Cod Liver Oil: Provides essential omega-3 fatty acids for optimal cardiovascular health. • A rich natural source of Vitamin A and Vitamin D • Helps fight and prevent heart disease and depression • Supports memory and nervous system functioning • Provides greater resistance to common illnesses such as flu and cold • Treats arthritis by reducing pain and damage in inflamed joints What is Cod Liver Oil? Cod liver oil is derived from the livers of cod fish. The practice of drinking cod liver oil was started several centuries ago by the fisherman of Scandinavia and Greenland for fortification under cold and harsh working conditions. In the late 1800s, prior to the addition of vitamin D to milk, cod liver oil was used successfully to treat and prevent rickets. Currently, fish oil supplements are promoted for a variety of health conditions including hypertriglyceridemia, migraine prophylaxis, psychiatric conditions, secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, various nephropathies, and also for inflammatory conditions such as asthma, gingivitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Cod liver oil is rich in vitamin A, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 content includes two essential fatty acids (EFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EFAs are not synthesised by the human body and therefore must be consumed in the diet to prevent EFA deficiency. Why take Cod Liver Oil? • Immune Function: The EPA and DHA in Cod Liver Oil modulate immune function, probably as a result of their effect on prostaglandin production. • Depression: Research has found that people who suffer from depression who received a daily dose of 1 gram of an omega-3 fatty acid such as cod liver oil for 12 weeks experienced a decrease in their symptoms, such as anxiety, sadness and sleeping problems. All the patients had already tried prescription drugs before enrolling in the study, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Zoloft, Paxil and Prozac, or drugs from an older family of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants, all of which are considered standard treatments for depression. Previous studies have suggested that the balance of omega-3 fatty acids in the brain may be skewed in people with depression, and earlier studies have shown that cod liver oil and fish oil supplements can help alleviate the symptoms of depression and schizophrenia. • Arthritis: Cod liver oil is effective in treating arthritis. Researchers funded by Great Britain's Arthritis Research Campaign found that the elongated omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil reduce both pain and damage in inflamed joints. • Blood Pressure: Fish oil appears to decrease free radical production which may increase the bioavailability of nitrous oxide and thereby increase vasodilation. Several clinical studies have suggested that fish oil supplements may cause reductions in systolic or diastolic blood pressure in untreated hypertensive patients. • Cardiovascular Health: Several studies and trials in humans have shown a favorable effect of dietary cod liver oil and fish oil on various risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Supplementation of the diet with omega-3 fish oil and cod liver oil concentrates has shown the potential to reduce both the progression of cardiovascular disease and related mortality, including sudden cardiac death. Studies have shown that the Greenland Inuit, when compared with the population of Denmark, has a significantly lower rate of death from acute myocardial infarction. The traditional high-fat Inuit diet provides several grams of omega-3 fatty acid (DHA and EPA) each day in the form of marine mammals (whale, seal), wildfowl (seabirds) and various fish.