People are always left with this dilemma of choosing between fish oil and cod liver oil; it is like choosing between a physician from California and a physician from New York. It is all about your personal choice. Both physicians might give you the same medication although the treatment process could vary, so similarly both oils have the same health benefits and nutritious properties like EPA and DHA present in the omega3 fatty acid that is in both oils except that cod liver oil also has vitamin A and D in it.

You might be aware that omega3 fatty acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), which is essential for our body to balance the already high intake of the omega6 fatty acid. Presently our bodies need a balance of both fatty acids, which is not the case in most American diets as majority of them believe in high intake of meat and poultry foods.

Vitamin D is obtained by exposure to sunlight which is good for strong and healthy bones but too much of it can counter react and cause complications that you might want to avoid, so the only thing you might want to do before you begin taking the cod liver oil supplement is to test your blood levels for vitamin D. These tests are common and done everywhere and it’s called the “25-hydroxyvitamin D” test.

Therefore, it is your personal choice of which oil you wish to use as both have the same benefits with some extra benefits with Cod Liver Oil.

If you are still not convinced about which oil to take then I would suggest take both but periodically and not simultaneously; what I mean by this is take cod liver oil during the winter months as that is the time you have less exposure to sunlight and during spring and summer take fish oil supplements. Also, cod liver oil could be beneficial for those who do not like the sun due to personal or medical reasons.

A piece of a friendly advice, please consult your doctor if you have a medical problem and not sure how to go about taking cod liver oil. Your doctor will suggest the dosage and how to take the oil.

It is not really important which form of cod liver oil supplement you take as long as it is exceptionally purified and qualified to serve the purpose. If you buy inexpensive cod liver oil it’s most definitely going to have toxins like mercury and PCBs that can make a person really sick.

Coming back to the main question of oil versus capsules; if I was personally given the choice to choose between cod liver oil and capsules then I would opt for the former as I do not like the gel courting of capsules and also I would have to take anywhere in between 4-6 cod liver oil capsules to make up for the required daily dosage of omega3 fatty acids. I might as well be done with it in just one gulp by taking it in the form of oil poured onto a spoon. Well, that is what I would do but it is a personal choice if someone chooses to take it differently. Like I said earlier the form of the supplement should not be of any concern here but what does really matter is the purity of the oil.

So, the only difference between cod liver oil and capsules is that you would have to digest the gel courting around the oil if you are taking the capsule. Also, you would  need to take about 4-5 capsules to make up for the required daily dosage, whereas if its oil you do not have to digest anything else apart from only the oil and you can take the required daily dosage in just one shot.

The good thing about the cod liver oil is it is blended with secondary ingredients such as mint, lemon, orange, apple etc to reduce the fishy taste and do not worry this does not reduce the effects of the oil on our bodies.

When cod liver oil is consumed in safe quantities it does not have any side effects to it; even studies and scientific researches have not proved this fact otherwise but consuming too much of it can cause some damage. So caution must be taken when consuming cod liver oil.

One must be aware that the good effects of cod liver oil crops up only because of its high content of the omega3 fatty acid, which is found to be beneficial for many health problems particularly the heart. However, the same oil can have adverse side effects if taken in supplement form and in large quantities. So someone who is having foods that are rich in omega3 fatty acids need not worry about the side effects but someone considering cod liver oil supplement should be aware of the potential side effects of it.

Omega3 is known to thin the blood and its inability to clot it, so there are chances of a hemorrhagic stroke (excessive bleeding in the brain) and internal bleeding. Although blood cloths are dangerous too but someone already diagnosed with hemophilia must stay away from cod liver oil as it will worsen the condition.

Furthermore, cod liver oil has high contents of Vitamin A and D, which can be bad if taken in large quantities although both these vitamins are essential for our bodies and too less of it can also result in health problems. Therefore, if you want to continue with cod liver oil you must regularly check your blood levels for vitamin D. If your blood levels show very less of vitamin D then you can continue with cod liver oil or else its best if you stop immediately and take another supplement without the vitamin D in it like fish oil, krill oil or flax seed oil, which again are high in omega 3 fatty acids.

