Cost, Taste, and Considerations for Getting Green Pasture Fermented Cod Liver Oil (6 of 8)

This month at Pasture Living, we will be doing a series about "In-Depth on Cod Liver Oil." This was one of the first health food, along with coconut oil, that my family consume daily since we started our journey of healthy living. The health community regards cod liver oil as the number one superfood and I will share with you why that is so. Hopefully by the end of this series, your eyes will be opened to this amazing elixir that has kept the ancient generations healthy and strong. Afterwards you may just be convinced why you MUST, and not just SHOULD, take cod liver oil. I promise it will be the best investment to you and your family's health and something you do not want to miss out.

By now, I hope you have understood how beneficial fermented cod liver oil (FCLO) is for our health, what to look for in FCLO, and the differences between regular fish oil/CLO and FCLO. Green Pasture, being the "best" rated FCLO by Weston A. Price Foundation and the health community for being the only company that produces FCLO traditionally, is the only FCLO brand that I would recommend to anyone. Now, let's consider a few factors:

Cost and Considerations For Getting Green Pasture FCLO

A bottle of FCLO may seem expensive at first sight, but I've come to realize that it really isn't that costly if we understand what we're getting for.

- Pure fermented cod liver oil. Traditionally processed through fermentation, Green Pasture cod liver oil retains all the naturally-occurring nutrients, and even enhances them, giving us more per serving than other brands in the market.

- More nutrients per serving. FCLO is jam-packed with nutrients that the recommended daily serving is so small, thus a bottle goes a long way. A bottle of FCLO gives about 118 servings (about 4 months). Regular CLO may be cheaper, but remember that most brands of CLO's have been highly processed and stripped of their natural nutrients.

- Lessen the need for other supplements. FCLO is rich in so many nutrients including omega 3 fatty acids DHA, EPA, vitamin A, D, K, that you don't have to take other omega 3, DHA, EPA and other fat-soluble vitamin supplements.

"Because Green Pasture’s fermented cod liver oils and butter oils contain such a wide variety and potency of fat-soluble nutrients, they not only enhance my patients’ lives, but simplify them as well. Patients are able to take much less cod liver oil than with their old brand and eliminate the need for additional supplements, which are lacking in other brands. (I recommend 3 ml or 3/4 teaspoon fermented cod liver oil and 2.5 ml or 1/2 teaspoon butter oil.) When I introduce them to the oils, I ask them to bring in all the supplements they are taking. I show them that with taking this oil combo they can eliminate one-half to two-thirds of their other supplements, and sometimes all of them. Often my patients are taking so many different types of synthetic vitamins, they literally walk in with a big box full of them. The reason they are taking so many is because each bottle usually contains only one or maybe a couple types of synthetic vitamins or nutrients. Obtaining nutrients through natural food sources allows them a more potent and broader range of nutrition, thus eliminating the need for boxes of bottles and huge dosing." - Rosann Volmert, DO, family practice physician, Pasadena, CA

- Make up for the lack of consuming wild-caught fish in our diets. Even though we know the health benefits of consuming fish in our diets, many of us including my family do not consume enough fish at home. Additionally, most fish we find in Singapore supermarkets are farmed, and we know that the nutrients of farmed fish is inferior to that of wild fish. Green Pasture FCLO comes from only wild-caught cod fish in the arctic and consuming this gives us the omega-3 fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins of wild-caught fish literally, which is so rarely found in Singapore. This is one of the main reasons why our family starts taking FCLO. Since wild fish is rarely available, we save the money that would otherwise go into buying farmed fish to buy FCLO. Even those of us who are fortunate to get ample servings of wild fish in your diet, you will have to consume a lot of them to get to the level of nutrients equivalent to that of FCLO.

"Eating fish will not provide the levels of nutrients that are found in cod liver oil. Even in heavy fish-eating populations, the addition of cod liver oil improves health. And taking fish oils is not the same as taking cod liver liver oil. One tablespoon of regular cod liver oil and one-half tablespoon of high-vitamin cod liver oil provide the amount of elongated omega-3 fatty acids found in twelve 1,000 mg fish oil capsules. As for vitamin D, body oils of fish can be good sources as long as you are willing to eat a lot of them. One-half pound of fatty herring or sardines gives a dose of vitamin D equal to that of about one tablespoon of cod liver oil. But salmon oil has one-fifth the potency of cod liver oil. (source)

- Stretching our dollars further. To stretch your dollars even further, we have to understand that:
1. FCLO works synergistically with saturated fats such as coconut oil or butter from pasture-fed cows. Thus, taking the two together allows the body to maximize the nutrients derived from FCLO.
2. Our body needs enough vitamin D to absorb calcium, which we all know is important for bone strength and preventing osteoporosis. Many of us are already taking calcium supplements and taking vitamin D-rich foods such as FCLO along with calcium supplements will ensure our body's absorption of calcium.

Dr Price "found that cod liver oil on its own was relatively ineffective but combined with high vitamin butter oil (extracted from dairy milk produced by cows that graze exclusively on specially selected rapidly growing grass), it produced excellent results. The butter oil contains what he called Activator X, now considered to be vitamin K2, which works synergistically with vitamins A and D. Your diet should include sources of vitamin K, such as good quality butter from grass-fed cows and/or high-vitamin butter oil, fat from grass-fed animals, cheeses from grass-fed animals and duck or goose liver, along with cod liver oil." (source)

It's true that healthy living comes with its cost, especially in Singapore, where anything considered "healthy food" is highly priced. But I hope that by now you begin to understand the extraordinary value of this superfood. FCLO is none like other supplements and it is far from ordinary. If you're still thinking about the cost, consider how if we can cut down our consumption of bubble teas or starbucks a couple of times a month, that savings can go into something that is much more nutritious than artificial foods, don't you agree? :)

Fermented Cod Liver Oil

What About the Taste?

