Guide to Buying Cod Liver Oil

Buying cod liver oil?

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

I've been using fish oils for a few years and have tried a variety of different brands.

Here's 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 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.

You can take cod liver oil two ways:

1. liquid cod liver oil
2. soft gels

Liquid Cod Liver Oil

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

This is the most common form of cod liver oil. Make sure you're buying cod liver oil packaged in dark glass or plastic bottles. This protects it from light exposure.

Don't buy cod liver oil if it's packaged in clear bottles. It may be susceptible to oxidation due to light exposure.

1 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 you get a better price per milliliter compared to the smaller bottles.

Average prices for a 250 ml bottle of cod liver oil is $20 - $25.

Cod liver oil is available in a variety of different flavors. You can buy it in lemon, orange, and even strawberry flavors.

I've tried the lemon and orange flavors and they aren't too bad. You don't get that fishy after taste and it makes the oil go down a lot easier.

These flavors are great and makes 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.

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 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 you get more omega 3 fatty acids per spoonful, compared to a handful of softgels.

You can get liquid fish oils in a variety of tasty flavors and you don't get that fishy aftertaste. This helps them go down a lot easier.

You're probably asking, "Which is better? The liquid fish oils or 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....

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. And some people don't like to take fish oils by spoon, even if they do come flavored.

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.

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.

Has 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.

I hope this information will help you get the best cod liver oil for you and your loved ones.

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