Cod Liver Oil Versus Omega 3 Fish Oil.

By Peter Bertonich

It may have been your grandmother who first told you about cod liver oil benefits. For a long time it has been accepted wisdom that cod liver oil is good for you.

So is it really true that there are benefits to taking cod liver oil or is it just a myth, and are there risks to cod liver oil supplementation?

You grandmother got it right, and science has confirmed that there are benefits to cod liver oil supplementation.

The main benefits of cod liver oil are from the Omega 3 fats that are found in it. And you are probably very aware now that there are a wide range of health benefits to taking more Omega 3 fats into your diet.

And there's vitamins too like vitamins D and A. Vitamin D has a role in helping prevent osteoporosis, as it helps process calcium.

But there are now cautions about taking too much vitamin A, and for this reason, as cod liver oil is quite high in vitamin A, cod liver oil is now not recommended in the UK and pregnant women in the US are warned about over consumption of vitamin A.

So whilst cod liver oil has some good Omega 3 fats vitamin A is a bit of an issue. There are risks.

And there is also another risk too. Cod liver oil is sourced, as you might expect from the name, from the livers of cod taken from the North Sea. But in these times there are issues about contamination of fish in the North Sea. They can be contaminated with toxins like mercury, PCBs and heavy metals. Not high levels, but worrying.

When your grandmother took her cod liver oil this wasn't a problem. It is now.

A better way to source your Omega3 fatty acids, the major source of cod liver oil benefits, is to take the best Omega 3 supplements that are clean and free from the risk of excess vitamin A. Vitamin A comes from the liver of the fish but not the flesh, so it isnt a problem in Omega 3 supplements taken from the flesh of fish.

And you can get your vitamin A from vitamin supplements if you really want it, in controlled amounts.

And the very best Omega 3 supplements are also much cleaner than cod liver oil may be, with levels of contaminants being basically undetectable.

So yes there can be benefits to taking cod liver oil, and risks. But there are ways to get the benefits of the Omega 3 fats without the risks by taking Omega 3 capsules that are clean and free of vitamin A. Your grandmother was right, there's just better ways to get the benefits now.

Find out which are the best Omega 3 supplements at my website. - 17269

About the Author:

Want to find out the best brand of Omega 3 Supplements? Or about how to get the Benefits Of Cod Liver Oil in your diet? Visit Peter's Website Healthy Omega 3 Fish Oil.