Cod liver oil, a popular supplement derived from Atlantic cod fish, boasts a wealth of health benefits due to its rich content of essential nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids. While similar to regular fish oil, cod liver oil stands out due to its higher vitamin D content, making it a valuable source of this often-deficient vitamin.
Consuming cod liver oil may positively impact blood lipid levels, reduce inflammation, and strengthen bones. Athletes commonly use it to aid in muscle recovery.
Both cod liver oil and regular fish oil are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and are known for their anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering effects. However, cod liver oil is particularly noteworthy for its vitamin A content, crucial for immune system function, cellular growth, eye health, and reproduction.
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Vitamin D, another abundant nutrient in cod liver oil, plays a vital role in bone health and brain development. Deficiency in vitamin D is a global concern, affecting over a billion people, and has been linked to various health issues, including bone fractures, metabolic syndrome, and potentially heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Supplementing with cod liver oil offers a potent way to increase the intake of these essential vitamins and fatty acids, potentially providing numerous health advantages.
5 Amazing Health Benefits of Cod Liver Oil
Following are some of the impressive health benefits of cod liver oil.
1. Improves Heart Health: The high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil helps reduce triglycerides, a type of fat in the body, and may contribute to preventing heart disease. While limited studies have specifically examined the effects of cod liver oil, numerous studies support the positive role of omega-3 fatty acids in heart health.
2. Reduces Blood Lipid Levels: Cod liver oil can help balance lipid levels in the body, potentially reducing the risk of hyperlipidemia or high cholesterol. Although research specifically on cod liver oil is limited, some studies have observed a decrease in lipid levels when participants combined cod liver oil with cholesterol medications.
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3. Decreases Inflammation: Cod liver oil exhibits strong anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamins A and D, both found in cod liver oil, act as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, aiding in muscle recovery from soreness caused by inflammation.
4. Improves Bone Health: Preserving bone health is of paramount importance as you advance in age. This is because your body starts losing bone mass after you turn 40. This can lead to fractures later in life, especially after menopause. Cod liver oil is an excellent dietary source of vitamin D and may reduce age-related bone loss. It does this by aiding your body in the absorption of calcium from the gut, which is a vital mineral for strong bones.
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5. Supports Eye Health: Over 2.2 billion people worldwide suffer from vision loss, which is a serious health issue. Although there are many causes of vision loss, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma are two of the more common ones, and both can be caused by persistent inflammation. According to certain studies, glaucoma risk factors such as nerve damage and ocular pressure are decreased by omega-3 fatty acids. Cod liver oil is rich in Vitamin A, which in turn serves many health benefits. Diets rich in vitamin A may greatly reduce the risk of glaucoma and AMD compared to the low vitamin A diets. Although vitamin A is excellent for eye health, taking excessive amounts may lead to vitamin A toxicity and several associated health issues.
(Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated by AI and published after the content was editorially modified and verified by a human based on their own judgement and expertise. The Quint does not publish AI-generated content without direct human involvement and oversight).
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