Traditionally, the oil was consumed as part of the diet, especially by people living in the northern coastal regions of Norway. It was of crucial importance for survival, especially in the cold, darkness and harsh climate. Europeans from the northern parts of the continent used it to protect themselves from the cold. It's also known to have relieved complaints of rheumatism, joint pain and stiff muscles. In the early 20th century, scientists established that cod liver oil is effective against rickets, and mothers started giving it to their children. Modern scientific research has given the credit that these historical beliefs deserve.
Cod liver oil is a food rich in nutrients. Genuine, unadulterated oil is a time-tested and recognized source of vitamins A, D3 and omega-3 fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid/DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid/EPA.
The dose of vitamin A in the oil is moderate, but the quality is excellent. Vitamin A plays an essential role in bone growth, night vision, cell growth, the health of endothelial cells (a thin layer of cells of a specific type of epithelial tissue lining the inner surface of the blood vessels), regulating cell growth and division, testicular and ovarian function, and a healthy immune system (by stimulating the production and activity of white blood cells).
Vitamin D is a unique nutrient that acts like a hormone with a whole range of physiological functions, and exerts its effect by binding to the cell's vitamin D receptors. Cells of the immune system, especially those in the gut, have an abundance of vitamin D receptors. That's why this vitamin has a positive effect on the immune system, playing an important role in regulating it. It also plays an important role in bone health, mineral homeostasis, cell growth, muscle function, the nervous system and the skin; it controls the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS)(a hormone system which (as a system) regulates blood pressure and water (fluid) balance in the human body), controls insulin release, and regulates apoptosis (a process that plays a role in protecting against cancer) and infections. High-dose monotherapy with vitamin D should be approached with caution due to possible adverse effects, and should be replaced with a natural source of vitamin D combined with synergistic vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids, such as cod liver oil.
Docosahexaenoic acid/DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid/EPA are especially important nutritional components. While most "conventional" omega-3 sources on the market contain little DHA, Rosita extra-virgin cod oil contains a high proportion of DHA and excellent levels of EPA. Both types of fatty acids are concentrated in the phospholipids of cell membranes throughout the human body, but especially in the gray matter of the brain, the heart, the retina and the testes. These fatty acids have also been shown to have hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, vasodilating and antiarrhythmic properties.
