7 Benefits of Taking Cod Liver Oil Everyday

We’ve all heard those stories that our parents or grandparents told about holding their noses while being dosed with cod liver oil. I think many of us may have categorized those with “wive’s tales” and “folk lore.” However, there is more truth to the benefits of that “cure-all” than we may realize. Since it is so important that we acquire and use accurate information, I’m featuring a very current scholarly article – research that can be trusted.

Health Benefits of Cod Liver Oil

Apart from being a good source of nutrients, studies have found that cod liver oil may have some very important therapeutic properties.

Cod liver oil is thought to help relieve joint stiffness associated with arthritis, have a positive effect on cardiovascular health, and help repair wounded teeth, nails, hair, and skin.
Let’s take a look at the possible health benefits of cod liver oil in more detail. It is important to note that more evidence is required before any health benefit links are proved definitive.

1: Cod liver oil is the right kind of fat –

• Fat is essential for every single cell in your body. Eating the right kinds of fats (like the omega 3 fatty acids in cod liver oil) will make the skin glow, increase vitamin and mineral absorption and boost the immune system. Fat keeps you full and satiated. When you consume fat, your brain receives a signal to turn off your appetite. Eating healthy fats with a meal helps slow the breakdown of carbohydrates into sugar, which helps to keep blood sugars levels in your blood stable. Your brain needs to be fueled with fat to function optimally.

2: Arthritis-

• A German study, which included 43 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who ingested 1 g of cod liver oil every day for 3 months, found that the patients experienced a decrease in the pain intensity of their stiff joints.
• A separate study concluded that cod liver oil may also help those suffering from osteoarthritis. Researchers at Cardiff University found that cod liver oil helped reduce pain and cartilage damage caused by osteoarthritis, as well as reducing the need for joint replacement. In their study, the investigators found that cod liver oil reduced enzymes linked to pain and cartilage damage caused by osteoarthritis.
• If you are looking for more Natural Remedies for Arthritis Pain Check out this article called Natural Remedies for Arthritis Pain

3: Age-related macular degeneration –

• Several studies have suggested that omega 3s support eye health and prevent macular degeneration. These findings have not been consistent in all studies, however. Other nutrients that have been found to be helpful in preventing AMD are carotenoids, which can minimize the damage and reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. Cod liver oil is also high in carotenoids. Vitamin A was actually first discovered in butterfat and cod liver oil in 1913.15

4: Coronary artery disease –

• Daily intake of cod liver oil can help prevent coronary atherosclerosis. Research published in the journal Lipids concluded that ingestion of 1.5 g of n-3 fatty acids per day resulted in “decreased progression/increased regression of established coronary artery disease.”

5: Repairing wounds –

• One study assessed the effect of topically applying cod liver oil ointment on wounds using a hairless mouse ear wound model. The scientists concluded that topical application of 25% cod liver oil ointment “significantly accelerated both the epithelial and the vascular component of healing compared with saline.”

6: Cognitive performance –

• Cod liver oil contains a high amount of vitamin D. A link between vitamin D and cognitive performance was identified in a study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. The authors concluded that Vitamin D may play a key role in maintaining good brain function in old age.

7: Tuberculosis –

• A review of a historical study from 1848 revealed that cod liver oil could be an effective treatment option for tuberculosis. The disease was stabilized in 18% of participants who received cod liver oil, in comparison with only 6% in the control group.

I’ve included two more links that may help to understand the real, medical usefulness of cod liver oil. These two sources may seem complicated, but Ive tried to pare them down to highlight the main point. If you suffer from any of the above-mentioned conditions, having this knowledge may help you in consulting with your family physician. Cod Liver Oil: Health Benefits, Facts and Research by Megan Ware RDN LD. Last updated: Tue 12 January 2016

• Cod liver oil (n-3 fatty acids) as an non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug sparing agent in rheumatoid arthritis .
• Conclusions. This study suggests that cod liver oil supplements containing n-3 fatty acids can be used as NSAID-sparing agents in RA patients.
• https://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/47/5/665.full

• Childhood Cod Liver Oil Consumption and Bone Mineral Density in a Population-based Cohort of Peri- and Postmenopausal Women: The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study
  RESULTS
• Women reporting cod liver oil intake, either in childhood or currently, reported lower body weight at age 20 years and lower current body mass index than the women who had not taken cod liver oil.
• https://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/167/4/406.full