The Virtues of Fish Oil

I did blood work this week, and the most exciting news was that my total cholesterol went from 232 to 196 in a year......and the only differences at all I made in my life was I stopped eating butter and started using Earth Balance, and I take fish oil every day.

Amazing.

That's great, Kat! I had a similar experience by only adding oatmeal to my morning breakfast.

The more important numbers are the LDL and HDL, not total cholesterol. And I do beliefe the EFAs help lower cholesterol. I take it as well, along with a boatload of other supplements to keep me going! Garlic also supposed to help with cholesterol.

The more important numbers are the LDL and HDL, not total cholesterol. And I do beliefe the EFAs help lower cholesterol. I take it as well, along with a boatload of other supplements to keep me going! Garlic also supposed to help with cholesterol.

right. my LDL and HDL were great, as well as my ratio and my triglycerides....
yippee!

Seriously, fish oil/cod liver oil is the wonder of the health world!! I take Cod Liver Oil every single day and hopefully when I get prego one day I will be in tip top condition for breast feeding my little one. It is SOOOO important to be getting your Omega-3's!!! They have linked soooo many health problems/disorders to the lack of Omega-3's....especially in children. Shoot, I even give my cats cod liver oil! The difference between fish oil and cod liver oil is: cod liver oil has Vitamin D, so if you aren't getting your daily amount of sun exposure (at least 2 hours) then you should take Cod liver oil.....now if you ARE getting enough sun exposure you might as well take fish oil. :-) ;) :D

Cod liver oil also has much more vitamin A than "fish oil."

Taking cod liver oil can be dangerous because it contains fairly high amounts of both A & D which are both fat soluble vitamins that accumulate in the body if taken in excess. If you also take other supplements that contain these vitamins, and/or eat a diet rich in them, you can easily accumulate a harmful excess of A & D.

This does not apply to "fish oil."

Cod liver oil also has much more vitamin A than "fish oil."

Taking cod liver oil can be dangerous because it contains fairly high amounts of both A & D which are both fat soluble vitamins that accumulate in the body if taken in excess. If you also take other supplements that contain these vitamins, and/or eat a diet rich in them, you can easily accumulate a harmful excess of A & D.

This does not apply to "fish oil."


This is also my understanding Bella.....I would be cautious, especially during pregnancy!

That is correct. You want to monitor how much your taking in for sure! Sometimes I eat a lot of fish, in that case I will only take half of my daily serving amount.
One thing that is amazing is my cats fur has completely turned silky soft!! It's great, but like everything it can be harmful if not monitored correctly.

You can also get the EFAs in primrose, flax and borage oils.

Great thread. Milled flax seed. It's wonderful also.

Ya, I used to grind flax every single day (cuz I'm predominantly vegetarian) and got sick of it so started popping the Norwegian fish oil.

Flax oil, with the possible exception of hemp oil, is considered the most nutritious of oils. With generous quantities of Omega-3, flax oil has been found as a healing oil by many different writers and healers. Flax oil also contains unsaturated alpha linolenic, carotene, and vitamin E.

Ocean fish is often promoted because of its high levels of Omega-3, however, mercury and other toxins that have crept into our oceans are slowly poisoning our fishy food supply. It’s better to get your Omega-3 from other sources, particularly if your health is compromised by cancer or other diseases already.

Flax was cultivated over 7,000 years ago, and the healing properties of its seeds, used as medicine. It was apparently forgotten about for many hundreds of years, but today people are adding flax oil to their diets once more.

Flax oil should be cold-pressed and immediately stored in an opaque bottle in either the refrigerator or freezer in order to preserve its beneficial qualities. When sealed, the bottle has a refrigerator shelf-life of four months and will last in the freezer for a year; but once you open it, it will last only two weeks. It’s a great oil to use in salad dressings because it is both good for you and very tasty, with a mild, nutty flavor.

Another very good way to eat your flax oil is by mixing it with cottage cheese. Proteins in cottage cheese bind well with flax oil, making it even more digestible, and the flavors blend well. With your flax oil, cottage cheese, and some fresh fruit, you have a healthy meal.


get healthy~

Some good tips, Anj. I have a little coffee grinder for my flax seeds, then put them in my protein shake every morning. Keeping them in the freezer makes them last longer too. I do love flax oil on salads, really nice taste! Will have to try it in cottage cheese next.:)