Benefits of Cod Liver Oil. 20 Health Reasons to Take it Daily

Here, more than 20 reasons for which we must look for the insurmountable benefits of cod liver oil. You will have in a single product the perfect qualities of Omega 3 fatty acids joined with the addition of vitamin D and A.

"It is important to switch from Fish
oil to cod liver oil during winter"

In this page we will cover the following aspects: what is the cod liver oil; the specific benefits of cod liver oil; Advantages of vitamin A and D; the disorders produced by vitamin D deficiency; when to take the cod liver oil instead of Omega 3, and the appropriate dose; how to avoid the rancidity or oxidation; and my final suggestions.

Essential fatty acids, like Omega 3, are called that way because the body needs them to maintain its good health. If we did not provide them, in the suitable proportions, we become deficient in Omega 3; which is a powerful reason for the plague of degenerative diseases that assaults us in modern society. You can read more at my page on What is Omega 3.

Nearly, 90% of the population have deficiency in Omega 3 . Our diet is overloaded of food with Omega 6 and very little Omega 3. These Omega 6 foods are mainly vegetal oils (soy, maize, sunflower, canola, etc and products that contain them), grains and sugars.

One of the best Omega 3 fatty acid sources is greasy cold water fish. Fish oils are extracted from this fish for several markets.

Cod Liver Oil.

The liver of cod has been used for centuries as a healthful oil source. People knew, before the modern medicine, that if they ate the codfish liver could avoid several diseases of old times, as the rickets. The oil of codfish liver is extracted of the liver of white fish, such as codfish and halibut.

Cod liver oil is made up of the same essential fatty acids as fish oil, that is to say, EPA and DHA, with the addition of vitamin A and D. Its composition makes it very important for the population of the Northern and Southern hemispheres, where there are seasons. In the winter, vitamin D from sunlight is not abundant.

Benefits of Cod Liver Oil.

In general, the benefits of cod liver oil and omega 3 are the same, this is, for your mind, your circulatory system, anti-inflammatory agent, etc.- for more on this, read my page fish oil benefits -; plus the benefits of vitamins A and D.

• Fully functioning nervous system
• Improved eye sight.
• Prevent depression. Go to Fish oil for Depression.
• Fully developed brain and nervous system in newborns and lactating babies.
• Prevent post partum depression.
• Healthier cardiovascular system.
• Decreased inflammation throughout the body.
• Less arthritis.
• Prevent heart disease.
• Lower triglycerides.
• Lower risks of Alzheimer’s.
• Decreased risks of dementia.
• Less cognitive decline.
• Improve concentration.
• Greater resistance to flues and colds.
• Prevents premature babies.
• Less cancer, specially breast cancer.

If you already have significant sun exposure, you should not take cod liver oil, as you run the risk of overdosing on vitamin D and A. It accumulates in your body.

Benefits of Vitamin A.

• Essential to good vision.
• Healthy skin and mucous membranes.
• Improved immune system.
• Important for bone growth.
• Necessary for digestive track lining.
• Essential for testicular and ovarian function.

Vitamin D.

Almost all those who work at an office suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Near 76% of pregnant women also have it, with all bad consequences for its creatures. It is possible that vitamin D is the nutritional element most neglected by the media.

It is probable that it has something to do with its gratitude: we produce it when the sun touches our skin. Until this moment nobody has been able to sell sunlight; therefore, nobody has interest in promoting its enormous health advantages. We tend to neglect anything free.

Here, some important facts to remember about sunlight:

• You produce vitamin D when ultraviolet light touches your skin. If you are behind a glass, like a window or inside a car, ultraviolet light doesn’t get thru the glass and you don’t get any vitamin D.
• The amount you get from the diet is never enough. You need sun exposure, otherwise you will be deficient.
  
• If you live far from the equator, the farther the more exposure you need to get it.
• The darker your skin, with more melanin, the longer exposure you need to generate your vitamin D. This may explain why prostate cancer is more prevalent in the black community.
• When you use sunscreen, even the low numbers, it stops the ultraviolet rays from reaching your skin(besides the cancers risks the screen has itself). It increases the possibility of vitamin D deficiency.
• You will never produce excess vitamin D thru sunlight.
• Your kidney and liver are involved in the process of making the vitamin D available. If you suffer any disorder of these organs it may be more difficult to get your vitamin D.

One of the benefits of cod liver oil is that it will help you fight vitamin D deficiency. Here, some of the disorders produced by vitamin D deficiency:

• Osteoporosis. Mal absorption of calcium.
• Different types of cancer, like prostate, breast, ovarian.
• Depression.
• Schizophrenia.
• "Rickets" is the name of a bone-wasting disease caused by vitamin D deficiency.
• Diabetes is increased by this deficiency.
• Obesity impairs vitamin D utilization in the body, meaning obese people need twice as much vitamin D.
• Psoriasis is cured by sun exposure.
• Seasonal Affective Disorder.
• Muscle weakness, aches and pains caused by lack of sunlight may be diagnosed as fribromyalgia.
• Your risk of developing serious diseases like diabetes and cancer is reduced 50% - 80% through simple, sensible exposure to natural sunlight 2-3 times each week.

The greatest vitamin D source, outside the sun, is the cod liver oil. You can get it in a variety of flavors, in case that you do not like its normal taste.

Cod Liver Oil Dosage.

Ideally, you should start taking it only after testing for vitamin D deficiency. Otherwise, take your fish oil daily

If you live near the equator, do not work within an office and receive good solar light, it would better to take your fish oil all year around. But if you live where there are seasons, during the winter it may be a good practice to have one or two teaspoons of cod liver oil every morning. This way you can keep the benefits of fish oil as much as the benefit of cod liver oil. No dangers here of accumulation of vitamin D or A.

For people older than 60 years, an additional teaspoonful is recommended since they need more vitamin D.

Rancidity.

It is important to pay good attention to preservation of the oil if we want to keep the benefit of cod liver oil. This way we avoid oxidation. If you buy oil in liquid presentation (not in capsules), once opened, it is better to put it in the refrigerator.

Most of cod liver oils have some vitamin E to avoid oxidation in the bottle. Capsules or pills do not need refrigeration. Additionally, you must consume 400 daily UI of vitamin E to keep away from oxidation in your body.

Final Suggestions.

Try to avoid oils of canola, soy, maize, sunflower and products that contain them. That is, margarines, cakes, products of bakery, etc. These oils are full of Omega 6 that will worsen your Omega 6: Omega 3 ratio.

It is acceptable to have oils like high quality extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, and organic butter. For more see my page on dieting.

Another form to improve your Omega 6 / Omega 3 ratio is to change the type of meat you consume. Prefer the one from free range cattle, not the one fed on grains concentrated.If you want to know more about grass fed or free range cattle and meats, you may want to read this information

In sum, we have covered in this page on the Benefits of Cod Liver oil the following topics: what is cod liver oil; the benefits of cod liver oil; the advantages of vitamin A and D; the disorders produced by vitamin D deficiency; when to take cod liver oil instead of fish oil and the proper dosage; how to avoid oxidation or rancidity and my final suggestions.

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When to take Cod Liver Oil Instead of Fish or Krill Oil Video
Clear explanations on what is the best time to change to cod liver oil, why krill oil has advantages over fish oil, and some related subjects...


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