Boost Your Immunity with Cod Liver Oil
The Wellness Wednesday theme for October is immunity! So far, we’ve covered elderberry syrup and garlic. Today I’m talking about cod liver oil!
We started taking cod liver oil a little over a year ago, and currently it’s the only supplement we take regularly.
I’m not necessarily against supplements, but my goal this year was to get the vitamins and minerals we need primarily through our food.
I’ve had bad experiences in the past with multi-vitamins making me nauseous. I suspect that part of the reason was that the vitamins weren’t in the proper proportions to be best assimilated by my body.
Our local dairy farmers explained to us that raw milk contains every vitamin, all in the proper proportions for assimilation! A glass of raw milk is a “supplement” (and a very filling, delicious one) all by itself! You’ll see in a bit why raw milk is a particularly good match for cod liver oil.
Why is cod liver oil our non-food supplement of choice?
Cod liver oil contains lots of DHA (aids in the functioning of a healthy nervous system) and EPA fatty acids, as well as Vitamins A and D.
Here are just a few highlights about these vitamins, although they have many more benefits:
Vitamin A– Helps your body digest protein, builds healthy blood and bones, and acts as an antioxidant.
Vitamin D- Also an antioxidant. Strengthens the immune system and is important for mineral absorption to build strong bones and teeth. Vitamin D regulates calcium in the blood; if there isn’t enough of this mineral present, it will be drawn out of your bones.
For this reason, it’s important to take Vitamin D supplements (such as cod liver oil) with calcium. So have a glass of raw milk with your meal when you take cod liver oil!
We’re currently each taking a capsule of Carlson’s cod liver oil at dinnertime. Because we receive less Vitamin D from the sun during this darker season of the year, taking a daily capsule is particularly important.
To learn more about cod liver oil and to see a list of recommended brands (not all have the beneficial ratios of vitamins and fats) visit the Weston A. Price foundation.
I’ve never taken cod liver oil. Does it make you have fishy burps later on? Also, do you know the health benefits that are different between regular cod liver oil and fermented? I’ve been hearing a lot lately about fermented but I’m not sure I’m brave enough to try it!
No, we don’t notice many fishy burps at all. Maybe occasionally(; We don’t take fermented right now simply because it’s a lot more expensive. I have heard that it is “extra” good for you. Then again….some people’s stomachs have problems with fermented. Right now, we prioritize acquiring raw milk. It’s not in budget to do raw milk and FCLO….and we like raw milk better (and it’s more versatile) so that stays!
Yup!! We take cod liver oil every day! We’ve chosen the fermented CLO and butter blend from Green Pastures and buy it in bulk!!
I second the Green Pasture brand. As far as I know all other brands use synthetic A & D. Green Pasture does not. http://www.greenpasture.org. Great company!
We might do the GP someday. It’s just not in budget right now, and I haven’t researched the benefits of fermented enough–I know it’s good for you, but that expensive good? I still have to decide! Do you have any posts on FCLO?
We take more Vitamin D (6000 to 8000 IU’s per day) because we are afraid of the fish burps. We try to stay away from fish oil because we try to be 100% vegetarians but we are realistic. If I was really deficient I would buy Cod Liver Oil. Also you really sold me on the Raw Milk benefits which I am going to try now!
That’s so cool that you’re going to try raw milk–thanks for letting me know! I hope you love it!
{Sidenote–Yay! Anjanette is a friend of mine!!!} We take Carlson’s cod liver oil with vit D everyday too. It’s a good “chill out” tool when I’m feeling especially stressed. Plus the vit D helps once we get into the winter months. I’d love to try raw milk sometime.
Anjanette is so cool(:
I have a 20 mo and a 3 yo; how can I get some CLO in them? If I buy the capsules, can I break them open and mix them in with something, or what would you suggest?
I haven’t tried this cod liver oil but according to your post that it is essential in our body, I should give it a try. Currently, I am taking alpha lipoic acid and I think that these two have common in promoting good health condition. Is it okay to let my son take it? He’s 7 now.