Cod liver oil is this one more thing all parents need in their arsenal. Not only it is good for your children, but it’s actually also good for adults. The tremendous benefits of cod liver oil can be traced back as far as 1645 and even by the end of the 18th century, the first scientific article to support this was already published.
In mid-19th century, a Norwegian pharmacist, Peter Joachim Möller observed that the people along the west coast of Norway were rarely ill due to the regular consumption of cod liver oil. After this finding, Peter Möller dedicated himself to develop a method of extracting the oil from fresh cod livers using steam. This method is still the best way to preserve the freshness and purity of the oil even by today’s standard.
Cod liver oil is really healthful because it’s a rich source of omega 3 oils. Seafood omega 3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, are found to be much richer than plant-based omega 3, alphalinolenic acid (ALA) found in flaxseed oil, nuts and canola oil. Our brain and body actually use only EPA and DHA. ALA needs to be biochemically converted into EPA and DHA by our body before it can be used. Studies estimate that only around 3 to 5 percent of the omega 3 oils found in plant oils are converted to the brain-building omega 3 DHA. Whereas DHA and EPA omega 3 oils found in seafood can be used by our body without the need to change them.
With so much contamination in our marine sources lately, any parents’ concern over mercury, cadmium, lead, PCBs and other contaminants found in our seafood is definitely valid. I think this is where Peter Möller’s rigid standard of testing should ease any concerned parents. They test different types of oxidation (using AOAC international protocols) to make sure the oil has its freshness, potency and purity of Omega-3 content and vitamin levels.
Much of extra care are taken by Möller Cod Liver Oil to guarantee freshness of their product. One good example is by having pumped nitrogen to eliminate oxygen in the bottle. This is very useful because oxygen can damage the beneficial fatty acids in cod liver oil.
So what are some of the benefits of cod liver oil?
- Brain and nerve function
- Cardiovascular health
- Healthy vision
- Healthy skin and hair
- Mood enhancer and reduce depression
- Reduce pain and stiffness in joints
- Strong bones and teeth
- General boost of your immune system
This list is not exhaustive and the benefits of fatty acids EPA and DHA are among the best documented nutrients in the world today.
While I can provide neither medical nor scientific evidence, from my experience, you should notice an improvement in your health after taking it for a few days. From my observation, my 2-year old doesn’t get sick as often after she’s taking cod liver oil, and her mood is also improved. She doesn’t get cranky as often and that’s definitely a plus for our day-to-day activities.
The lemon taste in Carlson Norwegian Cod Liver Oil* really tastes natural. You have two options, the plain and the added lemon taste. Most people may find the lemon taste easier to take than the regular fish taste. But it’s great that you have the option to choose. If you’re giving it to young children, the recommendation from the company is to start with the natural taste because it’s usually the adults who cannot stand the taste of cod liver oil, not infants.
Having said that, a common problem we’re experiencing from taking fish oil is belching. This might make a difference between taking the natural vs. lemon taste. In our family, we found that the lemon taste is actually quite nice and much more tolerable than the regular.
If you haven’t added cod liver oil to your daily diet for your family, you should check it out. While it may not be for everyone, most people will benefit from taking it. With its extra care on maintaining freshness and purity of its cod liver oil, Carlson fish oil is the best cod liver oil brand you can buy online by clicking on the following link:
Carlson Norwegian Cod Liver Oil, Lemon 500 ml
References
Carlson Norwegian Cod Liver Oil Brochure (PDF)
Möller’s history
More Cod Liver Oil facts from WebMD
William Sears, MD, The N.D.D. Book: How Nutrition Deficit Disorder Affects Your Child’s Learning, Behavior, and Health, and What You Can Do About It—Without Drugs (New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2009), 108-109.
* Möller Cod Liver Oil is marketed under the Carlson brand in the US.
Disclaimer: The products featured are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. You should always consult your doctor(s) with any medical or health concerns before starting any new diet, product or supplement.
