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| [ COD LIVER OIL: GRANDMA'S FORGOTTEN MEDICINE ] |
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IMMUNE SYSTEM VITAMINS
Natural immune booster for the whole family!
ICELANDIC COD LIVER OIL
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Recently, the mother of one of my friends gave me some advice: 'Don't forget to take Olde World Icelandic Cod Liver Oil this winter to prevent the flu!'. I must admit that I had never really thought about this as a prevention for infections. In fact, Cod Liver Oil has existed for such a long time that we tend to forget about it as an excellent way to boost our immune system. I am always searching for alternatives to protect myself and my family from colds and flus during the winter season. So I did some research to see if this advice about Cod Liver Oil still rang true, especially in this time of severe flu epidemics.
Upper Respiratory Infections and Middle Ear Infections
Middle
ear infections are common among children during the winter months, and
often are preceded by upper respiratory infections. A study published
in the July 2002 issue of Annals of Otology, Rhinology &
Laryngology showed low levels of three important chemicals in children
that may predispose them to middle ear and upper respiratory
infections, two of which are found in sufficient quantities in cod
liver oil.
The first is eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid that helps decrease inflammation.
“This was a new and important finding,” said Dr. Linda A. Linday, a
pediatrician and researcher at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. The
second chemical of importance lacking in these children was Vitamin A,
also present in large quantities in cod liver oil. According to Dr.
Linday, “This study provides
preliminary evidence that middle ear infections may be prevented and
that the reliance on antibiotics may be reduced among young children by
using cod liver oil.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE SCIENTIFIC STUDIES ON COD LIVER OIL
Beneficial Components of Icelandic Cod Liver Oil
This marvelous golden oil contains large amounts of elongated omega-3 fatty acids, preformed vitamin A, the sunlight vitamin D, small amounts of the important bone and blood maintainer vitamin K and essential nutrients that are hard to obtain in sufficient amounts in the modern diet.
Cod liver oil contains more fat-soluble vitamin A and D per unit weight than any other common food, almost three times more than beef liver, the next richest source.
1) Omega-3 fatty acids:
Icelandic cod liver oil contains 8-12% each of the elongated omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. EPA
is the precursor of important prostaglandins, localized tissue hormones
that help the body deal with inflammation; and DHA is extremely
important for the development and function of the brain and nervous system.
2) Vitamin A:
Vitamin A held great promise as an anti-infective agent
prior to WWII, but with the subsequent discovery of sulfa antibiotics
for the treatment of infection, the scientific community soon lost
interest in vitamin A and clinical trials ceased. It wasn’t until the
1980s and early 90s that several large randomized, double-blind placebo
controlled studies were conducted in developing countries around the
world, showing that vitamin A supplementation could reduce child mortality by about one-third.
3) Vitamin D:
Vitamin D has seen more and more scientific interest since the turn of the century, as a natural immune booster
to fight severe infections such as influenza and tuberculosis. The
prevalance of global vitamin D insufficiency and scientific evidence
linking low vitamin D levels to increased risk of osteoporosis,
diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune disorders have stimulated
recommendations to increase the vitamin D recommended intake levels.
What Is So Special About Icelandic Cod Liver Oil?
Far
North in the icy Atlantic, live a truly remarkable culture of people
who have withstood the challenges of harsh weather, and long seasons of
darkness for a thousand years. This is the island nation of Iceland!
Cod liver oil has always been an important part of the diet of the Icelandic culture. The recognition of the importance of vitamins A and D, as well as the omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil, seemed almost instinctive to those living in that often dark, cold region of the world. Iceland has one of the longest life expectancy rates in the world. Many scientists believe this is largely due to their regular consumption of cod liver oil which begins soon after birth.
Today, Icelanders are a medical marvel. They have less heart disease and high blood pressure than
any other culture in the world. Iceland has one of the lowest rate of
infant mortality. The Icelandic women give birth to healthy babies with
well-developed immune and nervous systems, in addition to optimal brain
and eye function.
Cod liver oil
has been used in the prevention and treatment of everything from minor
infections to the most severe cases of chronic joint pain long before
science could even explain its beneficial properties. As late as the
1840s, when cod liver oil was being successfully prescribed in the
treatment and prevention of rickets, scientists still could only
speculate as to how and why it worked.
In study after
study cod liver oil has been acknowledged to play a role in the
development of the brain, the rods and cones of the retina of the eye,
the male reproductive tissue, skin integrity, lubrication of the
joints, and the body’s inflammatory response.
Garden of Life's
OLDE WORLD ICELANDIC COD LIVER OIL
SUPPLEMENTAL FACTS AND INGREDIENTS
FEATURES
• High in Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids including DHA and EPA
• Contains naturally occuring Vitamin A and D
• Natural Immune Booster
• Increases Energy, Performance, and Ability to Concentrate
• Promotes Healthy Cardiovascular Function
• Maintains Proper Cholesterol Ratios
• Reduces Blood Platelet “Stickiness”
• Relieves Joint Pain and Chronic Inflammation
• Enhances Fat Metabolism for Healthy Weight Management
• Regulates Normal Insulin Levels
• Promotes Optimal Health during Pregnancy and Breast Feeding
• Supports Healthy Brain and Memory Function
• Produced using Olde World Traditional Methods – Free from Chemical Processing
• Laboratory Tested – No detectable levels of Mercury, Cadmium, Lead, PCBs
or other contaminants
• Consumed Daily by the Healthiest, Longest Lived Cultures of the world
• Pleasant Tasting All Natural Lemon-Mint Flavor
Garden of Life® Olde World Icelandic Cod Liver Oil™ is a truly cold processed oil, still produced using traditional methods which ensures that all of the naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, and Omega 3 essential fatty acids remain in tact. No isolated or synthetic vitamins are added.
An excellent source of EPA, DHA, and vitamins A and D,
Garden of Life Olde World Icelandic Cod Liver Oil does not have the
usual “fishy” after taste reminiscent of cod liver oil from the past.
Packaged in amber glass bottles to protect it from light, Olde World
Icelandic Cod Liver Oil is available in naturally flavored lemon-mint, offering a unique and pleasant, fresh taste.
Garden of Life believes that cod liver oil is best taken in its liquid form rather than in capsules. Tests have shown that when gelatin capsules dissolve in your body, the gelatin tends to ‘glob’ around the ingredients, thereby inhibiting proper absorption.
HEAVY METAL TESTING:
One
concern about taking cod liver oil is the presence of heavy metal
contaminants such as mercury, cadmium, and lead, as well as PCBs, etc.
The good news is, that consumers need not be concerned. All cod liver oils imported into North America must be tested and approved according to protocols of the Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC), to be free of detectable levels of 32 contaminants before they can be imported into the US or Canada. Furthermore, mercury is water-soluble. It may be present in the flesh of the fish, but not in the oil. |
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