Buying the best Cod liver Oil

August 20th, 2011

People have concerns about the authenticity of the cod liver oil they wish to buy and use and why should not they, particularly when cod liver oil is known to have toxic contaminants like mercury and PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) in it. To make it worse there are hundreds of cod liver oils being sold in the market under different brands, prices, and grades and this makes it a more harder process of selecting the best from the rest.

If you are up to this page means you already know about the health benefits of cod liver oil which is the most sold and used supplement; hence now you wish to buy it to keep you and your family healthy. You have indeed made a good choice.

Firstly, it is best if you buy pharmaceutical grade cod liver oil as it is the safest choice but where do you find such oil? Well, you would have to search the web or look around your local stores and pharmacies for this grade oil. In fact I would advise you to speak to your doctor and take his/her suggestion on the brand and grade of oil you must use. You can also learn about the best cod liver oil through word of mouth or through your network of friends.

Pharmaceutical grade cod liver oils are molecular distilled, so this makes the oil supplement free from all kinds of toxic contaminants; the label on the bottle or on the products website will disclose this information and if it does not you can be rest assured that the cod liver oil might have some contaminants left in it even after going through a proper purifying process.  Please refrain from buying cod liver oils that do not guarantee the safety of the content.

You might find it hard to find pharmaceutical grade cod liver oils but the extensive search you would be doing is going to be worth it and its only going to be a one-time search process. Furthermore, you might also have to pay a little extra for this oil but keep this in mind that it is worth the cost.

To make it easy on your mind, pocket, and time think about the process in which this oil goes through to make it clean and pure for you and your family to consume. Today’s expense on purchasing a good cod liver oil will save you in future from spending all your savings on medical bills.

The confusion of Fish Oil and Cod Liver Oil

August 20th, 2011

People are tired looking for answers to their confusion of fish oil being as beneficial as cod liver oil or if they both have the same health benefits. Let us find out.

Fish oil and cod liver oil are both crucial to our health but in different ways. Fish oil is mainly known for its high omega3 fatty acid content, whereas cod liver oil is not only known for its omega3 content but has more of vitamin A and vitamin D in it.

Since both oils are made from fish tissue or liver people confuse them to have the same nutritious properties that serve the same purpose of preventing and curing some of the world’s serious health problems but that is not true.

Omega3 fatty acid in fish oil is good for brain development and function, cardiovascular problems, joint pains, and many more, whereas cod liver oil also has the same benefits due to its omega3 content. But what it also does is keep the bones healthy and strong, help in skin conditions, build a good immune system, prevent and cure all major eye problems because it has vitamins A and D in it as well. This being said cod liver oil like its many benefits also has higher risks compared to fish oil and this is mainly due to the same vitamins that boost its nutritious value.

Omega3 alone cannot cause any major harm unless you gulp the whole bottle of it in just one day then you’re bound to fall sick with some sort of side effect; however, I do not think anyone would do such a ridicules act. My point out here is omega3 in cod liver oil is not the problem but the vitamins in it can cause problems if they are absorbed in large quantities that is too much for our bodies to digest.

Too much of vitamin A can lead to problems with the liver, bones, nervous system, and birth defects in pregnant women but these problems rarely occur because our bodies are designed in such a way that it converts excess vitamin A into  useful sources.

The same goes for vitamin D although overdoes of vitamin D is treatable it is not advised to continue with it if you have enough levels of vitamin D in your blood because some of the damages vitamin D causes will end up making you hospitalized.

So if it is just the omega3 fatty acid you are looking for then fish oil will be best but if you stay in colder region where sunlight is scarce then cod liver oil would be the best. No harm in doing a test to check your blood levels for vitamin D before you start any cod liver oil complements.

