11 Benefits of Cod Liver Oil

A RICH SOURCE OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS

Cod liver oil is one of the richest natural sources of omega-3 fatty acids, known as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Thanks to their natural anti-inflammatory properties, including the ability to reduce prostaglandin production, omega-3s reduce the need for anti-inflammatory medications and can be used to treat a range of symptoms naturally, from risk factors for coronary heart disease to depression or arthritic pain.

If you're not yet familiar with the many benefits of omega-3 foods or supplements, they include a reduced likelihood of developing: heart disease, ADHD, anxiety, high cholesterol, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, cancer, and more. How exactly is this explained? It's worth noting that most of our diets have an imbalance between omega-3 and omega-6 fats. Omega-6 fats aren't necessarily bad, but when consumed in large amounts without omega-3 fats, they cause inflammation, which underlies most diseases.

The healthy, ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats is around 2:1, but most people consume five to ten times more omega-6 than that ratio! Omega-3 deficiency is on the rise due to excessive consumption of processed foods, fast food, or fried foods containing refined vegetable oils (such as soybean, canola, and corn oil), which are packed with omega-6 fats. Taking additional cod liver oil, rich in omega-3 fats, is a way to reduce inflammation and restore your fatty acid ratio for better health.

 DELIVERS CRITICAL VITAMIN D

Vitamin D acts more like a hormone in the body than a vitamin, since it influences neurotransmitter function, heart health, and inflammatory responses. Since it's synthesized by your own skin when exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays, the best way to get enough vitamin D is to spend time outdoors without sunscreen products.

Vitamin D doesn't just play a role in healthy bone metabolism, it also supports important functions in all of our cells. Since low vitamin D levels can affect our cells' ability to multiply and renew themselves, vitamin D deficiency can raise the risk of illness in the short term, or worse: it can lead to chronic autoimmune disorders, cognitive or cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, or even cancer.

Given that most adults and children don't get enough regular, year-round sun exposure because they mostly live an indoor lifestyle, adding vitamin D to the diet is advisable for most people. Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can include depression, anxiety, fatigue, low libido, infertility, autism, asthma, and more. In addition, deficiency can lower immunity.

High doses of vitamin D taken on their own can carry possible side effects, which is why it's recommended to take vitamin D in combination with the synergistic vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids, as they're naturally found in vitamin D-rich foods, including cod liver oil.

 A SOURCE OF VITAMIN A

Vitamin A is an important antioxidant that reduces oxidative stress (also known as free radical damage), thereby lowering inflammation levels. It's linked to preventing eye-related conditions, supports brain health, helps fight cancer, and is important for hormone production. While most people who eat a well-balanced diet get enough vitamin A daily, deficiency is a risk for those who mainly eat processed foods or don't consume enough calories overall.

Lately, adding vitamin A to the diet has become controversial, as high levels are believed to actually be harmful and potentially toxic.

However, it's worth noting that many primitive tribes who consumed foods with high levels of vitamin A (together with vitamin D) were remarkably healthy. For example, according to the Weston A. Price Foundation, the traditional Scottish diet was high in fish liver oils, organ meats, shellfish, and animal fats – all natural sources of vitamins A and D – and these people had very low rates of chronic disease.

When it comes to getting vitamin A from cod liver oil, the quality of the supplement matters enormously. Many brands contain synthetic versions of vitamins A and D, which, besides possibly being in dangerous ratios, also aren't absorbed well by the body. While taking very high levels of vitamin A from standalone supplements is linked to certain health risks, getting vitamin A from natural food sources can help improve the immune system. Eating plenty of vitamin A-rich foods is beneficial for bone growth, night vision, healthy cell growth, testicular and ovarian function and much more.

Vitamins A and D are fat-soluble and are often found together in foods of animal origin. Both vitamins act as precursors to active hormones, so our bodies produce specific enzymes that convert each of them into active forms the body can use to regulate our immune system. In this case, vitamin A is converted into retinol. Taking vitamins A and D together is completely natural and allows these processes to happen in a way that protects us from toxicity.

PROTECTS AGAINST HEART DISEASE

Cod liver oil, whether taken as a supplement or as a whole food, has been shown to help lower high triglycerides, a dangerous type of blood fat that raises the risk of heart disease. Cod liver oil also helps treat high blood pressure and helps balance cholesterol levels.

A number of studies in humans and animals show high efficacy of the polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids derived from cod liver oil in preventing atherosclerosis (hardening and clogging of the arteries) and its complications. Treatment, alone or combined with statin drugs, helps neutralize risk factors in patients with hypertriglyceridemia and high triglyceride levels.

