas. Formula-fed infants have lower plasma arachidonic acid levels than breast milk-fed infants; the clinical significance of this, if any, is unknown.

ASTAXANTHIN

Astaxanthin is a reddish carotenoid pigment found in the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis. Salmon, trout, red sea bream, shrimp, lobster, fish eggs, and many bird species also contain substantial amounts of astaxanthin. It is a powerful antioxidant that is structurally similar to beta-carotene.

• Astaxanthin contains the highest relative antioxidant activity when compared with alpha-tocopherol, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene.
• The concentration of astaxanthin is 1% to 3% in microalgae. 
• There is also preliminary data that suggests that astaxanthin might have gastroprotective effects against Helicobacter pylori, possibly by inhibiting inflammation and acting as an antioxidant.
• Evidence also suggests that astaxanthin might stimulate immunity.

FOLIC ACID (EXPECTANT MOMS)

Folate is the general term that refers to a variety of chemical forms folic acid.  Folate is distributed in a wide variety of foods, but it is most abundant in green leafy vegetables. 

• Folate in food is about 40% to 50% less bioavailable than synthetic folic acid, which is almost 100% bioavailable.
• Folic acid reduces damage to DNA and prevents replication errors. Folic acid deficiency disturbs cell cycling, induces cell apoptosis, and increases the rate of cell death. In the bone marrow, abnormal cellular maturation and division caused by folic acid deficiency leads to the development of abnormal red blood cell precursors, which are known as megaloblasts.  Megaloblasts are unable to mature into red blood cells properly and many of them are phagocytosed by macrophages in the bone marrow, which contributes to the development of megaloblastic anemia. 
• Folic acid is also involved in the metabolism of homocysteine. Low folate levels are associated with increased plasma homocysteine levels. Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for coronary, cerebral, and peripheral atherosclerosis; recurrent thromboembolism; deep vein thrombosis; myocardial infarction; and ischemic stroke.
• Folic acid also plays an important role in pregnancy. Low folate levels are associated with recurrent spontaneous pregnancy loss.
• Folic acid supplementation also prevents neural tube defects in the foetus, but the exact role of folic acid in this process is not completely understood. 
   

VITAMIN D₃ (EXPECTANT MOMS)

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. The term vitamin D refers to several forms of vitamin D.   Vitamin D deficiency is particularly common in adults over age 50 years.

• More than 50% of North American women receiving therapy to prevent or treat osteoporosis have inadequate vitamin D stores. Factors such as lack of exposure to sunlight, reduced skin synthesis of vitamin D, lower dietary intake, impaired intestinal absorption, chronic kidney disease, and reduced metabolism to active forms of vitamin D by the kidneys increase with aging.
• The main function of vitamin D is to regulate serum calcium and phosphorus concentrations. Vitamin D enhances the efficiency of the intestinal absorption of calcium, primarily in the duodenum and jejunum, and phosphorus, particularly in the jejunum and ilium. In the absence of adequate vitamin D, only 10% to 15% of calcium is absorbed and phosphorus absorption is only 60%. In the presence of vitamin D, calcium absorption increases to 30% to 40% and phosphorus absorption to 80%. Vitamin D can increase serum calcium levels, but this effect is modest in healthy people in doses less than 1200 IU per day. If dietary intake of calcium is inadequate, calcitriol in combination with parathyroid hormone mobilizes calcium stores from bone. Calcitriol also appears to have effects in the brain, heart, pancreas, mononuclear cells, activated lymphocytes, and skin, but its exact physiological role is unclear.
• Since vitamin D is important for calcium homeostasis and for bone health, it is used to help prevent osteoporosis. 
• Vitamin D deficiency also increases postural sway and affects psychomotor function, increasing muscle strength and neuromuscular function in addition to strengthening bone. It seems to increase muscle protein synthesis, possibly by activating second messengers and phosphorylation.

Phytosyn3™

Phytosyn3™ is a proprietary blend of powerful anti-oxidant ingredients that neutralises free radicals in the body which cause tissue and cellular damage.

Additional benefits of Phytosyn3™ include:

• Increasing absorption of nutrients
• Boosting the metabolism and burning more fats and calories
• Eliminating digestive toxins more efficiently
• Fighting allergies and inflammation
• Replenishing trace elements
• Improving digestion.
   

Phytosyn4™

Phytosyn4™ is a proprietary blend, specifically formulated to aid with embryonic development andbone growth during pregnancy.

Additional benefits of Phytosyn4™ include:

• Increasing absorption of nutrients
• Boosting the metabolism and burning more fats and calories
• Eliminating digestive toxins more efficiently
• Fighting allergies and inflammations
• Replenishing trace elements
• Improving digestion.