The Drawbacks of Cod Liver Oil

August 20th, 2011

Like every other medication and supplement even cod liver oil has its benefits and risks. However, the good news is the risk in consuming cod liver oil does not outnumber the benefits of the oil. I guess now you can feel a little relieved to know this fact. The main nutritious ingredients in cod liver oil are omega3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and vitamin D. Sometimes if oils are not purified well they may also contain toxins such as mercury and PCBs that are known to be very harmful to humans. Vitamin A is found in many foods and is known to be good for eyesight problems, skin problems, kidney stones, diabetes, asthma, anemia, and many more. Overdose of vitamin A does not cause the same severity of damage like vitamin D if consumed in large quantities. For example, vitamin D can be absorbed mainly by exposing ourselves to sunlight, which is good for healthy and strong bones but consuming vitamin D more than what is expected can really be harmful, so if you are already getting enough of it then vitamin D supplements in any form is not advisable. You can still continue taking your cod liver oil supplements if you can do a blood test to check your blood levels for vitamin D. The test is called 25-Hydroxyvitamin D test. This test will check if you are below or above the required levels of vitamin D that the body needs. If the report says you are deficient of vitamin D then you can continue or start using cod liver oil or else it would be unsafe to do so. The other drawback about cod liver oil is it does not have the ability to clot our blood, which is good in some cases but blood thinning can also be dangerous because if you get hurt or injured you might have excessive internal and external bleeding that cannot be stopped. This nonstop bleeding is called hemorrhaging. Cod liver oil is a no-no for People who already have thin blood (hemophilia) and are on medication for that. The final drawback of cod liver oil is there have been few deaths that were reported due to mercury ingestion, so make sure to check if the cod liver oil is processed and sold by a brand that is known for its exceptional quality and purifying methods.

Know the benefits of Cod Liver Oil

August 20th, 2011

Cod liver oil is known for its omega3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and vitamin D, which aids in lowering cholesterol levels to allow the heart to stay healthy. It best suits those who have the risk of getting diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, which eventually leads to cardiovascular problems. We must remember the heart is the central point in our body which must be kept healthy at all times.

The other benefitsofcodliveroil are; it aids in digestion, joint pains and cures, and proper brain development and function in children. The fatty acids present in cod liver oil fight of diseases that can cause lifelong damages as it is a powerful antioxidant.

The omega3 fatty acid is something that we humans cannot process on our own but we need to depend on external sources to help us with this fatty acid and cod liver oil supplement is one of our main external source for omega3.

Another good aspect about cod liver oil is it comes with extra nutrients like vitamin A and D, which are also critical to human health although too much of it can cause great harm. However, Vitamin A is good for eye problems such as glaucoma, cataract, vision etc and Vitamin D is good for strong and healthy bones. Nevertheless, you must be careful and not consume too much of vitamin D.

The other known benefits of cod liver oil are, it helps people with depression due to insomnia and panic attacks. So if a person is suffering with any of these problems can take cod liver oil supplements instead of medications like sleeping pills and anti-depressants but if its heavy depression you are having, which can lead to life threatening acts then visiting a doctor and taking prescribed medication is the best alternative.

 

What is Cod liver Oil?

August 20th, 2011

Cod liver oil is an essential supplement that is extracted from the liver of the fish Cod. It is the most sought after supplement in the market today. It has numerous health benefits due to its nutritious properties such as; the omega3 fatty acids, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D.

The omega3 fatty acid has two crucial components in it called EPA (EicosaPentaenoic Acid) and DHA (DocosaHexaenoic Acid). These two components make up the omega3 fatty acid, which is extremely critical to keep the cardiovascular system healthy. This fatty acid prevents a person from having a heart attack or a stroke. Cod liver oil is also beneficial to those with skin and arthritis problems; in fact when cod liver oil was first used by the European coastliners it was mainly used for joint pains and cures.

The benefits of cod liver oil do not just stop here, a separate article must be written to cover only the benefits of this great and most wanted supplement.

The reason for cod liver oil gaining such popularity is because not many people maintain a balanced diet of omege3 and omega6 fatty acids. They either have too much of omega6 or too less of omega3 particularly Americans.

People from Mediterranean communities are known to be the healthiest amongst others on earth due to their balanced diet, which consists mainly of foods that are rich in omega3 fatty acids and other nutrients found in nuts, vegetables, and fruits. They consume red meat only few times a month and that too in extremely small quantities.

The Mediterranean diet being the best was proven by many renowned and leading scientists of the world. In fact the Harvard school of Public health with the help of many scientists from the Mediterranean and from other countries put together a pyramid of the food that is ingested by the Mediterranean people, so that everyone else in America and across the globe can follow the same dietary pattern to stay healthy.