Guide to Buying Cod liver oil

Garden of Life Cod Liver Oil

Buying cod liver oil? Walk up and down the health food store aisles, you'll probably ask yourself, "Which is the best one?"

As you already know, the nutritional supplement industry is not 100% regulated. With this in mind, you need to do some research to ensure you're getting a high quality product that will meet your needs.

When it comes to choosing a cod liver oil supplement, there are a number of key factors to look at that will help you choose the right product.

I've been using fish oils for a few years and have tried a variety of different brands. Much of the information presented here was gathered from analyzing and comparing ingredient labels and researching information available on company websites who produce and market these products. Here are my tips to getting the best oils for you and your family.

Look for cod liver oils that:

• Are made from fish caught off the coast of Norway.
• Have high levels of omega 3 fatty acids.
• Come packaged in dark bottles to avoid light exposure.
• Has vitamin E added to prevent oxidation.
• Are tested to be free of mercury and other contaminants.
• Are free of synthetic additives and man-made flavorings.
• Fairly priced.

I think the best cod liver oils are Norwegian fish oils manufactured in Norway. The cold unpolluted waters in this area provide some of the freshest and healthiest fish oils in the world. Nordic Naturals and Carlson Labs are examples of companies that make some of the best cod liver oils from this region.

Soft Gel and Liquid Cod Liver Oils

Just like other fish oils, you can get cod liver oil in both liquid and soft gel forms. There are advantages and disadvantages to using either form. The following information goes into more detail on both forms of cod liver oil.

1. Buying Cod Liver Oil in Liquid Form

Remember how Grandma used to give a daily spoonful of fish oils?

The liquid form is the most common form of cod liver oil. If you choose the liquid form, make sure you're buying cod liver oil packaged in dark glass or plastic bottles. This type of packaging protects the oil and fatty acids from light exposure. Avoid all cod liver oils that come packaged in clear bottles.

One tablespoon of cod liver oil will provide about 500 - 600 mg. of brain-building docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an essential fatty acid your body needs.

Most liquid cod liver oils come bottled in 2 sizes:

• 250 ml

• 500 ml

I like buying the larger 500 ml. bottle because it works out to a better price per milliliter compared to the smaller bottles. Prices for 500 ml. bottles average around $40. Average prices for a 250 ml bottle of cod liver oil is $20 to $25.

Cod liver oil is available in a variety of different flavors. One of the most popular is lemon flavored cod liver oil. You can also buy it in orange and strawberry flavors.

I've tried the lemon and orange flavors and they taste pretty good. There isn't any fishy after-taste and the flavoring helps make the oil go down a lot easier. I think these flavors are great and make it really easy to give your children fish oils. My son, Jeremy, likes getting his daily teaspoonful of fish oils. For some reason, he still likes to 'chase it' with a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice.

2. Buying Cod Liver Oil in Soft Gel Capsules

Soft gels are a convenient way to get fish oils. You can pack a few in your backpack or handbag before going out for the day.

Commonly available in 1000 mg. soft gels, you'll find most brands have Vitamin A, D and E added to the formula.

The one thing with soft gels is you need to take more of them to get the same amount of ingredients you would get in a teaspoon of the liquid oils.

Liquid and Soft gel Cod Liver Oil

Liquid vs. Soft Gels: Which is Better?

When I first started buying fish oils, I used to always buy the soft gels. I didn't like the idea of swallowing a spoonful of fish oil. But I soon realized that I could get more omega 3 fatty acids per spoonful, compared to a handful of soft gels.

Here's a breakdown of what you get per dose and the price per dose. I got these results from the Nordic Naturals website. The results are quite interesting....

Comparison of Liquid and Soft Gel Cod Liver Oils

Ingredients	One teaspoon of liquid oil	Two soft gels of oil
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)	625 mg.	250 mg.
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)	410 mg.	164 mg.
Vitamin A	650 - 1500 iu	260 - 600 iu
Vitamin D	1 - 20 iu	1 - 8 iu
Other Omega 3's	225 mg.	90 mg.
Vitamin E	30 iu	27 iu
Cost per bottle	$40 for a 16 ounce bottle	$20 for 90 soft gels
Cost per serving	42 cents per teaspoon	44 cents per 2 soft gels
How long each bottle will last	96 servings of one teaspoon	45 servings of 2 soft gels

You can see that the main advantages of buying cod liver oil in liquid form is you get more ingredients per serving and one bottle will last longer.

You may a higher cost upfront, but the cost per serving is lower than soft gels.

The one advantage of soft gels is the convenience factor. As I mentioned before, you can pop a few soft gels in your backpack and take them whenever you want. Also some people may not like taking fish oils by spoon, even if the oil is flavored. For these types of individuals, the soft gel form would be more ideal.

Below you'll find a few more points to think about when you're buying cod liver oil. All these points might seem like a lot to remember, but you don't have to worry. The majority of high quality oils available these days follow these criteria. As long as you stick with buying the popular brands, such as Carlson Labs and Nordic Naturals, you'll be fine.

More Tips for Buying Cod Liver Oil

Is the oil protected from oxygen during manufacturing?

- this reduces oxidation of the fatty acids and helps prevent those dreaded 'fish burps'. This usually occurs if you ingest lower quality oils.

Is natural vitamin E added?

- another measure to prevent further oxidation and helps keep the oils fresh.

Independently lab-tested to ensure purity and freshness

- this ensures your cod liver oil is free of mercury, PCB's, lead, toxins and other contaminants.

Packaged with nitrogen

- guards against oils going rancid.

Uses 100% natural flavorings for a better tasting oil

- beware of companies that use synthetic flavorings and chemicals.

Cod liver oil has many health benefits for you and your family. When buying cod liver oil, look around and compare ingredients, prices and quantities. The best cod liver oil is made by reputable companies that care about their products and customers.

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