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With all the publicity about omega-3 essential fatty acids, you probably know that fish oil is suggested for heart health, optimal cholesterol, arthritis relief and more. But now comes krill oil and an even higher level of potential health benefits from the sea.

Regardless of your health issue, or if you're male or female, or whether you're 21 or 81, there's one thing your body truly has to have: essential fatty acids (EFAs). And "must have" means "essential," doesn't it. See, unlike many nutrients, essential fatty acids can't be manufactured by the human body. The only way you can get them is from the food you eat and from supplementation.

Omega-3 and omega-6 are considered essential fatty acids that are in plant oils, fish oil, and the oil of tiny shrimp-like cold water crustaceans called krill. This article is about why you should use krill oil as your preference in essential fatty acids.

The 3 types of omega-3 fatty acids are ALA, EPA and DHA.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids work together to support health. But you have to eat them in the correct balance. The wrong balance can lead to disease, and the right balance can maintain and even improve health.

Putting it simply, omega-3 turns down the heat of inflammation, but omega-6 increases it. Many researchers believe that too much omega-6 in the typical American diet is a big factor in the growing number of inflammatory disorders. Too much inflammation leads to pain and many diseases.

Certainly, knowing what you should eat every day so you can get the proper ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 is no easy task. But nutritional supplements to the rescue because what you see is what you get, right there on the label.

So now you're probably asking, which of the three sources of EFAs is the best one? Plant oil, fish oil or krill oil? We'll leave plant oil on the shelf for now and go ahead with what you need to know about the two marine sources.

You'll be happy to know that krill oil is coming on like gangbusters in essential fatty acid and antioxidant supplements for the battle against heart disease, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, arthritis, osteoporosis and more.

How does krill oil differ from fish oil? there are stronger antioxidants in krill oil and you metabolize it more completely.

Why is krill oil easier to absorb than fish oil? The omega 3 fatty acids in krill oil are bound together in a phospholipid chain instead of the less beneficial triglyceride form found in fish oil. And wouldn't you just know, phospholipids are the building blocks of your very own cell membranes.

Together, the krill's phospholipids and omega-3 EFAs facilitate delivery of antioxidants and into your cells. And that's huge.

Krill oil is suggested as support for a huge range of health concerns including but not limited to the heart, brain, eyes, skin, joints, bones, blood sugar, blood pressure and more.

For correct krill oil dosage and any possible medication interactions (especially blood thinners), check with your healthcare provider and avoid marine sources of omega 3 if you're allergic to seafood.