Are There Cod Liver Oil Benefits?

By Peter Bertonich

For quite some years it has been accepted wisdom that cod liver oil is good for you. Maybe it was your grandmother who first told you about the benefits of cod liver oil.

So is it really true that there are benefits to taking cod liver oil or is it just a myth, and are there risks to cod liver oil supplementation?

You grandmother got it right, and science has confirmed that there are benefits to cod liver oil supplementation.

The majority of the benefits of cod liver oil relate to the Omega 3 content, because of course cod liver oil has Omega 3 fats in it. And as you would know if you have read some of our other information there is a wide range of benefits from adding some more Omega 3 to your diet.

And there's vitamins too like vitamins D and A. Vitamin D has a role in helping prevent osteoporosis, as it helps process calcium.

But there are now cautions about taking too much vitamin A, and for this reason, as cod liver oil is quite high in vitamin A, cod liver oil is now not recommended in the UK and pregnant women in the US are warned about over consumption of vitamin A.

So whilst cod liver oil has some good Omega 3 fats vitamin A is a bit of an issue. There are risks.

And there is also another risk too. Cod liver oil is sourced, as you might expect from the name, from the livers of cod taken from the North Sea. But in these times there are issues about contamination of fish in the North Sea. They can be contaminated with toxins like mercury, PCBs and heavy metals. Not high levels, but worrying.

Whilst these contaminants werent a problem in your grandmothers time, they are now.

But you can get the benefits of cod liver oil without the risks. Take the best Omega 3 supplements which are free of contaminants and also free of vitamin A.

If you do need vitamin A or D supplementation it is quite possible to achieve this through a good vitamin supplement delivering regulated and lower levels.

And it's perfectly possible to get Omega 3 supplements that are quite clean and free of toxins, though not all are.

So yes, there are benefits to taking cod liver oil, but there may also be risks. You can get the benefits of taking cod liver oil supplements by taking the best Omega 3 supplements, without the risks.Your grandmother was right, in her day taking cod liver oil was a good idea. Nowadays theres still benefits to the Omega 3 fats, theres just better ways to get them.

I tell you on my website how to find the best Omega 3 supplements. - 17273

About the Author:

Want to know the best brand of Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules? Or more about Cod Liver Oil Benefits in your diet? Visit Peter's Website Healthy Omega 3 Fish Oil.