Another possible damaging aspect about cod liver oil is it can cause complications if it is taken together with other prescribed or over the counter medications. I guess this information might dampen your spirit as you might have already planned a new diet regime with cod liver oil in it but you must understand that although cod liver oil is beneficial in many ways it is not suitable for everyone as cod liver oil could have life threatening complications if not taken with caution.

If you still think you want to give cod liver oil a shot then please consult your physician to get some assurance and guidance on the dosage.

Even if we have not personally taken cod liver oil, we still know that it is extremely nutritious and people have been taking it for centuries.

Cod liver oil comes in two forms; capsules and liquid (oil). These two forms are made from the oil that is extracted from the liver of the Cod fish.

Cod liver oil is rich in four important nutrients to the body, such as Vitamin D, Vitamin A, Omega3 Fatty Acid which contains EPA (EicosaPentaenic Acid), and DHA. All these nutrients play their own parts in keeping us healthy.

• Vitamin D is good for strong and healthy bones. Sunlight is the main source of vitamin D. A person who is exposed to normal quantities of sunlight does not need any additional vitamin D supplements. However, for those who think they have not got enough of sunlight can consume cod liver oil.
• Vitamin A is good for all kinds of eye problems (glaucoma, cataract, improper vision etc); enhancing our immune system; prevention of cancerous cells; helps those with skin conditions (acne, eczema, psoriasis, sunburns, etc); it also helps those with urinary tract infections (UTI) and asthma.

Vitamin A is found naturally in many foods, so taking addition of Vitamin A supplements alone should be avoided. However, since cod liver oil has other nutrients in it and not just vitamin A alone is safe to consume.

• Omega3 fatty acid has properties that are anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial. These properties help in prevention and treatment of diseases related to the heart, arthritis, cancer, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, reduces stress, bipolar disorders, controls depression, and prevent allergies.

The main source of the omega3 fatty acid is fatty fish, fish oil, and flax seeds.

• DHA (DocosaHexaenic Acid) is also one of the fatty acids present in fatty fishes. It is good for the heart, nervous system, eyesight, skin, pregnancy, fetal and infant brain development, and diabetes.

To make the best use of the cod liver oil benefits you must take 1-2 teaspoons of cod liver oil daily but please refrain from consuming too much of it as all supplements no matter how good or bad they are they always have a side effect if consumed in large quantities.

Cod liver oil is sold in many drug stores and pharmacies across the country; however, you must make sure the brand that you choose is known for its quality in the market.

Cod liver oil is extracted from the liver of the Cod fish. It has the same health benefits as any other fish oil as both have the main ingredients, which is omega3 fatty acid, EPA and DHA. However, the only aspect that will distinguish cod liver oil from fish oil is cod liver oil is also found to have high contents of vitamin A and vitamin D in it.

Cod liver oil was first found and used by poor fishermen in the European coastlines.  It was mainly used by them to light their lamps, heal their joint and muscle pains, soften their leather, and to feed their animals. Some say that fishermen from Scotland, Northern England, Newfoundland (Canadian Island), Ireland, and Iceland when at sea used to eat raw cod liver to bear the cold and for not falling sick.

The oil was first used externally on injured joints and skin conditions but the cod liver oil as such does not get easily absorbed into the skin; hence people gradually begun drinking the oil instead of rubbing it for faster relief.

The vitamin D in cod liver oil was very useful in treating children with rickets as the disease occurs due to the lack of vitamin D. Constant use of cod liver oil in the past has now eliminated the disease completely. Ever since then the usage of the oil has never stopped. Babies in Nigeria are rubbed with cod liver oil for healthy skins to have that healthy glow.

It was only in the early 1900s that physicians realized the real therapeutic value to cod liver oil and hence began prescribing it to their patients for various health problems.  Even to this day the older generations like our grandparents still believe in the intake of cod liver oil for its benefits.