I will be lying if I tell you that I like the taste of fermented cod liver oil. It's oil from the liver of a fish so it is naturally fishy and you may find that taste and odor will be different from bottle to bottle depending on what the fish eats. However, you can be sure that fermentation is safe and not a "rotting process." Because today's marketing focus is maximizing profits and comfort to its consumers, companies find ways to use industrialized processes to control the compounds of their products to make them more marketable and palatable. Nutrient integrity is not their focus. Like I mentioned in my original post, if you find a brand that is "easy" to take, most likely it's not the real thing. Wouldn't you want something that is real? Paying less for unpure/synthetic vitamins is more expensive than paying more for the real thing.

Green Pasture has different flavors that help cover up the fishy taste of the FCLO. There are also many other ways to help you swallow FCLO with, such as milk, juice and raw honey. If you really think you can't handle the smell/taste, you can take the ones in capsules.

Next, I will share my personal reasons on why I decided to take Green Pasture FCLO.

Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with Green Pasture nor am I paid to write a review about their products. I'm just a very satisfied consumer and believe in the effectiveness of Green Pasture FCLO. All opinions are completely my own. 

Differences between Fermented Cod Liver Oil, Regular Cod Liver Oil, and Regular Fish Oil (5 of 8)

This month at Pasture Living, we will be doing a series about "In-Depth on Cod Liver Oil." This was one of the first health food, along with coconut oil, that my family consume daily since we started our journey of healthy living. The health community regards cod liver oil as the number one superfood and I will share with you why that is so. Hopefully by the end of this series, your eyes will be opened to this amazing elixir that has kept the ancient generations healthy and strong. Afterwards you may just be convinced why you MUST, and not just SHOULD, take cod liver oil. I promise it will be the best investment to you and your family's health and something you do not want to miss out.

We have learned how beneficial fermented cod liver oil (FCLO) is for our health, what to look for in FCLO (and the best brand of FCLO), now let's take a look at the differences between FCLO, regular CLO, and regular fish oil.

Why Fermented Cod Liver Oil, Not Regular Fish Oil or Other Supplements?

The health benefits of taking fish oil are widely known, with omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA as the selling point of fish oils. While it's true that fish oil can be a good supplement, not all fish oils are created equal. Many brands of fish oils and vitamin supplements we see today are synthetic and/or highly processed. Synthetic vitamins are unnatural and not as well-absorbed by the body. I was looking at the fish oil I used to consume the other day and I was surprised to find soy as one of the ingredients (it was from a reputable brand too!). Not only soy contains anti-nutrients, it is also one of the most genetically modified food (Always check food labels!). This is a good read why regular fish oil is not recommended. As Dave Wetzel said it in his interview with Kitchen Stewardship: "Why take the fish oil? Fermented cod liver oil is fish oil, just from the liver, not the skin." (The interview also discusses about fermentation, nutrition, dosage, etc. It's a good overview of FCLO coming from someone who knows it best.)

"Cod liver oil is very good for you, more than you ever knew. Research studies ranging from 1918-2001 give cod liver oil an A+ rating. This marvelous golden oil contains large amounts of elongated omega-3 fatty acids, preformed vitamin A and the sunlight vitamin D, essential nutrients that are hard to obtain in sufficient amounts in the modern diet. Samples may also naturally contain small amounts of the important bone- and blood-maintainer vitamin K." (source)

Properly fermented cod liver oil is extracted naturally without heat or unnatural processes such as deodorization, bleaching, and winterization. ANd in its original form FCLO is not considered a supplement, it's food (oil from the liver) in its most whole and natural form. But as with any industrialized supplements, many brands of cod liver oil are also highly processed with synthetic vitamins added back simply because all the natural nutrients are destroyed during processing. It takes six to twelve months to ferment cod liver oil, while industrialized method of extracting cod liver oil takes only one day, that is why we don't see manufacturers make CLO through fermentation anymore, simply because they take too long to produce (which means less business for them).

Cod liver oil, especially fermented cod liver oil contains all naturally-occurring vitamins and minerals, not just omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. It is also rich in natural vitamin A, D, and the important bone- and blood-maintainer vitamin K that are vital for optimal body functions and boosting our immune system. Fermenting cod liver oil not only retains all its nutrients, but enhances it. It's so nutritious and full of a variety of vitamins that you generally do not need to take extra supplements (other fish oils, omega-3, DHA, EPA, vitamin A, and D supplements). 

If you are already consuming regular fish oil or cod liver oil, chances are you already know the health benefits of consuming fish oil. It's a matter of finding the right kind of fish oil so that our body gets the maximum benefits (and value for money). Our modern diet is already so lacking in nutrients from eating meat from barn/farm-raised animals, rancid vegetable oils, refined grains and sugar, and highly processed foods ladened with soy, MSG, high fructose corn syrup, it's the more important that we "supplement" our bodies with FCLO.

Fermented Cod Liver Oil

What is the Difference between Fermented Cod Liver Oil and Regular Cod Liver Oil?

