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Cod liver oil is an oil extracted from cod
livers. Once commonly given to children daily as
a nutritional supplement, it is rarely given today, but is
gaining popularity. Cod liver oil is a significant source of supplemental
vitamin A and D. Scientists are discovering that it isn't just the vitamins in cod liver oil that are healthy, but the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils also help fight and prevent various ailments.
Cod liver oil and fish oil are similar, but not the same. Fish oils are
extracted from the tissues of fatty fish like salmon and herring and
are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Fish oils usually
contain very little vitamin A and D, but cod liver oil does contain some EPA and DHA. However, to obtain therapeutic amounts of
EPA and DHA from cod liver oil, one would probably exceed the recommended daily intake of vitamins A and D. A common way to benefit from both oils is to
take cod liver oil during the winter, and fish oil during the summer in order to avoid an overdose of vitamin D.
Americans consume an unbalanced amount of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Currently the ratio between these fatty acids is somewhere between 1:20 and 1:50, but the ideal ratio is 1:1. The lack of omega-3
fatty acids is making it popular to daily supplement one's diet with high quality
fish or cod liver oils. For example, scientists in the United Kingdom
are pushing for cod liver oil supplementation in schools [1] (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1507127,00.html) and Kellogg signed a 15-year agreement with Martek Biosciences to provide
omega-3 fatty acids for its breakfast cereals and cookie products [2] (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2005-03-01-biotech-breakfast_x.htm).
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