Cod Liver & Fish Oil FAQ

Who should take cod liver oil?

For years, I have recommended cod liver oil as a dietary supplement to support healthy vitamin D levels. However, based on more recent findings, I am updating my recommendations regarding cod liver oil, as it may not serve you as well as previously believed.

My previous recommendation was based on the fact that cod liver oil contains vitamins D and A in addition to healthy omega-3 fats. These vitamins are essential for most everyone who cannot get regular sun exposure year-round. But more recent research has discovered that the ratios of these two vitamins may be of paramount importance in order to extract optimal health benefits, and unfortunately, modern cod liver oil does not supply these vitamins in healthy ratios to each other.

Therefore, I no longer recommend taking cod liver oil for vitamin D supplementation. Please read the full details about this Important Cod Liver Oil Update, if you have not already done so.

However, both vitamin D and omega-3s are still essential for optimal health.

To ensure you're getting plenty of healthy omega-3s, I recommend taking a high quality krill oil, or fish oil, year round. My strongest recommendation goes to krill oil, as it has been found to be 48 times more effective than fish oil.

Optimizing your vitamin D levels is also of paramount importance. If you are vitamin D deficient, you're inviting premature death from nearly any disease. For more information, I highly encourage you to watch this video. It may be one of the most important videos I've ever created. I urge you to find some quality time this holiday season to view it. Understanding the remarkable scope of health benefits you will receive by optimizing your vitamin D levels may be the best gift you could give yourself and your family this year.

Who should take fish oil?

Fish oil is beneficial as a dietary supplement for those aged four and above who obtain adequate vitamin D from exposure to sunshine.

Why should I take fish oil or krill oil? (Remember that I no longer recommend cod liver oil)

Fish oils and krill oil provide health benefits to their users. American diets as a whole lack sufficient omega-3 oils, and tend to be overbalanced on the side of omega-6 and omega-9 oils. Cod liver oil was previously an excellent choice, but I no longer suggest it as a supplement.

In my opinion, a harmonious balance would be 1:1 between omega-3 to omega-6. Some estimates put the typical balance at 1:20 or even 1:50. Supplementing with omega-3 can help maintain or restore your healthy omega-3 balance.*

Also, omega-3s are considered essential fatty acids, meaning they must come from a food source, since your body cannot produce them.

Fish oil and krill oil can support your health in these ways:

• Help promote heart health and normal cholesterol balance*
• Support immune system health, mood, memory, joint health, blood sugar health, and helps relieve stress*
• Help increase energy level and promote cognitive function*
• Provide immune system support*
• Help provide nutritional support to pregnant women*
• Aid in regulating cell growth and division*
• Support a strong skeletal system*
• Support a healthy inflammatory response*

What are omega-3 oils?

Omega-3 fatty acids are long-chain carbons, polyunsaturated with many double bonds -which are important and essential nutrients for good health. The term omega-3 refers to the location of the first double bond on the third carbon.

Omega-3 fatty acids include DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and ALA (Alpha-Linolenic Acid).

What is the difference between these types of omega-3 oils?

EPA and DHA have a longer structure and contain more double bonds than ALA. EPA and DHA support healthy cardiovascular health and immune health*. Fish oils (including cod liver oil) supply omega-3 levels especially high in EPA and DHA. Some vegetable oils provide ALA.

What are essential fatty acids?

Essential fatty acids are those that are important or even crucial to your optimal health, yet cannot be produced by your body (they must be supplied by food consumption).

Why not just eat flaxseed?

The only omega-3 that flaxseed provides is ALA. Even when large amounts of ALA are consumed, your body can only convert very small amounts into EPA and DHA, and only when sufficient enzymes are present. Consuming fish oil is a more predictable way of obtaining adequate EPA and DHA.*

Why not just eat fish?

Mercury contamination in fish throughout the world is a concern. The risk of mercury impacting your health can outweigh the benefits of the omega-3 fats you consume when you eat fish. Therefore, I recommend that you limit your consumption of fish, whether ocean, freshwater, or farm-raised.

Fish oil and cod liver oil from a high quality source don't pose the same risk as fresh fish. That's because they are purified of mercury, PCBs and many other contaminants.