(Some quotes are taken from Green Pasture's blog)

"Fish oils have historically been fermented for extraction; back in the Roman empire days, Viking era and all the way up to the Mid 1850′s. Rendering (processing with heat) was introduced during the mid 1850′s as a more efficient fish liver processing method. The livers yielded a much higher total oil volume and the process could be accomplished in several hours rather than several months. What they did not understand is the effects that heat had on the nutrients (their science was not ready to address this question). As with all industrial models, the focus was on: profitability, speed or turns and, marketability (taste). It takes 6 months to 1 year to make fermented cod liver oil. This is why it is no longer made."

People often link fermentation to putrefaction (rotting process), but they are not the same. In fact, they are completely a different process. Fermentation is safe, the same process used to make yogurt, tempeh, miso, kimchi, sourdough, etc. 

Why fermented CLO is better than regular CLO: 

1. Retention of All Natural Nutrients. Fermented fish liver oils are extracted without heat but rather a natural lacto-fermentation. Organ tissues are selected exclusively as the source of the fermented fish oils (compared to industrial model fish oils) as this is where the nutrients are located. There is much more to fish oil nutrients than EPA and DHA. It is only because of the heavy industrialization of this industry that this field of products has nothing else to discuss but Omega 3, EPA and DHA. These nutrients will occur naturally in all fish oils including the FCLO. I think the real story is in the thousands of micro nutrients that are provided in a fermented fish oil. 

2. Rich in Pigments. Fermented liver oils are a deep rich pigment. Pigments are nutrients. 

3. High in Quinones. The oils have a 8-9mg/g total quinone count. Butter oil is in the 23-25 mg/g range. These figures are very high! The complex of the quinones is completely different between the fish liver oils and the butter oil. Even the quinone complex between the different fish oils is unique (variety is complete nutrition). Quinones consist of nutrients such as vitamin K’s, vitamin E’s, CoQ enzymes and other known and unknown nutrients/components. 

4. Better Assimilation of Vitamin A. Lacto-fermentation transforms natural vitamin A into different metabolites that are easily absorbed into our bodies (just as in your gut if your gut is working properly). I have found reference to at least 15 different natural forms of Vitamin A that nature provides. Not just the 2-3 that are commonly discussed. 

5. Rich in Natural Vitamin D. There are over 3000 derivatives of vitamin D. Many are natural and others are produced in laboratories. Not much of the vitamin D topic is understood or discussed in mainstream science. Current discussions are just scratching the surface of the topic. Reminder, vitamin D is more accurately categorized as a hormone, not a vitamin. 

6. More Economical (Value of Money). Substantially more nutrients (including A/D) per ml or teaspoon compared to other brands.

Next, we will discuss about cost, taste, and other considerations of getting FCLO.

Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with Green Pasture nor am I paid to write a review about their products. I'm just a very satisfied consumer and believe in the effectiveness of Green Pasture FCLO. All opinions are completely my own. 

What To Look For in Cod Liver Oil and What is the Best Brand? (4 of 8)

This month at Pasture Living, we will be doing a series about "In-Depth on Cod Liver Oil." This was one of the first health food, along with coconut oil, that my family consume daily since we started our journey of healthy living. The health community regards cod liver oil as the number one superfood and I will share with you why that is so. Hopefully by the end of this series, your eyes will be opened to this amazing elixir that has kept the ancient generations healthy and strong. Afterwards you may just be convinced why you MUST, and not just SHOULD, take cod liver oil. I promise it will be the best investment to you and your family's health and something you do not want to miss out.

We have learned how beneficial fermented cod liver oil (FCLO) is for our health, now let's discuss what to look for in FCLO and what is the best brand out there.

What To Look For in Cod Liver Oil? What is the Best Brand?

"When I began to import cod liver oil, in order to sell it along with the high-vitamin butter oil I was manufacturing, I felt it imperative to go to Iceland and Norway to visit the various cod liver oil factories there. At that time, most cod liver oil in America was imported from Scandinavia, with a small amount coming from China. To summarize my findings, all the factories were engaged in industrial processing of cod liver oil, which involved alkali refining, bleaching, winterization and deodorization. Each of these steps, especially the deodorization, removes some of the precious fat-soluble vitamins, especially vitamin D" - David Wetzel, founder of Green Pasture, the only company that makes FCLO the traditional way)

The Traditional Cod Liver Oil, the Way It Was Always Done

1. Fermentation Method. Traditionally, cod liver oil has always been processed via fermentation and without heat. Fishermen put the livers into a barrel with a bit of sea water and let it ferment. Most cod liver oil we see today is highly processed (with heat) which causes oxidative damage. Omega-3 fatty acids are highly vulnerable to oxidative damage when heated (a process called rendering), which turns them rancid. Rancid oils form free radicals that leads to premature aging and many diseases, including cancer. Fermenting CLO makes the oils very stable and resistant to oxidative damage. Fortunately, there is still one company that still follows the traditional ways of fermenting cod liver oil. It is listed as the "best" FCLO by Weston A. Price Foundation and the health community. The company is Green Pasture. Fermenting CLO takes between six to twelve months, that's why no one wants to do it this way anymore. Industrialized processing of extracting CLO takes only a day but removes the natural and highly beneficial nutrients in them. Fermenting cod liver oil not only retains all its natural nutrients, but enhances it. 

Stages of fermentation of cod liver oil (Image source)

2. No-Added Vitamins Added. Most brands of cod liver oil is stripped of all the natural vitamins through industrial processing and the result is very low levels of vitamin A and virtually no vitamin D, thus synthetic vitamins A and D need to be added to make up for the loss.

