Training & Nutrition - Cod Liver Oil?

Good stuff during the winter for folks living at northern latitudes. Not only does it have the EFA's, it contains vitamins A and D (the sunshine vitamin). Interestingly, even midday sun during the winter does not contain the type of UV light required to make vitamin D. The only downsides to liver oils, (if you plan on taking quite a bit for the EFA's) is that you can get to much vitamin A. Use plain fish oils to top up EFA instead of cod liver oil. You can take a little of both; but don’t try to hit EFA targets with cod liver oil alone.

Anyone here take cod liver oil on a regular basis? It's kind of an old school supplement, but it's worked wonders for me. I haven't been sick a day since I started on it two years ago.

No but I remember it as a kid. I think it is full of omega-3 fatty acid. That's the good stuff.
Cosmoline in 'laska - sounds thick and stiff -;)
Isn't it too cold for germs up there?

Joe

Man, database issues again? Somehow my post ended up at the top. Can the mods change the timestamp or something?

I take cod liver oil (or in my case Halibut liver oil) reguarly in winter but Australian summer sun is too strong and I would get too much vit D if I took it in summer. I remember when I used to get SERIOUS winter blues due to lack of sun and vit D but now that I'm taking liver oils its just not an issue anymore.

Regards, Anthony

Good stuff during the winter for folks living at northern latitudes. Not only does it have the EFA's, it contains vitamins A and D (the sunshine vitamin). Interestingly, even midday sun during the winter does not contain the type of UV light required to make vitamin D. The only downsides to liver oils, (if you plan on taking quite a bit for the EFA's) is that you can get to much vitamin A. Use plain fish oils to top up EFA instead of cod liver oil. You can take a little of both; but don’t try to hit EFA targets with cod liver oil alone.

I'm on a prescription strength vitamin D supplement that I take weekly, as my dr. was concerned about vitamin A toxicity. I take other fish oil supplements for the Omega 3 benefit. I have no idea if this is true, but some drs. believe that vitamin D deficiency itself can exacerbate vitamin A toxicity and that vitamin A from natural sources can be tolerated at higher levels.

Now my very allopathic endocrinologist strongly believes that most people in the northern latitudes are vitamin D deficient - places south of Canada, too. Most doctors don't test people's vitamin D levels. I think it should happen more. I thought this (http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20061111/bob9.asp) was interesting. Might explain you not getting sick, Cosmoline.

Couple of others I found when I first was put on the Vitamin D Rx supplement:

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/78/95751.htm
http://www.slate.com/id/2105560/

I have been on fish oil for ten years now, and swear by it. You need pharmecuetical grade or you run the risk of heavy metal toxicity. You want the EFA's without the impurities in the fish, which become concentrated when they concentrate the oil.

Lot's of evidence regarding the benefits. I have witnessed people's HDL/ LDL ratios optimizing after about 4-6 weeks on fish oil. Mine comes from Dr. Sears, the Zone, but other companies make the high grade oil as well.

Great Stuff.

I'm on a prescription strength vitamin D supplement that I take weekly, as my dr. was concerned about vitamin A toxicity. I take other fish oil supplements for the Omega 3 benefit. I have no idea if this is true, but some drs. believe that vitamin D deficiency itself can exacerbate vitamin A toxicity and that vitamin A from natural sources can be tolerated at higher levels.

Now my very allopathic endocrinologist strongly believes that most people in the northern latitudes are vitamin D deficient - places south of Canada, too. Most doctors don't test people's vitamin D levels. I think it should happen more. I thought this (http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20061111/bob9.asp) was interesting. Might explain you not getting sick, Cosmoline.

Couple of others I found when I first was put on the Vitamin D Rx supplement:

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/78/95751.htm
http://www.slate.com/id/2105560/

Interesting links. I too believe the role of vitamin D is not fully understood. After all Calcium is one of the most abundant minerals in the body and vitamin d is required for its metabolism. Rickets is only the most extreme case of calcium metabolism breakdown due to vit-d deficiency. If “my” hypothesis is correct, many sub-clinical vitamin d deficiencies will be identified in the near future. Look at how rampant osteoporosis has become. Metabolically, calcium or magnesium has its hand in nearly everything.

In Canada, vit A and D must be added to milk and margarine for it to be legal for sale. We are all deficient during the winter months; what is it ~15,000 units for sun exposure, and we get ~200 in supplement. Laughable.

