Cod liver oil health benefits-backed by science

1. Immunity: Cod liver oil contains vitamin A, which is supportive of the immune system. According to this scientific study: vitamin A is “known as an anti-inflammation vitamin because of its critical role in enhancing immune function.” Further, vitamin A is involved in the development of the immune system and plays regulatory roles in cellular immune responses and humoral immune processes. Vitamin A has also “demonstrated a therapeutic effect in the treatment of various infectious diseases.”* 
   
   
2. Vision: The vitamin A and omega fatty acids in cod liver oil support vision and specifically, eye diseases caused by inflammation like glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration*. Studies have found that omega-3 fatty acids reduce risk factors for glaucoma, such as eye pressure and nerve damage. Further studies show that diets high in vitamin A may reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.*
   
   
3. Reproduction: The vitamin A in cod liver oil is “essential for... testicular and ovarian function,” according to this scientific journal article. Another scientific article on the role of vitamin A in reproduction and development found that it’s vital for reproduction in both the male and female, as well as for many events in the developing embryo. The article further stated, “The requirement for vitamin A in reproduction was first recognized in the early 1900s, and its importance in the eyes of developing embryos was realized shortly after.”*
   
   
4. Cellular communication: The vitamin A in cod liver oil supports cell communication, growth and differentiation, playing a critical role in the healthy formation and maintenance of the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs.*
   
   
5. Skin: This scientific study investigating the link between nutrition and aging skin indicates that food-based vitamins A and D are supportive of skin health and a youthful appearance.
   
   
6. Bones: Cod liver oil is a source of vitamin D, which studies show has an important role in maintaining healthy bones and may reduce age-related bone loss. That's because vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium via the gut, which is a necessary mineral for strong bones.*
   
   
7. Inflammation: Research shows that the omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil may reduce chronic inflammation by suppressing the proteins that promote it.* Cod liver oil also contains the vitamins A and D, which can reduce and regulate inflammation by binding and neutralizing harmful free radicals.*
   
   
8. Brain & cognition: Many studies have found that the omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil can ease inflammation and therefore, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.* And, studies have found a link between increased blood levels of vitamin D and a reduction in symptoms of depression.* Moreover, a link between vitamin D and cognitive performance was identified in a study, where researchers concluded that vitamin D may play a key role in maintaining proper brain function in old age.*
   
   

The popularity of cod liver oil, and the existing extensive body of scientific studies, are directly tied to the legacy of Dr. Weston A. Price, DDS.

In search of why his dental patients had crooked, decaying teeth, Dr. Price traveled the world in the 1930s, studying indigenous people who maintained their traditional diets and comparing their dental and overall health with those who had been exposed to modern, processed foods.

Dr. Price found that without exception, those who maintained their traditional diets were healthier than their modernized counterparts. One of his paramount findings was that traditional diets in thriving traditional cultures contained much higher levels of vitamins A and D (and minerals) than the modern diets of the U.S. and Europe that had seeped into the cultures over time.

To address the shortcomings of contemporary diets, he recommended nutritional supplementation with fresh, cold-pressed cod liver oil, as well as avoidance of processed foods.*

And, cod liver oil has a long and storied history that even predates Dr. Weston A. Price.

It has traditionally been consumed as part of the diet, in particular, by people living in northern coastal areas of Norway. It was crucial to survival, especially the cold, dark and stormy conditions.

Here are some highlights of the beginnings of cod liver oil, according to documents compiled by Price Pottenger (which maintains the entire library of Dr. Weston A. Price's work).

• 1776-1782: English doctor Samuel Kay of the Manchester Infirmary is marked as the first to introduce the internal medical use of cod liver oil. Thomas Percival and Robert Darbey, also doctors at the Infirmary, recorded its positive effects in the treatment of chronic rheumatism, and reported their results to the Medical Society on October 7, 1782.*
  
  
• 1830: By this decade, cod liver oil was also being used to treat tuberculosis, rickets, malnourishment, osteomalacia (softening of the bones), and some eye conditions.*
  
  
• 1943-1946: Cod liver oil was recognized for containing vitamins D and A that could support wartime malnutrition in children.* In 1943, Pope Pius XI inquired about the possible procurement of Newfoundland cod liver oil “to be kept at (the Vatican’s) disposal so it can be distributed at the end of the war in those regions where the health conditions of poor children demand it.” Six tons of the oil was then shipped to continental Europe.
  
  
• 1946-1971: Author and journalist Mark Kurlansky reports that during World War II, the British Ministry of Food “provided free cod-liver oil for pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under five, and adults over forty…. The British government, believing that the oil had produced the healthiest children England had ever seen, despite bombings and rationing, continued the program until 1971.”*
  
  

As Dr. Weston A Price recognized, traditional cultures with vibrant health consumed organ meats. The liver was a favorite, as it contains key nutrients that are nearly absent in even the healthiest of modern diets. 

Today, many enjoy Rosita® Cod Liver Oil because it’s a convenient way to get these special nutrients without having to eat liver.

Rosita® comes in liquid and softgels. You can read about cod liver capsules benefits here. 

A standard dose of cod liver oil liquid is ½ to 1 teaspoon. Those opting for a therapeutic dose may take up to one tablespoon per day. 

Always check with a certified healthcare practitioner before beginning a new supplement. And please remember, Rosita® is a premium, pure and potent. Therefore, it’s critically important to start slowly, with a lower dosage than recommended. For example, a very small dose every other day, or even once a week, until you can determine how the fresh cod liver oil affects your body and what feels right for you and your family.