3. Balanced ratio of vitamin A and D. This article explains in detail why it is not recommended to take cod liver oil that are low in vitamin D. Essentially, vitamin A and D protect each other against the toxicity of the other. Green Pasture FCLO has been tested to have a balanced (and ideal) ratio of vitamin A and D of 5:1, which is important for optimal health benefits. Most cod liver oils have excessive vitamin A (preformed retinol) and very little vitamin D. Imbalanced ratio of vitamin A to D is unhealthy, much like the imbalance ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids which can lead to health problems (That's why it's important to eat the right kinds of fats!).

"Nearly all brands of cod liver oil provide a token amount of vitamin D, typically a mere 400 to 1,200 IU of vitamin D per tablespoon but anywhere between 4,000 to 30,000 IU of vitamin A. This is clearly inappropriate. About the lowest ratio I have seen is ten times as much vitamin A as vitamin D but, as I stated above, it can be as high as 12,000 times as much vitamin A." (source)

Check the labels! This is an example of very
low vitamin D to A ratio in cod liver oil.

Here is a summary of Green Pasture's Purity Statement. This is why their FCLO is the best of all.

- Whole Food Form 
- Wild, as Provided by Nature 
- Real, Unsurpassed Nutrition 
- Unadulterated 
- Natural fatty acid complex, nothing removed or changed 
- Full, deep range of Vitamins A, D, E, K; CoQ enzymes; and other quinones 
- Deep, Rich, Historical Processing Methods 
- Non-industrialized Production 
- Clean, Pure, and Third Party Tested 

They also guarantee that:

- All their fish are exclusively wild caught in and around the Arctic region. A substantial amount of today's cod liver oil is produced from farmed fish.
- All their fermented fish oils are pure using traditional methods of production 
- There will be no compromise on nutrient quality and integrity by any industrial means that will damage or remove flavors, odors, colors, textures and/or nutrients.

So all of the above is what you want to look for in cod liver oil. There are other ones considered "good" by WAPF, but if you can get the best one, why not? :) If Green Pasture FCLO is not available in your area, you can check WAPF website for brand recommendations. I will not recommend any CLO that is not listed there.

Green Pasture is a company I will recommend again and again for their integrity and values. You can take a peek into what their farm and facility look like here and here.

Next we will discuss the differences between FCLO, regular CLO, and regular fish oil.

Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with Green Pasture nor am I paid to write a review about their products. I'm just a very satisfied consumer and believe in the effectiveness of Green Pasture FCLO. All opinions are completely my own. 

Why Should I Take Cod Liver Oil if I'm Already Healthy? (3 of 8)

This month at Pasture Living, we will be doing a series about "In-Depth on Cod Liver Oil." This was one of the first health food, along with coconut oil, that my family consume daily since we started our journey of healthy living. The health community regards cod liver oil as the number one superfood and I will share with you why that is so. Hopefully by the end of this series, your eyes will be opened to this amazing elixir that has kept the ancient generations healthy and strong. Afterwards you may just be convinced why you MUST, and not just SHOULD, take cod liver oil. I promise it will be the best investment to you and your family's health and something you do not want to miss out.

Why Should I Take Cod Liver Oil if I'm Already Healthy?

We've learned the health effects of consuming fermented cod liver oil (FCLO) in adults, especially pregnant/nursing mothers and children. Now let's discuss why we need to consume FCLO, especially those of us who are healthy. "Healthy" is relative. In the old days, people worked the ground, reared their own animals and catch their own fish, consumed raw milk, meat from pasture-raised animals, eggs from pastured chicken, wild-caught fish, and they consumed plenty of healthy fats including livers and fish eggs. They also did not eat all the processed food that many of us eat today. Nowadays, many of us work indoors with jobs that require us to sit all day and the modern version of "healthy" is eating raw salad with a lot of processed salad dressings that may contain rancid oils, a diet of low-fat or even fat-free, and high in soy, all of which are detrimental to our health. And for the majority of us, we:

 - Eat too much processed food. We eat out on most days, we buy frozen food and convenience food. We eat chips, sodas, juice, food ladened with  MSG, high fructose corn syrup, refined sugar, salt, and grains, and we all choose low-fat food (not realizing that those savory snacks you munch on throughout the day on top of your frozen lunch and dinners are full of not just fats, but the wrong kinds of fats), creating havoc in our body and an imbalance of our body's pH level.

- Consume very little to no wild-caught fish, especially all of us in Singapore where wild fish is either rare or very expensive. Seafood is well known for its abundance in omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. Farmed fish does not have the beneficial fatty acids content of wild fish and may contain contaminants and toxins, even artificial dyes (e.g. to make salmon more pink).

- Have an inactive lLifestyle (thus lack of vitamin D). Vitamin D is one of the most important building blocks for healthy life. Many of us who work or stay indoors most of the day and those living in countries where sun is not out all year round lack the natural vitamin D that is most potent when the sun is at its peak. Also, it is hard to get natural vitamin D from our modern diet that is full of processed food and not enough wild seafood where vitamin D is abundant.

"Primitive peoples instinctively chose vitamin-D-rich foods including the intestines, organ meats, skin and fat from certain land animals, as well as shellfish, oily fish and insects. Many of these foods are unacceptable to the modern palate." (source).