Sometimes I use Udo's Oil instead of Fish oil.

Interesting links. I too believe the role of vitamin D is not fully understood. After all Calcium is one of the most abundant minerals in the body and vitamin d is required for its metabolism. Rickets is only the most extreme case of calcium metabolism breakdown due to vit-d deficiency. If “my” hypothesis is correct, many sub-clinical vitamin d deficiencies will be identified in the near future. Look at how rampant osteoporosis has become. Metabolically, calcium or magnesium has its hand in nearly everything.


Do you think that osteoporosis is mainly due to lack of sunlight, or that it is a combination of many things?

Do you think that osteoporosis is mainly due to lack of sunlight, or that it is a combination of many things?

It’s probably mostly due to lack of load bearing exercise. However, the lack of exercise is a double-edged sword in that exercise is typically done outside, where they would get some sun. I wouldn’t be surprised if studies showing that exercise increases bone density are being confounded by the simultaneous increase in sun exposure.

When my endocrinologist was trying to convince me to pay for the Rx vitamin D, she told me I could do all the weight bearing exercise and take all the extra calcium that I could, and if I was vitamin D deficient, it would all amount to naught. So I'm thinking that it's a combination of factors. You might have noticed that one of the articles says researchers were surprised to discover how many women of childbearing age were D deficient. Perhaps they'll come to find out that osteoporsis begins well before the later years.

I live in Alaska so the extra dose of A and D in the real CLO is a great plus. I'm not sure how much toxins get into the Norwegian CLO pills.

I live in Alaska so the extra dose of A and D in the real CLO is a great plus. I'm not sure how much toxins get into the Norwegian CLO pills.

I know naturopaths are licensed PCPs in your state. If you can find a naturopathic clinic with a dispensary (their version of a pharmacy), you will find someone there who knows which brands are consistently the least toxic in tests. Generally, if a naturopathic dispensary carries a certain brand of something, it tends to have the highest potency, the best stability, and the least amount of toxic whatever if it is derived from a natural source.

Google Krill Oil extract.
SPAL

Is it possible to consume too much vit D via cod liver oil/liver oils to were it would affect your sight? (Or am I confusing D with A and sight???:eek: ) Eitther way, how is the concentration of those vits and would regular consumption create the "possibility" of vision problems?

I have been on fish oil for ten years now, and swear by it. You need pharmecuetical grade or you run the risk of heavy metal toxicity.

Anyone use flaxseed oil instead of fish oil to avoid this problem? What are the pros & cons?

one of the essential fatty acids is not found in the vegetarian sources...if I remember correctly


Dietary sources of Omega 3 essential fatty acid (alpha-linolenic acid):

Flax oil (linseed oil - the richest natural source), flax seeds
hemp seed oil (contains both omega 3 and omega 6 fats, best balance of omega 6:3)
pumpkin seeds
rapeseed oil
walnuts & walnut oil (contains both omega 3 and omega 6 fats, but richer in omega 6)
soybeans & soybean oil (contains both omega 3 and omega 6 fats, but richer in omega 6) and
dark green leafy vegetables like seaweed, broccoli, mustard greens, spinach and kale.
spring greens, dark salad leaves, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, & parsleyDietary sources of Omega 6 fatty acid (linoleic acid): Corn oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, and canola oil.
Dietary sources of EPA and DHA: Salmon, tuna, halibut, herring fishes, sardines, rainbow trout, eels, kippers and mackerel fishes. Certain types of algae contain DHA

I just came home from UCLA where I see my doctors, and they are all wolfing down fish oil. You will probably hear more and more about it.

Trans fats were just banned from NYC eateries..... Hydrogenated oil is so bad for you, I think. I am not too radical about food, but I think trans fats will be seen as far worse than we ever dreamed in the near future.

Flaxseed is very good, it just is not complete source of EFA's. (my understanding)

those fast food fats were designed in labs so they wouldn't break down and deteriorate when used for high temp frying etc.

its no wonder that the human body would have problems breaking them down and getting them out of our arteries

Is it possible to consume too much vit D via cod liver oil/liver oils to were it would affect your sight? (Or am I confusing D with A and sight???:eek: ) Eitther way, how is the concentration of those vits and would regular consumption create the "possibility" of vision problems?

