Guest guest Posted May 14, 2005 Report Share Posted May 14, 2005 Home New Patients Health Blog Most Popular Products Print this Page E-mail to a Friend Cod Liver Oil and Fish Oil:One of Your Best Sources for Essential Omega-3! Dear Dr. Mercola: "I feel like Dr. Mercola saved my health by convincing me to start taking Carlson's Cod Liver Oil. My arthritis improved, my eczema improved and my overall energy is wonderful!" BathNorristown, PA Read More ... Read What People Are Saying About Carlsons' Cod Liver & Fish Oil Sign Up for the FreeMercola.com Newsletter Over 375,000 people, including 25,000 health care professionals, receive the newsletter twice a week, and 6 million pages are viewed every month to help people find the answers to their health care questions. Just Enter Your Email Address: See What Others Are Saying About the Newsletter I am often asked what addition to the diet, outside of increasing the intake of water and fresh green vegetables, I most recommend to fight and prevent disease and live longer. My answer is easy: fish oil, fish oil, fish oil! More specifically, as you should read below, fish oil for those whose vitamin D levels are adequate, and cod liver oil for those who will benefit from its high vitamin D levels. Americans consume a dangerously insufficient amount of Omega-3, a fat essential to good health but only found in fish oil and a few other foods. Meanwhile, our intake of Omega-6, another fat found in corn, soy, sunflower and other oils, is far too high. The ideal ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 should be 1:1, but the typical American's ratio ranges from 20:1 to 50:1! I am convinced -- and even the medical establishment addicted to band-aid treatments versus prevention is conceding -- that this lack of Omega-3 in our diets is a primary reason behind many of the diseases Americans face, and our shorter lifespan in relation to many other "first world" countries such as Japan or Greece. Benefits of the Omega-3 Found in Fish Oil and Cod Liver Oil Helps fight and prevent heart disease, cancer, depression, Alzheimer's, arthritis, diabetes, ulcers, hyperactivity and many other diseases Increases your energy level and ability to concentrate Provides greater resistance to common illnesses such as flu and cold Helps pregnant women avoid premature births, low birth weight and other complications While a helpful form of Omega-3 can be found in flaxseed, walnuts and a few other foods, the most beneficial form of Omega-3 -- containing two fatty acids, DHA and EPA, that are essential to fighting and preventing both physical and mental disease -- can only be found in fish. Unfortunately, however, I now warn my patients against consuming fish unless they are certain it has been lab-tested and shown to be free of harmful mercury and other toxins, such as the Vital Choice salmon offered through this site. Fish of all varieties from all water sources are now showing dangerously high levels of the tasteless but highly toxic metal, mercury, and so unless you are certain the fish you are consuming have been independently tested and shown to be free of toxins, I urge you to consider avoiding the fish. And so I recommend, above almost any other addition to everyone's diet -- from infant to senior and every age in between -- fish oil and cod liver oil. I have researched and tried many fish oil brands, and the two I recommend most highly are Living Fuel's Omega 3 & E with Tocotrienols/Tocopherols, and the Carlson's brand of fish oil and cod liver oil. Why Fish Oil and Cod Liver Oil are the Best Available High in Omega-3 containing the essential fatty acids DHA and EPA Purified to the highest standards to ensure freedom from detectable levels of mercury, cadmium, lead, PCBs and 28 other contaminants Free from chemical modification and processing Learn Moreabout Omega3 & E Now While you will pay more for the Living Fuel Omega 3 & E, in addition to the omega-3 with DHA and EPA, it also provides the full-spectrum vitamin E -- containing tocotrienols and tocopherols -- that I recommend to most people taking fish oil to provide antioxidant protection (read "If You’re Taking Fish Oil, Fat-Soluble Antioxidants are Crucial" for a full explanation.) With the Omega 3 & E brand, in other words, you are getting both the highest quality fish oil and the highest-quality vitamin E all in one. In addition, Carlson's fish and cod liver oil -- the other brand I highly recommend -- is one of the few that put the extra vitamin E in it for you straight from the get go. With Carlson's you don't have to take extra vitamin E if you don’t want to. Choosing Cod Liver Oil or Fish Oil: An Important Distinction Cod Liver Oil Only $24.95 Fish Oil Only $18.95 The main difference between cod liver oil and fish oil is that cod liver oil is high in vitamin D. Many people, especially those who don't have adequate sun exposure, are deficient in vitamin D and would therefore receive all the health benefits from taking cod liver oil. As sunshine is the main source of vitamin D, a significant number of people should consider switching from fish oil in the warm weather months -- when they tend to have more sun exposure -- to cod liver oil in the cool weather months, when their sun exposure is minimal. However, many people don't get enough sun exposure even in warm weather months, meaning their vitamin D levels may still be too low in summer ... they would therefore benefit from cod liver oil even in warm weather months. Finally, while vitamin D deficiency can increase the risk for cancer and other diseases, overdosing