 LOWERS THE RISK OF CANCER

High vitamin D levels, whether from sun exposure or from taking cod liver oil as a supplement, are linked to lower cancer risk. Studies find that vitamin D from the sun and from cod liver oil may help prevent breast cancer in women thanks to antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on breast cancer cells, thereby shrinking mammary tumors. While sun exposure remains the most suitable protective factor for getting enough vitamin D to fight cancer, cod liver oil also appears to help make up for an overall deficiency.

 PREVENTS OR HELPS TREAT DIABETES

As a great source of important healthy fats, cod liver oil can help control insulin resistance, inflammation, and manage blood glucose (sugar) levels. It has even been shown to help reduce symptoms of diabetes-related complications, such as kidney disease. Using cod liver oil and adding vitamin D during a baby's first year of life, as well as using cod liver oil during pregnancy, can also help reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

A 2007 study published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology concluded that giving a cod liver oil supplement to diabetic rats for 12 weeks acted as a natural diabetes treatment. Cod liver oil supplements completely prevented endothelial deficiency and helped correct several biochemical markers of metabolic syndrome (a combination of diabetes and risk factors for cardiovascular disorders).

Before receiving the cod liver oil supplement, the rats had elevated plasma glucose (sugar) levels, high triacylglycerol, and high blood cholesterol concentrations. Cod liver oil helped increase the rats' weight and completely prevented plasma lipid disturbances, while also controlling insulin sensitivity and other factors.

 HELPS TREAT ARTHRITIS

In the early 20th century, scientists discovered that cod liver oil is naturally “anti-rachitic,” which led thousands of mothers to start spoon-feeding it to their children, even by force! The use of cod liver oil is linked to reduced pain, joint stiffness, and swelling in patients with arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

Cod liver oil is an effective natural treatment for arthritis, because it mimics the effect of medication. It acts like a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, improves the main clinical symptoms, and can be used as a safe alternative to medication or simply as a supplement in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

 BOOSTS FERTILITY AND SUPPORTS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Fats are crucial for reproductive health and a healthy pregnancy, because they help the body produce sex hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. Cod liver oil is linked to healthy ovarian and testicular function, since it provides critical nutrients (omega-3 and vitamin D) that help maintain balanced functioning of the endocrine system.

With its many anti-inflammatory nutrients, cod liver oil supports the adrenal, hypothalamic, and pituitary glands, which control the release of sex hormones involved in libido, pregnancy, and reproduction. DHA also plays a crucial role in sperm motility and health in men.

As the Weston A. Price Foundation notes, women who used liquid cod liver oil during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to heavier babies, which is associated with a lower risk of illness later in life. Women who use cod liver oil also have significantly higher levels of DHA and EPA in their breast milk, which positively affects infant development.

Results from a 2003 study conducted at the University of Oslo in Norway show that children born to mothers who took cod liver oil during their pregnancy and lactation scored higher on intelligence tests at four years of age compared to children whose mothers took corn oil.

IMPROVES BRAIN FUNCTION

Regularly taking fish oil supplements for depression is linked to a lower risk of depressive symptoms due to a higher intake of important omega-3 fats and vitamin D.

A 2007 study published in the “Journal of Affective Disorders” found that the omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil improve the effects of depression and anxiety across the general population. The Hordaland Health Study followed 21,835 adults living in Norway for two years and found that the prevalence of depressive symptoms among those who use cod liver oil daily was 2.5% compared with 3.8% in the rest of the population. It also found that the prevalence of high levels of depressive symptoms decreased as the duration (0-12 months) of cod liver oil use increased.

There's a strong link between omega-3 intake or fish oil supplementation and the prevention of cognitive decline, including Alzheimer's disease. Studies show consistent results: the essential fatty acids that are vital for brain function are found in fish oil and help prevent brain disorders in older adults.

 HELPS SUPPORT BONE HEALTH

Vitamin D is important for building and maintaining strong bones. Studies show that women who live at cold, northern latitudes and don't get enough sunlight tend to produce less vitamin D, which raises the risk of bone changes, bone loss, fractures, and also obesity. Additional vitamin D intake, including from cod liver oil, is linked to a significantly lower risk of bone fractures and can naturally help prevent the development of osteoporosis.

 FIGHTS ULCERS

In laboratory settings, cod liver oil shows benefits for improving the treatment of stomach ulcers and reducing gastric antisecretory effects observed in rats. The oil also appears to produce gastroprotective effects and significantly reduce the stress and pain caused by stomach ulcers.

Source: https://draxe.com/cod-liver-oil/