My family has been taking cod liver oil for a couple years. About 6 months ago, we upgraded to the fermented version. Our fermented cod liver oil has quickly become our most important supplement. Well, actually, our ONLY daily supplement. Yep, that’s right. Along with a real food diet, fermented cod liver oil provides all the vitamins and nutrients we need to stay healthy and keep colds & flu far away. Here are the health benefits of fermented cod liver oil.
What is Different About Fermented Cod Liver Oil?
So what’s the difference between “regular” cod liver oil and fermented cod liver oil?
- Fermented:
- Extracted without heat
- All natural product
- Fermented for 6-12 month
- Food
- “Regular”:
- Processed & refined at a high temperature
- Synthetic vitamins are added
- Extraction less than 1 day
- Supplement
Fermented cod liver oil is extracted without heat and is processed with lacto-fermentation over a 6-12 month period. The result is thousands of naturally occurring micro nutrients. The “regular” cod liver oil is rendered and process at high temperatures. The high temperatures break up the molecular structure of the oil and destroy many of the natural vitamins and nutrients. Synthetic vitamins are then added back to the product during processing.
Health Benefits of Fermented Cod Liver Oil
- Vitamin D – Vitamin D is very important in every life stage (including in the womb – so pregnant mamas, take your fermented cod liver oil!). Vitamin D reduces your risk of heart disease, multiple sclerosis & other autoimmune diseases, skin cancer and common colds & the flu. We need vitamin D to help our bodies absorb calcium, which promotes strong bones.
- Vitamin A -Vitamin A is beneficial to our vision, immune system, and is an excellent antioxidant.
- EPA & DHA – EPA (an anti-infammatory) and DHA (vital for brain and nervous system development & function) are important omega-3 fatty acids. Since fermented cod liver oil is full of DHA which is important for brain development, this is a very important supplement for pregnant & nursing mothers and young children. It’s also important to continue taking DHA as we age to maintain brain function.
- Wrinkle Prevention & Sun Protection – Not only is it full of vitamins and omega 3, it is the best sun protection around! Yep, a supplement that keeps sun damage far away. A sunburn is inflammation of the skin caused by UV rays. Fermented cod liver oil is anti-inflammatory, thus stopping sun damage before it starts. Read more here.
What About Mercury & Other Metals?
Fish does contain mercury. But if you have good intestinal flora, you are protected when ingested. However, you are not protected when absorbed through the skin or from mercury tooth fillings (source). Learn more about intestinal flora and gut health here. There is evidence that selenium (a trace mineral in fermented cod liver oil) protects our bodies from mercury. As long as there is more selenium than mercury, we are protected. Cod has more selenium than mercury. The selenium binds to the mercury and acts as a natural chelator (source). Furthermore, mercury is stored in the protein of fish, not the fats. Fermented cod liver oil is from the fat.
How Much Should I Take?
The recommended daily dose for fermented cod liver oil is (from the Weston A. Price Foundation):
- Children 3 months to 12 years: 1/2 teaspoon
- Children and adults: 1 teaspoon or 10 capsules
- Pregnant and nursing women: 2 teaspoons or 20 capsules
Fermented Cod Liver Oil Flavors
There are currently 6 flavors of fermented cod liver oil (2 capsules and 4 liquids). I personally like the cinnamon tingle best and my son (he’s 18 months old) likes the Oslo orange. If you can’t stand the flavor or texture, you can get the capsules. But as you can see from the recommended dosage above, you have to take a lot of capsules to get the full dose. It is much more economical to go with the liquid form. The unflavored liquid is thicker and congeals in the fridge.
How To Get My Kids To Take Fermented Cod Liver Oil
My son has been taking fermented cod liver oil since he was a few months old. He has always liked the Oslo orange flavor. I mixed it in his bottle everyday and he did great. Now I mix it in his sippy cup of milk everyday. He’s now 18 months old. I’m not sure if he even notices the orange flavor or if he likes it. The only problem with this method is that it is an oil and will float to the top. I just make sure he finishes his glass. If he doesn’t finish it, I put his sippy cup in the fridge for later.