"The assimilation and utilization of vitamin D is influenced by the kinds of fats we consume. Increasing levels of both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in the diet decrease the binding of vitamin D to D-binding proteins. Saturated fats, the kind found in butter, tallow and coconut oil  do not have this effect. Nor do the omega-3 fats. D-binding proteins are key to local and peripheral actions of vitamin D. This is an important consideration as Americans have dramatically increased their intake of polyunsaturated oils (from commercial vegetable oils) and monounsaturated oils (from olive oil and canola oil) and decreased their intake of saturated fats over the past 100 years. In traditional diets, saturated fats supplied varying amounts of vitamin D. Thus, both reduction of saturated fats and increase of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats contribute to the current widespread D deficiency. Trans fatty acids, found in margarine and shortenings used in most commercial baked goods, should always be avoided. There is evidence that these fats can interfere with the enzyme systems the body uses to convert vitamin D in the liver." (source)

 - Lack natural vitamin A. Animal fats are sources of true vitamin A. Vitamin A from plants (fruits and vegetables) are not enough and we over-consumed meat that are barn/farmed raised, which lacks the naturally-occurring vitamin A. (source)

"Vitamin A levels are far too low in the modern American diet compared to primitive diets. Primitive peoples consumed very high levels of vitamin A from organ meats, insects, fish eggs, fish heads, liver and fish liver oils, as well as from butterfat and egg yolks from grassfed animals. Most of our animals are raised in confinement today and many of the vitamin A-rich foods are unacceptable to modern palates." (source)

These reasons alone explain how cod liver oil is essential to those of us who are taking our first baby steps towards healthy living, even for the healthiest people in our culture. You will see how your body and skin will start to improve and notice an increase in energy.

Read here if you are worried about consuming too much vitamins A and D and risks of toxicity.

Next we will discuss what to look for in FCLO and what is the best brand of FCLO around. 

Notes on Vitamins A and D Contents in Fermented Cod Liver Oil

This month at Pasture Living, we will be doing a series about "In-Depth on Cod Liver Oil." This was one of the first health food, along with coconut oil, that my family consume daily since we started our journey of healthy living. The health community regards cod liver oil as the number one superfood and I will share with you why that is so. Hopefully by the end of this series, your eyes will be opened to this amazing elixir that has kept the ancient generations healthy and strong. Afterwards you may just be convinced why you MUST, and not just SHOULD, take cod liver oil. I promise it will be the best investment to you and your family's health and something you do not want to miss out.

Vitamin A and D Work as Partners

"At least 2,000 genes, or nearly 10 percent of your genes, have been identified that are directly influenced by vitamin D, which in turn impact a wide variety of health issues, from preventing the common cold and flu to inhibiting at least sixteen different types of cancer. There’s even evidence linking vitamin D to the process of brain detoxification of heavy metals such as mercury. Widespread vitamin D deficiency has also been strongly linked to the childhood epidemics of autism, asthma, and diabetes, both type 1 and 2. Vitamin A, which is essential for your immune system just like vitamin D, is also a precursor to active hormones that regulate the expression of your genes, and they work in tandem. For example, there is evidence that without vitamin D, vitamin A can be ineffective or even toxic. But if you’re deficient in vitamin A, vitamin D cannot function properly either." (source)

Risks of Vitamin A and D Toxicity

"Some forms of synthetic vitamin A found in supplements can be toxic at only moderately high doses, fat-soluble vitamin A naturally found in foods like cod liver oil, liver, and butterfat is safe at up to ten times the doses of water-soluble, solidified and emulsified vitamin A found in some supplements that produce toxicity. Additionally, the vitamin D found in cod liver oil and butterfat from pasture-raised animals protects against vitamin A toxicity, and allows one to consume a much higher amount of vitamin A before it becomes toxic." (source)

Importance of Balanced Ratio of Vitamin A to D (source)

"The Weston Price Foundation’s strong belief is that vitamin A is not at all toxic but is necessary for optimal vitamin D function. However they believe there is sufficient vitamin A in the diet of most Americans, especially if they are taking a multivitamin.

Consuming such high amounts of vitamin A as contained in cod liver oil and most multi-vitamins, while not getting nearly enough vitamin D, combined with the fact that most people are deficient in vitamin D to begin with, could potentially cause vitamin A to become toxic. We agree with this statement and have consistently warned people not to use multivitamins and not to take brands of cod liver oil that are low in vitamin D."

An example of a very
low vitamin D to A ratio in cod liver oil.

A ratio of vitamin A to D of 5:1 is ideal (source)

For further reading about vitamin A and D

Vitamin A Saga
Am I Getting Too Much Vitamin D
From Seafood to Sunshine: A New Understanding of Vitamin D Safety
Cod Liver Oil Basics and Recommendations

What's So Good About Cod Liver Oil? (2 of 8)

This month at Pasture Living, we will be doing a series about "In-Depth on Cod Liver Oil." This was one of the first health food, along with coconut oil, that my family consume daily since we started our journey of healthy living. The health community regards cod liver oil as the number one superfood and I will share with you why that is so. Hopefully by the end of this series, your eyes will be opened to this amazing elixir that has kept the ancient generations healthy and strong. Afterwards you may just be convinced why you MUST, and not just SHOULD, take cod liver oil. I promise it will be the best investment to you and your family's health and something you do not want to miss out.

Image by Andre Raharja

What's So Good About Cod Liver Oil?

I covered in my original post how fermented cod liver oil (FCLO) is rich in DHA, EPA, vitamin A, and D. These four are the main nutrients that are widely known in FCLO. But there are in fact much more nutrients in FCLO than just those four, including the important bone- and blood-maintainer vitamin K. 

Cod Liver Oil and Health

Cod liver oil is one of the most valuable medicinal agents known to man. It has been proven to improve people's health and heal many sicknesses, including strengthening the bones, teeth, reducing inflammation, thyroid problems, fertility issues, and cancer prevention.

