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The Bottom Line
Most Americans are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, and their health is suffering as a result--increase your intake of omega-3s from fish oil and cod liver oil and your body will thank you.
Increasing your intake of essential omega-3 fatty acids will undoubtedly have many positive influences on your health. Aside from adding more water and green vegetables to your diet, adding omega-3s is one of the best things you can do for yourself.
While a helpful form of omega-3 can be found in flaxseed, walnuts and a few other foods, the most beneficial form of omega-3--containing two fatty acids, DHA and EPA--can be obtained from fish oil and cod liver oil.
Adding the omega-3 found in fish and cod liver oils to your diet will:
- Help fight and prevent heart disease, cancer, depression, Alzheimer's, arthritis, diabetes, ulcers, hyperactivity and many other diseases
- Increase your energy level and ability to concentrate
- Provide greater resistance to common illnesses such as flu and cold
- Help pregnant women avoid premature births, low birth weight and other complications
Although fish also contain omega-3s, most fish, whether from the ocean, lakes or streams, or farm-raised, contain dangerously high levels of mercury. Sadly, the health risks posed by the mercury outweigh the fish’s omega-3 benefits, so I don’t recommend eating any fish unless it has been tested and found to be free of toxins.
The fish and cod liver oils you use should also be laboratory tested to ensure that they are of high quality and are free of mercury and other toxins. The Carlson brand of fish oil and cod liver oil, regularly tested by an independent FDA registered laboratory, is the most highly recommended for its potency and purity. I have tried many fish oil brands and can say with the highest confidence that the Carlson brand is the most superior available.
A final--but important--note about fish and cod liver oil: as a general rule, take cod liver oil from autumn to early spring and fish oil from late spring through the end of summer. The reason for this is that cod liver oil contains vitamin D while fish oil does not. During the summer months, it is likely that your body will already have sufficient levels of vitamin D due to the sun. If you take cod liver oil during the summer months, you risk overdosing on vitamin D. I encourage you to read my advice on how to properly take fish oil and cod liver oil.
