FISH OIL

Learn the top 3 reasons to take cod liver oil, according to Ann Marie from Cheeseslave.

WE NEED TEN TIMES MORE VITAMINS A AND D:

Dr. Weston Price, author of “Nutrition and Physical Degeneration,” found that people in isolated cultures who enjoyed good health consumed 10 times more vitamins A and D than his contemporaries in America (1930s).

The people Dr. Price studied had perfectly straight, white teeth with almost no cavities. They had no degenerative diseases. They didn't need glasses or braces, didn't suffer from infertility, and had fewer birth defects. In the 21st century, we consume even fewer vitamins A and D, since we no longer eat enough real animal fats, seafood, egg yolks, butter, cream, and liver.

Vitamins A and D work together in sync, and it's important that they're consumed in the right ratio. Too much vitamin A can be toxic to human health.

Most of us no longer regularly eat animal fats (lard) and liver. We spend our day in the office and don't get enough sun exposure, unlike people in the 19th century, who spent much more time outdoors and didn't use sunscreen products.

If you'd rather not cook with animal fats (lard) and don't eat butter, cream, and cheese every day, as well as liver once a week, the easiest way to increase your vitamins A and D is to take 1 teaspoon of quality cod liver oil daily (1/2 teaspoon for children and 1/4 teaspoon for infants).

Vitamin A has also been shown to be extremely beneficial for people on the autism spectrum. Check out the work of pediatrician Dr. Mary Megson.

OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS ARE ESSENTIAL!

In addition to vitamins A and D, we also need omega-3 fatty acids. We've all heard about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. The body can't produce them on its own, which is why they're called “essential fatty acids.” Health authorities around the world recommend taking 250-500 mg of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA – eicosapentaenoic acid, and DHA – docosahexaenoic acid) daily.

Health Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

• Help prevent heart disease
• Lower triglycerides
• Reduce joint stiffness
• Help fight depression
• Brain health – help prevent Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Are critical for having healthy, smart babies

THE OMEGA-6 TO OMEGA-3 RATIO

Most of us don't get the amount of omega-3 fatty acids our ancestors did. The ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids should be about 4 to 1, which is close to the ratio humans evolved with. Today, that ratio has shifted to around 20 to 1. This is because agriculture has moved from a pasture-based model to a confined, indoor model.

Omega-3 fatty acids come from pasture-raised animals. Fish get their omega-3 fatty acids from “grass” – sea grass, as well as algae and other marine plants. Fatty fish, such as sardines and anchovies, and the fish that eat them, are excellent sources of the two healthiest forms of omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

Cows also get their omega-3 fatty acids from grass. Unfortunately, most cows today are grain-fed. Most beef, chicken, pork, dairy products, and eggs found in supermarkets are low in Omega-3. The reason is that the animals they come from are fed corn and grain – foods these animals wouldn't eat in their natural environment. Corn oil has an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of about 45 to 1. As a result of this unnatural diet of cheap grain, cows have very little omega-3 fatty acid in their milk and meat.

Meat and dairy from pasture-raised animals are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Free-range chickens, which can forage outdoors for grass, seeds, and insects, lay eggs rich in DHA.

In addition: I've noticed that when I consume a lot of omega-3 fatty acids, I rarely get sunburned. I've found this to be true for other members of my family as well. And that's an obvious advantage, because if you don't use sunscreen, you'll absorb more vitamin D. Sunscreens reduce vitamin D absorption in the skin by more than 95%. (Source)

The easiest way to balance your omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio is to take a cod liver oil supplement or other fish oil. Ideally, we'd all want to eat meat and dairy from pasture-raised animals, as well as seafood, but that's not always possible. I take cod liver oil as an insurance policy, since I can't always eat meat and dairy from pasture-raised animals (when eating out at restaurants, etc.), and I don't always eat as much seafood as I should.

You can read the original article here