Four benefits of Cod Liver Oil
Introduction
We know that cod liver oil is good for you, but what exactly are the benefits of this supplement? In this article, we'll look at the different ways that taking cod liver oil can improve your health.
1. Cod liver oil is an outstanding source of two essential nutrients:
Cod liver oil is an outstanding source of two essential nutrients: vitamins A and D. Vitamin A is important for a healthy immune system and vision, while vitamin D helps your bones absorb calcium for strong teeth and bones. That’s the short summary, but here’s the details:
Many cod liver oil supplements contain vitamin A, which is essential for proper eye health. Vitamin A helps protect you from age-related macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness in developed countries) and night blindness (also known as nyctalopia). Vitamin A also helps support your immune system, reduce acne, growth and reproduction, and even bone health.
Speaking of bone health, remember cod liver oil is a good source of Vitamin A and D? Vitamin D is essential for bone health. For many countries up in the North like Canada, you don't get as much sun. So it's important to have some Vitamin D intake. It's a frequent component of many multivitamins, but it can also be found in certain supplements like cod liver oil. Vitamin D is needed for:
- Maintaining bone density
- Bone growth and maintenance
- Metabolizing calcium
Cod liver oil supplements can improve bone mineral density in older people with osteoporosis or low bone mass. Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones become weak and fragile. It affects women more often than men, and it increases with age. Osteoporosis causes bones to become more porous, brittle and easily broken. This is because Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium so you can use it to build strong bones and prevent fractures caused by osteoporosis. Here are some stats on calcium and vitamin D supplementation. This nutrient also plays a role in maintaining healthy muscles, which might help reduce pain associated with fibromyalgia. A meta-analysis published in the journal BMC Medicine found that vitamin D supplementation could increase bone mineral density (BMD) by 1%-2% in postmenopausal women who have osteopenia or osteoporosis [1].
While we're on the topic of vitamins and minerals: Cod liver oil can be a great source of both. It contains healthy levels of vitamin E and K (as well as other vitamins) that are essential in promoting good skin health. These nutrients help fight off free radicals that damage our skin cells—which means less wrinkles! They also promote strong immune systems by boosting our bodies' defenses against illness-causing bacteria and viruses [2, 3].
Cod liver oil also contains vitamin B12 which helps keep red blood cells healthy to prevent anemia, supports nerve function/brain development (which may help boost cognition), boosts energy levels (it's one of the few natural sources of vitamin B12), supports heart health by reducing cholesterol levels and regulating blood pressure levels (by lowering homocysteine levels) [4].
2. Cod liver oil has one of the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids among all fish oils.
One of the benefits of cod liver oil is that it's one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids. In fact, cod liver oil has one of the highest levels of omega-3s among all fish oils.
With so many health benefits associated with these essential unsaturated fats, you may be wondering just why they're so good for you. Let's find out:
- Omega-3s are anti-inflammatory in nature, which means they reduce swelling and stiffness. This is beneficial for people with conditions like arthritis or autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis [5].
- They also help maintain healthy cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and even stave off depression by improving neurotransmitter function in your brain [6].
- Omega-3s are crucial for brain development early on in life; children who don't get enough may face developmental delays later on as well as poor performance at school [6]. Children who have been diagnosed with ADHD often respond well to omega-3 supplementation as well because they help improve focus while reducing hyperactivity symptoms like restlessness or anxiety issues [7].
- Omega-3s also help support healthy skin, hair and nails. They also play an important role in brain health because they assist with the production of hormones that promote mental clarity [8].
- Last but not least: joints! If you're experiencing joint pain due to osteoarthritis or another condition, then you might want to consider taking a supplement that contains high amounts of EPA+DHA—the two types found most commonly in fish oil supplements—because research indicates that they can help reduce pain caused by inflammation around them while also improving mobility overall [9].
3. Cod liver oil can be taken as a daily supplement or used to top off your favorite foods.
Cod liver oil can be taken as a daily supplement or used to top off your favorite foods.
- Top off your favorite foods with cod liver oil! This will give you all of the benefits of taking cod liver oil without having to worry about swallowing capsules or mixing up liquid droppers (if you get them).
- Alternatively, take cod liver oil as a daily supplement. You can take cod liver oil in any form that you prefer: liquid, capsule, tablet, or gel cap. If you choose to take it as a softgel capsule - which is the most common way. It has no fishy aftertaste and easy to take!
4. It's easy to get the amazing benefits from this supplement into your diet!
If you're not sure where to start, we've got some recommendations for adding cod liver oil into your daily life. You can find cod liver oil in any grocery store, but if you're looking for a specific brand that's easy on the budget and available in online and in many stores, we recommend Maris Cod Liver Oil. It's also great if you want more omega-3 fatty acids in your diet with Vitamin A and D included!
Conclusion
When you choose a cod liver oil supplement, make sure it has been extracted from fresh fish and processed in a way that preserves vitamins A and D. Look for a cod liver oil supplement that contains at least 500 IU vitamin A per serving (1 teaspoon) and at least 10% of the daily value of vitamin D per serving.
Good thing we got you covered! Maris cod liver oil has 100 mg of EPA and 115 mg of DHA, with 4355 IU of Vitamin A and 370 IU of Vitamin D for a total of 1000 mg of premium, high quality, GMP-certified cod liver oil goodness! We focus on sustainable fishing, wild-caught, and it's also halal!
Visit our store page for more information.
Disclaimer: No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Please consult your doctor prior to use.