"For centuries, cod liver oil has served as a valuable source of vitamins A and D and omega-3 fatty acids. It was a critical component of Weston Price’s program for reversing tooth decay and many practitioners in his day used it to treat eye diseases, rickets, and infections. Along with many other physicians, Dr. Price recommended cod liver oil to promote growth and general health in infants and children. Clinical trials proved that cod liver oil use in adults reduced absenteeism and saved millions of dollars worth of productivity for American industry." (source)

There are many testimonies that proved how FCLO has tremendously helped people's health. In my own experience, I have seen health improvements just six months after I first consumed cod liver oil (along with coconut oil and other healthy food). Two of the most obvious ones are:

- Improved eyesight, down from -4.00 to -3.75 on both eyes.

- No more eczema. I used to get eczema on my right palm regularly. It was very itchy, I would scratch it until it bled and used an anti-itch cream to help with the itch. A few months into drinking FCLO, the eczema is gone and I'm so happy.

Cod Liver Oil and Pregnant/Nursing Mothers and Children (Source)

"Cod liver oil supplements are a must for women and their male partners, to be taken for several months before conception, and for women during pregnancy. Growing children will also benefit greatly from a small daily dose." (source)

"There is hardly a disease in the books that does not respond well to treatment that includes cod liver oil, and not just infectious diseases but also chronic modern diseases like heart disease and cancer. Cod liver oil provides vitamin D that helps build strong bones in children and helps prevent osteoporosis in adults. The fatty acids in cod liver oil are also very important for the development of the brain and nervous system. "If you want to prevent learning disabilities in your children," said David Horrobin, distinguished medical and biochemical researcher, "feed them cod liver oil." (source)

Breast Milk: Women using cod liver oil had a significantly higher levels of DHA and EPA in their breast milk to promote optimal brain development and also increases levels of fat-soluble vitamin A to prevent infections and Vitamin E. 

Fetal Development: True vitamin A that occurs only in animal fats such as FCLO plays a vital role in developing fetal central nervous system, heart, lungs, respiratory systems, skull, skeleton, and limbs. (source)

Higher Birth Weight: Women who used liquid cod liver oil in early pregnancy gave birth to heavier babies, even after adjusting for the length of gestation and other confounding factors. Higher birth weight has been associated with a lower risk of diseases later in life and maternal cod liver oil intake might be one of the means for achieving higher birth weight.

Intelligence in Children: Children who were born to mothers who had taken cod liver oil during pregnancy and lactation scored higher on intelligence tests at age four compared with children whose mothers had taken corn oil.

Diaper Rash: Cod liver oil mixed with zinc oxide is better for the skin than any of the prescription medications, and safer.

Teeth Formation and Cavities: Vitamin D must be present from conception in order for proper tooth formation to occur. If vitamin D is absent during the early gestational period, the enamel cannot form properly, and it cannot be repaired by giving vitamin D later. Tooth structure and later decay are directly related. Good teeth formation and prevention of cavities start in the womb. 

"Low levels of D, and perhaps calcium, in a pregnant mother and later in the child may be the contributing cause of "crooked teeth" and myopia. When these conditions are found in succeeding generations it means the genetics require higher levels of one or both nutrients to optimize health." (source)

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Children: Children supplemented with cod liver oil had a decrease in upper respiratory tract infections and pediatric visits over time.

Ear Aches in Children: Children prone to ear aches receiving cod liver oil plus selenium needed lower amounts of antibiotics during supplementation compared to before supplementation.

Diabetes: Pregnant women using cod liver oil have infants with a lower risk for juvenile type 1 diabetes. This effect was found only in mothers taking cod liver oil, not in mothers taking multivitamin supplements. 

Leukemia: In a study in China, use of cod liver oil was found to be protective against childhood leukemia

Mortality: In more than forty trials, vitamin A has been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality of children.

Now that we know how good FCLO is for our health, especially for pregnant/nursing mothers, children, and people recovering from illnesses, next we will discuss a few reasons why even healthy people will benefit greatly from it as well.

You can buy fermented cod liver oil in Singapore here.

Disclaimer: I am not a certified or a licensed medical practitioner who can counsel anyone in medical issues and cannot be held responsible for any decision you make regarding your health. Please consult your doctors whenever you are in doubt.

Green Pasture FCLO Testimonials

Cod Liver Oil Testimonials, taken from "Update on Cod Liver Oil Manufacture" by David Wetzel, Wise Traditions, Spring 2009

After about two weeks taking a one-half teaspoon high vitamin cod liver oil I noticed that my hands were not cracked anymore. I have had dry skin my whole life and in winter they will crack and bleed. My mother is 99 years old and has had skin cancer on her forehead. They have burned it off several times but it always bleeds and never really healed. I got her to take the cod liver oil so she wouldn’t get a cold. Incredibly, her forehead has now healed up. WL. 