It's A and yes. This is why some people alternate cod liver oil in the winter and generic fish oil in the summer. Some believe (not proven reliably) that A from natural fish sources doesn't make you OD easily and that D deficiency contributes to A overdose, so if you're getting enough D, it makes lots of A less risky. No one really knows yet. I hope someone is doing the research on this. It's an interesting hypothesis.

Walnuts and flaxseed are excellent vegetarian sources of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. I eat a handful of walnuts every day.

http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=75

http://www.annecollins.com/dietary-fat/omega-3-efa-6-chart.htm

I take 1 tbsp of ground flaxseed a day.

whats the pro/con of fish oils vs. flaxseed?

I take 1 tbsp of ground flaxseed a day.

whats the pro/con of fish oils vs. flaxseed?

From what I've seen online, concerns regarding fish oil include potential mercury content and uncertainty over the source of the fish, ie. whether the fish were farm raised or not. Apparently farm raised fish may contain lower levels of EFA's due to how they are fed.
I've also read that EFA's from fish may be more easily absorbed by the body than those from seeds or nuts.

How do you go about getting pharmaceutical-grade oils? Are they sold in pharmacies or health food stores, or is ordering online from this Dr. Sears fellow the only way to go?
I've taken cod liver oil bought cheap from a health food store for nearly a month and now that I am more knowledgeable about it am somewhat concerned about heavy metal levels in the unrefined products.

There are multiple sources out there.

http://www.omegabrite.com/why/faqs.html

I know people who take this. I use Dr Sear's brand on auto ship so it is always fresh.

Iclandic Health, I have heard of. I notice Andrew Weil (MD Harvard trained) has his own brand now. he has a newsletter. I think mine runs about 40-5o/ month, it's kinda pricey, but well worth it!

My BF is 29, younger than I and does Tri's...very athletic. I was very surprised his BP was borderline. I started him on 2 Gms a day, some garlic caps, and coQ10. In three weeks his BP went from 140/90 to 110/60. I am an RN (was) and took his BP many times throughout the day to get a reliable baseline. I have witnessed many people's HDL/LDL ratios going from bad to optimal. I think it keeps your skin and hair nice too....no proof really. Many people say it was the silver bullet for depression, stabilizes cell membranes or something. If I could only take one supplement, it would be this one.


margarine for it to be legal for sale. margarine is bad, bad, bad. Jury is no longer out on that one. I will eat butter on occasion, but no trans fats, which is a major PITA because it is in almost everything...granola bars, cereal, you name it. The only thing I get radical about. Can't beleive they pushed that on us for years. (margarine over butter) Of course, olive oil is the ticket.

My advice (nothing special) is to get a lipid panel done baseline. Note your HDL/ LDL.

Begin one variable at a time (I started JB on all three because he was leaving for combat). So start the fish oil for about three weeks (or 4 or 5) and then see how/if you have shifted. Then add the garlic and coQ10 if you want to be orderly about it.
I take less than they say because it is expensive and my lipid panel is optimal..
Seriously, I feel great....and I am not selling anything, don't even have the stock.

Here's my 2 bobs worth on fish oils. From what I have read liver oils are safe from heavy metal contamination. Then contaminants concentrate in the flesh, not the liver so its the regular fish oil that you should watch for.

Liver oils are distilled and refined for all the WRONG reasons. There is such a hysterical scare campaign against high levels of vit A and D that most liver oils are distilled to remove them and then synthetic vitamins are added. STUPID realy because its the synthetic vitamins that may cause harm in too high a level. Natural vit A and D are safe in quite high levels.

I take Halibut liver oil because in Australia its the only one I can get that hasn't been refined and it still has its natural vit A and D. I can tell this because the advertised levels are so high. ONE tiny capsule is supposed to have 2 X the daily reccomended vit A intake. See http://www.westonaprice.org for more information on vit A. Traditional people consumed about 10,000 units of natural vit A a day. Way more than the current reccomended 2,500 units a day but be careful not to take too much synthetic vit A.

Omega 3 fish oils are made from the flesh so you need to be careful of its mercury content however I'm hypersensitive to mercury and I know pretty quickly if I've consumed it in fish and I've tried a number of the brands of fish oil available in Australia and I haven't felt that any of them has a discenable mercury content.

Regards, Anthony