…well, not everything, but it’s a start.
When I say “cod liver oil”, people have one of three associations:
1. EEEEEUUUUUWWWW!!!
2. Um, are we in the 1920s? My grandmother used to take that when she was little!
3. Yeah! I/my friend/my brother/my partner/my coworker take(s) that and it is so amazingly helpful!
It’s true – your grandmother probably took it when she was little. Your mom might have too. It seems to have recently fallen out of fashion, along with the Sunday liver and onion dinners. And it’s a shame.
Having read the BODA website, you’re now familiar with the benefit of conjugated linoleic acid for burning fat and increasing muscle mass. Cod liver oil contains fatty acids too. They’re called Omega 3s and you may have heard of them. They are crucial for the development and function of the brain and nervous system. They also help reduce inflammation, which happens any time the body is irritated, and it sets the stage for disease. In today’s toxic environment, we’re probably inflamed most of the time. We can’t manufacture Omega 3s ourselves, so we need to obtain them from food sources. But even if you eat cold-water fish and avocados on a daily basis, you still aren’t getting enough. A recent study out of Harvard University has found that Omega 3 deficiency is the sixth leading cause of death in America!! Afraid you might be deficient in Omega 3? Check out these lists of symptoms (yep, those are two separate links). One dead giveaway: dry, brittle, thin hair and nails.
Cod liver oil’s not only a great source of Omega 3. Depending upon which brand you purchase, it also provides abundant Vitamin A and D – two vitamins most Americans are lacking. “But wait, I drink milk fortified with Vitamin A and D,” you are thinking. Well…the original milk had Vitamin A and D. Then it was pasteurized, which destroyed a significant amount of the nutrients. Then the milk manufacturers added a synthetic form of these vitamins. Our bodies don’t know how to digest these man-made molecules. It’s a good argument for trying some raw milk in the first place. It’s also a good argument for turning to another natural food source of A and D…specifically, cod liver oil.
I find that speaking (or in this case writing) about vitamins in an abstract way doesn’t give anyone incentive to improve their diet. What exactly does Vitamin K do? Is that the one in Special K?? So here are some concrete facts about A and D. The best food source of A is liver. I am betting that’s not appearing on your kitchen table on a regular basis. Without A, you are likely to develop vision problems, skin disorders, and a malnourished reproductive system. Salmon, shrimp, sardines, herring, mushrooms and eggs contain Vitamin D. These, too, are probably not part of your diet in sufficient quantities. Our bodies can manufacture D from sunlight, but most of us are indoors the majority of our day. When we’re outside we’re wearing lots of clothing. Vitamin D deficiency can result in osteoperosis, heart disease, depression, certain cancers, and chronic fatigue.
Did I scare you? If you purchase a good quality cod liver oil with 100% RDA of Vitamins A and D – and you actually take the cod liver oil – you won’t have to worry about any of this. You also might notice improvements in your mood, skin, hair, nails, digestion, and energy level. There are a lot of products out there, so feel free to contact me via the side bar on the right if you have questions about which brand to purchase.
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