on vitamin D -- having levels that are too high -- can bring its own set of problems, incluidng osteoporosis and hardening of your arteries. So if your vitamin D levels are too high, even in the winter months you should consider sticking to fish oil versus cod liver oil. So how do you really know where your body's vitamin D levels are, and therefore which you should choose ... fish oil or cod liver oil? There is only one certain way: have your vitamin D levels tested. Because many people are so severely deficient in vitamin D (and because it helps to determine which to consume for your omega-3 intake as well, fish oil or cod liver oil), the vitamin D test is one of the few tests I require every single new patient in my health clinic to take. While many people who believe they get sufficient sun exposure in the warm weather months choose to follow the guideline of fish oil in summer and cod liver oil in winter, it is my strong recommendation to you to have your vitamin D levels tested before making a firm and ongoing commitment when choosing between fish oil and cod liver oil. Once you know your vitamin D levels, you can then choose based on knowing that cod liver oil is significantly higher in vitamin D. Get Essential Omega 3 & Vitamin D -- plus Vitamin A -- in Convenient Cod Liver Oil Softgels! Cod Liver Oil Softgelswith Low Vitamin A 150 SoftgelsOnly $11.95 300 SoftgelsOnly $21.95 Now that we have officially entered into the fall season, with winter just around the corner -- if you haven’t already made the switch from fish oil to cod liver oil -- I strongly urge you to consider doing so. If you have difficulty digesting the cod liver oil or just cannot tolerate the taste, there’s no need to worry because I now offer the perfect solution. Carlson Cod Liver Oil Softgels with Low Vitamin A are the most convenient, easily digested, and best-tasting cod liver oil softgels available. These softgels contain approximately 300% more cod liver oil than other soft gel brands. Preservative free, natural vitamin E (10 IU) has been added to each 1000 mg soft gel to protect the freshness of the oil. As I mentioned earlier, cod liver oil is one of the best sources of vitamin D (other than the sun), but what you may not know is that it is also one of the best sources of vitamin A -- and each Carlson Cod Liver Oil Softgel contains 250 IU of Vitamin A. Vitamin A is an important nutrient yet there is much confusion surrounding its appropriate form, dosage and source. I always cringe when I hear people who think they understand nutrition describing how vegetables like carrots are excellent sources of vitamin A. There are no plant sources of vitamin A -- it is only present in animal products. Due to the commonly heard warnings that too much vitamin A is toxic and can result in birth defects, liver abnormalities, and reduced bone mineral density -- many people are afraid of taking too much of this nutrient. What is rarely addressed, and must be considered along with these warnings, is the TYPE of vitamin A. There is a big difference between synthetic vitamin A and vitamin A from natural sources. Most cases of vitamin A toxicity result from an excess intake of synthetic vitamin A in supplements, NOT the natural form of retinol (vitamin A) found in cod liver oil. Because cod liver oil contains vitamin D there’s no need to worry about vitamin A toxicity if you take it in cod liver oil. It is virtually impossible to become toxic on vitamin A if you take it along with vitamin D. As evidenced in a study published in the December 2003 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vitamin D is associated with reduced vitamin A toxicity, and the vitamin D appears to protect against retinal toxicity. An anti-infective vitamin, vitamin A is useful for many conditions including vision problems, poor thyroid function, a weakened immune system, and fighting off infections, especially those that involve mucous membranes as vitamin A is used to form the cells lining the digestive, respiratory, reproductive and urinary tracts and all tissue linings of the body. Night blindness, dry eyes, eye infections and skin problems are just some of the conditions associated with Vitamin A deficiency. The best way to ensure that you are getting enough of both natural vitamin A and vitamin D during the many sunless days of fall and winter is to take your cod liver oil, and the best brand available is Carlson Cod Liver Oil Softgels with Low Vitamin A. Dosage & Other Recommendations Take one teaspoon of Carlson's liquid oil for every 50 pounds of body weight daily. (For Omega 3 & E capsule dosage, go to Omega 3 & E page.) For Carlson's Cod Liver Oil Softgels with Low Vitamin A, I highly recommend taking one softgel for every ten pounds of body weight. However, do not exceed more than15 pills per day -- unless you have had your fatty acid levels tested. You can also use a wine saver to create a vacuum to better preserve your fish oil. Simply transfer your fish oil to a bottle that fits the wine saver cap (many conventional containers). The Vacu Vin Wine Saver, available at Amazon.com, is an exceptional choice (and a great gift for anyone who enjoys wine, too), as it allows you to pump out the air inside the bottle prior to sealing, it is very durable, and costs under $15.00. For other questions regarding the use and benefits of fish oil/cod liver oil, please visit our frequently asked questions area on this topic. Ordering Information Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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