Since I started using fermented cod liver oil in my naturopathic practice, I have two completely resolved cases of endometriosis, women experiencing pain-free periods for the first time in their lives, surprisingly within two or three weeks of starting the fermented cod liver oil at a dose of 5 ml per day. Up to this point in my six-year career, I had yet to have any luck whatsoever when it came to endometriosis. I have another very complicated case of endometriosis combined with Wolf-Parkinson’s-White-like heart problems and this particular woman experienced twelve to fifteen days of excruciating pain monthly related to the endometriosis. Within six weeks of starting the fermented cod liver oil she is down to three days of pain per month, which she is thrilled about. While her WPW symptoms persist, her endometriosis symptoms are all but a thing of the past. Again, I put her on a dose of 5 ml per day. I have another patient who came to me, a mother in her thirties, who was experiencing hair thinning and had not had a period in over nine months for no apparent reason. Within three weeks of starting the fermented cod liver oil, she had a period again. Laura Margaritis, ND, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 

I have a handful of clients that I have on high vitamin or fermented cod liver oil and when they stop taking it, they have discomfort and pain rather quickly in their arthritic areas, not to mention a return of depression and mood problems. They tell me they won’t give up cod liver oil no matter what anyone says to them. . . our bodies don’t lie. Anabela Bacchione. 

I have been using fermented cod liver oil for about eighteen months. I have been checking my vitamin D levels over the last four years and this year I went from 37 to 48, whereas the three years previous I went from 16 to 26 (ten points total, for the three years). During those years I was taking vitamin D in doses from 10,000 to 50,000 IU. The only thing I can attribute the increase to is the fermented cod liver oil. I also have a few customers who swear that the cod liver oil wards off depression, especially in the winter (Minnesota). BS. 

We’ve been using high-vitamin cod liver oil and the butter oil for the Weston Price protocol for several years. The biggest changes reported have been improved muscle strength, stamina and immunity. I have also noted improved moods in my family—they are less irritable. I also feel the Weston Price protocol, including bone broths, raw goat milk kefir, etc., helped save my mother’s life when she was stricken with severe sepsis several years ago. The frequent drops of cod liver oil and butter oil appeared to increase her strength and improve her ability to absorb and utilize her food. LH. 

One of my patients, an active but hobbled sixty-five-year-old female, kept complaining of joint pain and stiffness for the past year. Our chiropractic work did wonders to keep her feeling quite well and able to maintain a busy schedule as well as go skiing in Colorado, but she would always return with the same old complaints. After two months on the high vitamin cod liver oil, her complaints of joint pain were gone! Michael J. Kudlas, DC, MA, MEd. 

My son’s acne completely cleared up and he is so happy on cod liver oil that it is the one thing he will consistently take. Also he noticed that his seasonal affective disorder was much better last winter taking the cod liver oil (for his skin) and his grades and general energy were markedly improved over previous winters when he didn’t take it. Megan McCoy, MD. 

At eight months, my one-hundred-percent breast fed daughter had a bad case of eczema and an allergy to egg whites. We tried everything (different soaps, oils, creams etc.) to get rid of the eczema and nothing worked till our homeopathic pediatrician told us to give her 1-2 ml of high-vitamin cod liver oil along with high-vitamin butter oil every day, as well as a teaspoon of coconut oil. Today she is a happy healthy two-year-old who takes 1-2 ml cod liver oil almost every day. She has perfect skin and her allergy to egg whites is gone as well. Her amazing recovery from the eczema and egg allergy inspired me to go back to school and become certified as a nutritional therapy practitioner. Our whole family of five has been taking 1-2 ml of high-vitamin cod liver oil for the past two years. We are all healthy and happy. The children, ages two, four and six, have never had a cavity and are noticeably healthier than the majority of their friends. Shelley Ballantyne.

I am writing for myself and my family with all the changes which have taken place after the consumption of high-vitamin butter oil and cod liver oil and all good fats. First, I was deeply ill, with many local doctors diagnosing me with severe depression and anxiety. I was unable to sleep, digest or eliminate foods in a healthy way; I could not work or take care of myself at all. I was unable to do simple tasks like do the wash or button a shirt, for my coordination was impaired. I would trip often and could not finish a thought or sentence. I was severely paranoid of all things and people. With many medicines, my symptoms became even more severe and intense. I was scared to death, along with my family! I became very suicidal. I should explain that previously I was in the hair salon business and was quite successful, but using many chemicals all day long, five days a week. My diet was filled with wrong foods. I was taking care of a very sick family member daily. Thanks to Dr. Roy Ozanne I learned about good fats and fermented foods. With his help I eliminated all sugars, caffeine, alcohol, white flour, etc., but more importantly, I added cod liver oil and butter oil. Over the course of two years, my body healed itself. I am now able to communicate with all, I am motivated, and I am back to work (not in the hair business!). My children on this diet report that they are able to focus much better than they used to. LMP. 

In our clinic we’ve used Premier Natural Cod liver oil for about five or six years with great success. Our babies born to patients of the clinic in many cases have facial structures Weston Price found in his travels of traditional cultures. They have broad jaws, ears with unattached, slightly enlongated lobes, and have great emotional dispositions. Many sleep through the night at a fairly early age, and developmentally are either early or right on target. Many parents have reported that their children do well academically and conditions such as allergies, behavioral disorders are markedly absent in these children. All our patients take two capsules pre-pregnancy and continue this during pregnancy and during lactation along with a diet that includes Chinese medical theories and Weston A. Price principles. In addition, half of those patients also take butter oil pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy and lactation. Adult patients with anxiety or depressive disorders do extremely well with our treatments which, of course, include cod liver oil. Dagmar Ehling, MAc, LAc, DOM(NM), Dipl OM, FABORM.

