Cod Liver Oil: The Number One Superfood*
The below provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. Any treatment protocol should be discussed with a qualified healthcare practitioner. Please refer to: Medical & Legal Disclaimer.
This article appeared in Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts, the quarterly magazine of the Weston A. Price Foundation, SPRING 2002.
The following applies mainly to human disease protocols. Please discuss with your vet safety for and applicability to your pet.
Dr. Price was right. We all need to take a good quality cod liver oil. The key is "good quality." The cheaper versions may contain mercury and "Persistent Organic Pollutants" (POPs), which include known carcinogens such as DDT, PCBs and other pollutants and toxins. POPs are small particles eaten by fish in polluted oceans, and are absorbed into their organs. Please click here for info. Some of these pollutants can be filtered out, but not all.
Good choices are:
- • Blue Ice Fermented Cod Liver oil - Fermented CLO is easier to digest than regular CLO; it contains 2.5 times more Vitamins A & D, and contains something referred to as "Price Factor X" - which offers additional health benefits. This being said, the fermented CLO does have a very strong "cod-liver" taste -- so some may not be able to tolerate it.
- • Carlson Laboratories - Norwegian Cod Liver Oil (CLO) - it comes in a pleasant lemon flavor and has been tested for pollutants. Because of its fairly pleasant flavor, even children are unlikely to object. In fact, I found that adding it to my cereal milk in the morning, gives the milk a "lemony" flavor and I can't even taste the CLO.
- • Nordic Naturals fish oil - This fish oil also comes in pleasant flavors.
- • You should be able to find at least one of the above in your local health food store -- maybe even your better grocery store.
For growing children, and for almost every disease condition, cod liver oil is the number one superfood, the supplement of choice. Dr. Price found that the combination of cod liver oil with high-vitamin butter, from cows eating rapidly growing green grass, was nothing short of miraculous, reversing tooth decay and bringing patients back from the brink of death.
Please also refer to "dangers"
Children:
Short-gut Syndrome:
Fish Oil saves 90% of the lives of children suffering from short gut syndrome. Indeed, they are not only surviving but thriving because of Fish Oil therapy. Many of them were in very poor shape when treatment commenced and they were given little hope for long-term survival. This treatment is now available at 70 hospitals around the world.
Brain Development:
Researchers from Australia's Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital found that administering over-the-counter fish oil supplements to boost omega-3 levels helped premature baby girls score better on cognitive tests at 18 months of age. This benefit was not seen in premature boys, but the researchers believe that's because boys and girls have differing rates of development.
What makes Cod Liver Oil nutritionally so valuable:
Cod liver oil contains more preformed vitamin A and more of the sunlight vitamin D per unit weight than any other common food. One hundred grams of regular cod liver oil provides 100,000 IU of vitamin A, almost three times more than beef liver, the next richest source; and 10,000 IU vitamin D, almost four times more than lard, the next richest source. Of course, cod liver oil is only consumed in small amounts, but even a tablespoon (about 15 grams) provides well over the recommended daily allowance for both nutrients.
In addition, cod liver oil contains 7 percent each of the elongated omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. EPA is the precursor of important prostaglandins, localized tissue hormones that help the body deal with inflammation; and DHA is extremely important for the development and function of the brain and nervous system. So it's no surprise that in numerous studies cod liver oil has proven to be a powerhouse in fighting disease.
Arthritis:
Studies have shown that cod liver oil is very effective against arthritis too. "Scientists at Cardiff University (Wales, UK) have confirmed what thousands of people with arthritis have believed for years. Cod liver oil is effective in treating joint pain and can slow, even reverse the destruction of joint cartilage."
"Our most recent work shows that by exposing human osteoarthritic cartilage to cod liver oil in the laboratory for just 24 hours we can turn off, or reverse, the action of the derogative enzymes and inflammatory factors affecting the tissue."
Laboratory research has shown that not only can cod liver oil treat arthritis, but actually reverse the damage that has been done. A new study shows that vitamin D in cod liver oil will not allow your immune system to attack your joints. Study participants who got the most vitamin D from the oil had the lowest risk of arthritis.
Other Diseases It May Be Effective for:
Heart Disease
After a heart attack and after heart surgery. Cod liver oil alters the linings of the arteries in such a way as to improve healing after damage. The inflammation-reducing prostaglandins made from EPA help mediate the inflammatory response in the arteries.
Cancer
All the nutrients in cod liver oil help prevent cancer. Vitamin A has been part of every successful alternative cancer therapy so far. Studies show protective effects against childhood leukemia and lung cancer.
Bone Health
Cod liver oil provides vitamin D that helps build strong bones in children and helps prevent osteoporosis in adults.
Diabetes
Cod liver oil has been used in trials with both insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetes. In both conditions it improved glucose response and other markers of the disease.
Brain Function & Mental Health
The elongated omega-3 fats have been shown to improve brain function, memory, stress response, immune response, allergies, asthma, learning and behavioral disorders, including bipolar syndrome and manic-depression.
Important Considerations:
Eating fish will not provide the levels of nutrients that are found in cod liver oil. Even in heavy fish-eating populations, the addition of cod liver oil improves health. And taking fish oils is not the same as taking cod liver oil. One tablespoon of regular cod liver oil and one-half tablespoon of high-vitamin cod liver oil provide the amount of elongated omega-3 fatty acids found in twelve 1,000 mg fish oil capsules.
Virtually all cod liver oil imported into the US comes from Norway, and while all of it is safe, there are different grades, depending on vitamin levels. The lighter oil from the "top of the barrel" has a lower molecular weight, goes rancid more quickly and has lower levels of vitamins, while the heavier oil, which sinks, is richer in vitamins. The heavier oil is what Dr. Price referred to as high-vitamin cod liver oil.
Dosages:
Adults & Pregnant Women:
If pregnant or pregnancy is possible, limit cod liver oil intake to not more than 30,000 IU A per day. Two tablespoons of regular cod liver oil, one tablespoon high-vitamin cod liver oil is a dose that is safe and adequate for pregnant women and, in fact, all adults.
Children:
- • Birth to 6 months: 1 teaspoon
- • 6 months to 3 years: 2 teaspoons
- • 4-10 years: 1 tablespoon
- • 10+ years: 2 tablespoons (winter months)
Important Notes:
- • Never combine sources of vitamin A
- • The 30,000 IU limit is from all sources
- • If you sun regularly, reduce or eliminate cod liver oil
- • More is not better
⚠️ Dangers:
Synthetic Vitamins:
Many brands process cod liver oil to remove all vitamins A and D and then add synthetic versions back in. These products should be completely avoided as the synthetic versions are toxic. Contact the manufacturer to verify if their vitamins are naturally occurring.
Pregnancy Concerns:
Over-elevated vitamin A levels may cause birth defects. However, studies show that up to 30,000 IU daily is safe during pregnancy. The original study showing problems used mostly synthetic vitamin A, not natural cod liver oil.
Liver Disease:
High levels of vitamin A are not recommended for certain types of liver disease, especially with alcoholism. Alcoholics should not take high doses and should accompany intake with zinc supplements.
Vitamin D Toxicity:
Over-elevated vitamin D levels are possible if you combine summer sun exposure with cod liver oil. Test your blood levels if unsure. Do not combine with other vitamin D sources without monitoring.
Moisturize Your Skin From Within:
A couple of teaspoons of a fish oil blend, cod liver oil or flax seed oil every day, helps keep your skin flexible and moist, and can diminish fine lines.
Information contained on this website is provided as general reference only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought.