Is Taking Cod Liver Oil A Healthy Idea?
You may have heard about Cod Liver Oil from your grandmother. For a long time there has been an accepted wisdom that cod taking liver oil supplements has been good for you.
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?
Yes in fact your grandmother wasn't wrong, there really are benefits to taking cod liver oil, and science has now confirmed it.
The main benefits of cod liver oil are from the Omega 3 fats that are found in it. And you are probably very aware now that there are a wide range of health benefits to taking more Omega 3 fats into 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.
However there is now some question over how much Vitamin A should be taken. And as there is quite a lot of vitamin A in cod liver oil there are risks of over consumption of vitamin A. For example in the US pregnant women are now advised to avoid vitamin A and this includes cod liver oil. Cod liver oil is not recommended in the UK.
Thus there are some risks as well as benefits of cod liver oil. Whilst it is a good source of Omega 3 fats it isnt ideal as it is high in Vitamin A.
And there's something else to worry about too. A risk you may not have thought of. The oil comes, as the name suggests, from the livers of cod fish. These come from the North Sea and it's well known that North Sea fish can be contaminated with toxins like heavy metals, mercury and PCBs. Not a lot but enough to worry.
When your grandmother took her cod liver oil this wasn't a problem. It is 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.
And you can get your vitamin A from vitamin supplements if you really want it, in controlled amounts.
And the very best Omega 3 supplements are also much cleaner than cod liver oil may be, with levels of contaminants being basically undetectable.
Yes your grandmother was right, there are cod liver oil benefits. But there are ways to get the benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids without the risks. Take the best Omega 3 supplements and you get the benefits without the risks.
Visit my website to find out which are the best Omega 3 supplements.