I have had chronic fatigue syndrome for over seventeen years. At first, when I took the fermented cod liver oil, it gave me a headache so I stopped taking it. After I had the flu awhile back, I was left with a symptom where I could not lie down without feeling like I was smothering, even though I could breathe fine. This was accompanied by deep anxiety. The doctor suggested I had a classic symptom of congestive heart failure and suggested an angiogram, but that wasn’t really an option for me because I have terrible reactions to drugs. Meanwhile, I found out I had low vitamin D levels (I live north of Seattle, WA) and learned that low vitamin D can cause heart problems. I started taking vitamin D3 and it helped a bit but I kept needing more to keep the awful smothering symptom away. I was up to 6,000 IU per day of D3 but kept feeling colder and colder and sleeping more fitfully. Finally, I got to the point where I didn’t sleep all night and I knew it was the vitamin D keeping me awake. Fortunately, I had just bought some raw Jersey milk for my husband—not for myself because I thought milk didn’t agree with me, but I tasted his and decided to have a glass of my own because it was so good. It calmed my nerves and I was able to sleep. Then I decided to try taking the fermented cod liver oil again because I knew I needed to get vitamin D somehow. The first dose did give me a headache for a short time, but I felt some well being afterwards. So for the past nine days I’ve been drinking three glasses of raw milk per day with no digestive upset and taking one to one and one-half teaspoons fermented cod liver oil daily. Pain and inflammation seem to be subsiding, my energy is improving, the constant feeling of heat and pressure in my head is gone, and I am so amazed and grateful that the awful smothering feeling is quickly becoming a bad memory. As an added bonus, I no longer feel bothered at all by the gray Pacific Northwest winter days. Given the improvement I have experienced in just a few days, I’m looking forward to seeing what happens as this winter progresses and I keep taking cod liver oil and drinking raw creamy milk! JI.

Finally my vitamin D test results are back, and my vitamin D level has risen from 39 to 46 after taking two bottles of the fermented cod liver oil. Previously I had taken the regular high-vitamin cod liver oil for a year and my vitamin D level stayed at 39 before and after. SH.

I come from a family that suffers from arthritis so was concerned when I developed stiff hands and knees in my mid forties. Several months after taking high-vitamin cod liver oil and high-vitamin butter oil, the stiffness disappeared, never to return. SM.

Since taking fermented cod liver oil, my libido has returned (after three years’ absence), and my periods are not painful now. My hands no longer ache as they did and my skin is clearer. My daughter’s fungal rash went away within a couple of weeks after she began taking it. LM.

I am a family practice physician in Pasadena, California. I have been using Green Pasture’s fermented cod liver oil and high-vitamin butter oil with my patients for only nine months now, and I have noticed dramatic results. The most dramatic of these is the effect the oils have had on lowering blood pressure in patients with hypertension. This effect has enabled several of my patients to lower their dose of prescription medication, and hopefully eliminate it all together. In addition, I have found that patients have lost weight and lowered their blood sugars without any change in diet or activity. I have also had reports of less stiffness and pain of joints in arthritic and temporomandibular joint dysfunction patients, improvement in eczema, elevated mood in depressed patients, lessening of symptoms of PMS and increased energy and overall well being. I have a very small practice so these testaments are drawn from a few patients here and there, but they are indicative of tremendous benefits for a large number of people. All of this has really illustrated for me the huge nutritional deficiency people have been suffering from due to a fear of cholesterol. For many years now a fear of cholesterol-containing foods has kept people from consuming healthy amounts of butter, eggs, cheese, milk, animal fats and many other foods rich in nutritious fats and fat-soluble vitamins. It is no wonder that the vitamin D level is pitifully low in 95 percent of my patients. Due to continued bias against cholesterol-rich foods, I am at times unable to convince my patients to eat more of these foods. However, I have been successful in getting them to take the Green Pasture’s oils. This is mainly because they are easy to take, and only small amounts are needed. Using these products has enabled me to give back to my patients the fat-soluble nutrients their bodies have been lacking for some time now, and they are feeling better for it. Because Green Pasture’s fermented cod liver oils and butter oils contain such a wide variety and potency of fat-soluble nutrients, they not only enhance my patients’ lives, but simplify them as well. Patients are able to take much less cod liver oil than with their old brand and eliminate the need for additional supplements, which are lacking in other brands. (I recommend 3 ml or 3/4 teaspoon fermented cod liver oil and 2.5 ml or 1/2 teaspoon butter oil.) When I introduce them to the oils, I ask them to bring in all the supplements they are taking. I show them that with taking this oil combo they can eliminate one-half to two-thirds of their other supplements, and sometimes all of them. Often my patients are taking so many different types of synthetic vitamins, they literally walk in with a big box full of them. The reason they are taking so many is because each bottle usually contains only one or maybe a couple types of synthetic vitamins or nutrients. Obtaining nutrients through natural food sources allows them a more potent and broader range of nutrition, thus eliminating the need for boxes of bottles and huge dosing. One of the nutrients found in cod liver oil is vitamin D. I found that it took just 2,800 IU of the vitamin D contained in Green Pasture’s fermented cod liver oil in combination with the butter oil to raise one patient’s serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level from 12.6 ng/ml to 82.3 ng/ml in just three months. According to the guidelines for supplementing synthetic vitamin D3 it would have taken 7,000 IU to achieve this and without all the benefits of the many other fat-soluble nutrients found in these oils. What a testament to the power of nutrients in their natural form! I am finding similar results in other patients. Several have raised their vitamin D levels from the teens or low twenties into the forties within several months using the combination of fermented cod liver oil and high-vitamin butter oil alone, in easy-to-take capsule form, and without any other vitamin D supplementation. Since the patients are also getting substantial amounts of vitamin A with this regimen, it is difficult to conclude that vitamin A interferes with vitamin D assimilation as critics of cod liver oil have claimed. Rosann Volmert.