What is cod liver oil?
Cod liver oil is a certain type of nutritional supplement made from the liver of the cod fish. It is highly beneficial because it contains extraordinary amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and extremely high levels of vitamin D and vitamin A. It was a common thing to give cod liver oil to children due to its high contents of the aforementioned vitamins. In most cases it is used to relieve the symptoms of arthritis, which include joint stiffness and painful sensations. It also provides an overall beneficial effect on the health of the nails, hair, skin, bones and the heart. Cod liver oil is commonly compared to fish oil but it is characterized by much higher levels of the precious vitamins. Those who suffer from multiple sclerosis may try out cod liver oil as a very effective complementary measure for long term treatment plans. According to certain scientific studies, cod liver oil may be of great help when it comes to reducing the mortality associated with various different types of cancers.
Cod Liver Oil Uses & Effectiveness
As already explained, cod liver oil can be used for a wide array of different medicinal situations and purposes. It is very effective when it comes to lowering the levels of triglycerides in the blood. For those who do not know, triglycerides are fats commonly found in the blood. In order to reduce the levels, one needs to take cod liver oil by mouth. Some cases have shown that cod liver oil may also come in very handy when it comes to dealing with high blood pressure. In this case it also needs to be taken by mouth. Those who suffer from type 2 diabetes and kidney disease may also try using cod liver oil because it s very efficient in reducing the amount of proteins in the urine. These proteins are otherwise commonly used as a marker for the severity of the kidney disease. Some sources claim that cod liver oil may be of help to a certain extent for all those who suffer from cholesterol disease that runs in families (medicinally known as familial hypercholesterolemia) along with osteoarthritis. Numerous different sources claim that cod liver oil can be used for the prevention and treatment of several other medical conditions, but as of now there is no sufficient evidence which would back such claims on a scientific level. Some claim that bouts of depression can be resolved by using cod liver oil. Some others claim that cod liver oil can also be helpful in reducing irregular heartbeat in those who suffer from the heart disease. Some studies have shown that cod liver oil used along with multivitamin mineral products enriched with selenium may be of great help when it comes to preventing and reducing the risk of different sorts of ear infections in young children. Other medical conditions which supposedly can be relieved by regular use of cod liver oil include glaucoma, wounds and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Cod Liver Oil Side Effects & Interactions
In most cases, cod liver oil is completely safe for use. As is the case with most different types of medications, herbal remedies and other substances used for various sorts of medicinal purposes, cod liver oil may sometimes be associated with certain types of unwanted side effects. The most common side effects triggered by the use of cod liver oil include nosebleeds, heartburn, bad breath and belching. In most cases, these side effects get significantly decreased if the oil is taken with meals. No substance in the world should be taken in large doses, so the same thing can be said for cod liver oil, as it can be potentially unsafe. High doses of cod liver oil may increase the chance of bleeding and prevent the blood from clotting the way it normally would. High doses may also lead to vitamin D or vitamin A toxicity and it may also be involved in several other symptoms such as loose stools or nausea. As far as topical application of cod liver oil is concerned, safety is largely unknown. It is important to stress out that pregnant and breastfeeding women should steer clear of cod liver oil. Those who take medications used for high blood pressure need to be careful as cod liver oil can lower the blood pressure even further. Do exposure to various different types of environmental toxins such as dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls and mercury, all refined fish oil products may be associated with certain levels of contamination.As far as interactions go, cod liver oil may sometimes interact with certain types of medications commonly used for the treatment of high blood pressure, including furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, amplodipine, diltiazem, valsartan, losartan, enalapril and captopril. The same can be said for certain medications used for the slowing down of the blood clotting, such as warfarin, heparin, dalteparin, naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, clopidogrel and Aspirin.
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