Another method is to spread the liquid on bread or toast. My son will eat the cinnamon tingle this way…..sometimes. He will also eat the Oslo orange this way if I top it with a little bit of honey (local & raw of course!). But since I don’t have any trouble getting him to drink it with his milk, I don’t give do this option very often.
The flavored liquids come with a medicine syringe. So if you kids will take it that way, that’s the easiest way (shown below with Oslo orange). My son fights that. Or you can spoon feed (shown below with the unflavored liquid).
Recommended Reading
I highly recommend The Omega-3 Effect book by Dr. William Sears.
Find Out More:
Source: Weston A. Price
Thank you for the information! My family has been taking Fermented Cod Liver Oil for several months now and our digestive system is functioning *perfectly*. We started taking it for that reason, but it’s helped with allergies, immunity, and mood as well.
QUESTION: How long does a jar of the liquid cod liver oil last? We take 2 capsules daily but I see where you say the recommended dosage is much different… Thanks! -Natalie
Thanks for the testimonial! Yes, the jar does say 2 capsules a day. That recommended dose is from Weston A. Price. http://www.westonaprice.org/cod-liver-oil/cod-liver-oil-basics A jar lasts about 2-3 months for us. And that’s 1 person taking a dose per jar everyday (everyone in my family prefers a different flavor so we all have our own jars!).
I use the cinnamon tingle gel (Blue Ice FCLO). I just eyeball my portions — 3/4 t. to 1 t. daily–and a jar lasts me about 2 months.
Hi! Great post. I am just starting to give my kids (ages 16 months and 2 years) FLCO. I’ve found the the best way to get them it take it is to hide it in their food. I got the unflavored kind, so they probably wont take it plain. I am wondering if putting the FCLO in hot/warm food will destroy the vitamins in it. With the dosage that you give your children, are you worried about toxicity? Thanks!
I think adding the FCLO to hot foods should be fine. I think cooking with it would destroy it, but adding it to the hot foods at the end should be fine. I don’t worry about toxicity. I give the recommended dose by the Weston A. Price foundation. http://www.westonaprice.org/cod-liver-oil/cod-liver-oil-basics
Awesome! Thank you for the link!
Hi! Thanks for you the awesome information. We just started cod liver oil and I went with the regular because the fermented just isn’t in our budget. Can you tell a huge difference with fermented besides the bulletpoint differences in preparation? Can you tell a different in how your family feels/bodies, etc? Also,is there a cheapest place to get FCLO? It was hard enough to get the hubby on board with CLO spending and he’s just not okay with FCLO because of the cost. 🙁 Thanks!
I know, it is pricey! When I first switched from “regular” to fermented CLO, I first noticed my gums. My gums were healthier and a healthier color. I can tell a difference in my gums if I miss a few days. I buy it here http://www.radiantlifecatalog.com/product/fermented-cod-liver-oil/?a=96159
If I am giving my 3.5 year old liquid vitamin d, would she need less of that supplement if I start giving her the FCLO since it contains vitamin D?
Thank you
Hi! You’ll have to consult your health care provider (I can’t prescribe or diagnose). Here is some info from WAP regarding FCLO and Vitamin D http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/cod-liver-oil-basics-and-recommendations/ and http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/update-on-vitamins-a-and-d/. Hope that helps!
Hi there,
Just wondering after having read some articles from Mercola and Weston Price – which are conflicting – regarding the possible toxicity of Vitamin A – Vitamin D ratio. I want to give it to my daughter to follow the How to Cure Tooth Decay protocol – also Weston Price – but I am worried about possible Vitamin A toxicity. Were you concerned at all giving your children the 1/2 tsp dose?
I follow the WAPF diet so I follow their recommendations. I’m not worried about it 😉 Not sure if you saw this particular article http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/a-response-to-dr-joe-mercola-on-cod-liver-oil/.