What is the difference between fish oil and cod liver oil?

The main difference between cod liver oil and fish oil is that cod liver oil is high in vitamin D, sometimes called the "sunshine vitamin".* If you are outside in warm weather, sunshine produces high and generally sufficient levels of vitamin D without supplementation.

I used to recommend consuming cod liver oil in the warm weather months or warm climates, but no longer do, as this could cause an excess of vitamin D in your system. When the sun's rays are very indirect, your body needs vitamin D supplementation. So I used to recommend cod liver oil versus fish oil in cool weather months or cool climates. However, I have discovered that it is far better to obtain vitamin D through a form of supplementation other than cod liver oil since cod liver oil can have deleterious effects.

Vitamin D experts suggest that anyone living north of the 30th parallel is likely to be sun-deprived for much of the year. The 30th parallel runs roughly along the Gulf Coast, from the Florida panhandle west through Texas and across to southern California.

Those close to the equator do not need to supplement with vitamin D due to good vitamin D intake from the sun.

If you aren't sure of what you should take, please consult your medical practitioner and have your vitamin D levels tested.

Can fish oil help kids?

Regular consumption of fish oil/krill oil can benefit children. As it does with adults, it will optimize kids' health and promote proper brain function*. Cod liver oil used to be one of my top recommendations for this as well, but due to recent findings, I no longer recommend cod liver oil for anyone, much less children.

Studies suggest that DHA supports good cognitive function in adults who were breast-fed up to nine months while the mother was supplementing with fish oils.*

Even infant formula companies are beginning to include DHA and ARA (another fatty acid) to their formulas, touting the enriched formula as a major advancement in infant nutrition and charging a ten or fifteen percent premium for the enriched formula.

Will fish oil help my heart?

Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to promote good overall health and cardio health*. Studies suggest that omega-3s promote normal cholesterol levels and normal inflammatory response - which benefit a healthy heart.* Vitamin D also supports good heart health.*

Will fish oil affect my pregnancy?

Studies suggest that fish oil intake during pregnancy can contribute to healthy pregnancies* and omega-3 supplementation and restriction of omega-6s help support brain function and mood both during pregnancy and post-partum*.

Are there any contraindications?

I no longer recommend taking cod liver oil.

If you have been diagnosed with the relatively uncommon condition of sarcoidosis, you should rigidly avoid sunshine and vitamin D.
If you are allergic to shellfish, have a blood coagulation condition, or are taking anticoagulants such as Warfarin (Coumadin®), do not use krill oil.

Children under the age of four should proceed only with the recommendation of your medical practitioner.

How can I ensure I get quality fish oil?

The fish oil or cod liver oil offered here are excellent brand choices. They contain essential omega-3s and follow strict purity guidelines. These guidelines help you find a quality fish oil or cod liver oil:

• Make sure your brand is free of mercury, PCBs and other contaminants.
• Confirm low oxidation levels in the fish or cod liver oil.
• Check that your fish or cod liver oil contains vitamin E.
• The taste test - lemon flavoring adds a fresh taste.

I have researched this brand and find it to be an excellent choice, and one I can highly recommend to you.

How is your fish oil processed?

Our provider goes through multiple steps to be sure they get high quality fish oil and krill oil to you. Those steps include:

• Protecting the oil from oxygen during processing
• Vacuum drying
• Oils deacidified to remove unwanted free fatty acids
• Natural absorbants remove impurities
• Oil is tested and repurified if necessary
• Molecular distillation is used to separate components. Also for additional purification if needed.

How much fish oil should I take?

Recommended intakes of DHA and EPA have not been established by the FDA. The American Heart Association recommends two servings of fish per week to support cardiovascular health*. Two four-ounce servings of salmon contain approximately three total grams of EPA and DHA.

Recommended usage is one teaspoon of liquid oil daily. (If you juice, you can include this in your juices.) For Fish Oil Softgels, recommended usage is one softgel, two times daily.

Unlike vitamins and minerals whose intake is usually relatively constant, optimal amounts of essential fatty intake are quite variable. Following the above will give you a good starting point. Consult your physician and have your vitamin D levels tested to learn your specific optimal amounts.

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