Olde World Icelandic Cod Liver OilTM

High in omega 3 essential fatty acids including DHA and EPA
Increases energy, performance, and ability to concentrate
Promotes healthy cardiovascular function
Maintains proper cholesterol ratios
Reduces blood platelet "stickiness"
Relieves joint pain and chronic inflammation
Enhances fat metabolism for healthy weight management
Helps maintain normal insulin levels
Beneficial to pregnant and nursing women
Supports healthy brain and memory function
Produced using Old World traditional methods – free from chemical processing
Laboratory tested – No detectable levels of mercury, cadmium, lead, PCBs, or other contaminants
Consumed daily by Icelanders, one of the healthiest, longest lived peoples in the world
Pleasant tasting all natural lemon-mint flavor

This is a truly cold processed oil, still produced using traditional methods, thus ensuring that all of the naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, and Omega 3 essential fatty acids remain intact. No isolated or synthetic vitamins are added. It is an excellent source of EPA, DHA, and vitamins A and D. Old World Icelandic Cod Liver Oil is flavored with a pleasant tasting all natural lemon-mint flavor to eliminate the 'fishy' aftertaste reminiscent of cod liver oils of the past. It is packaged in amber glass bottles to protect it from light and has been nitrogen flushed to ensure freshness and prevent oxidation.

"Grandma's Forgotten Medicine"

Far North in the icy Atlantic, lives a truly remarkable people who have withstood the challenges of harsh weather and long seasons of darkness for over eleven hundred years. This is the island nation of Iceland.

Cod liver oil has always been an important part of the diet of the Icelandic culture. The recognition of the importance of vitamins A and D, as well as the omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil, seemed almost instinctive to those living in that often dark, cold region of the world. Both life insurance data and genetic research have shown that Iceland is now ahead of Japan, topping the charts for longevity throughout the world. Many scientists believe this is largely due to their regular consumption of cod liver oil, which begins soon after birth.

Today, Icelanders are a medical marvel. They have less heart disease and high blood pressure than any other culture in the world. Iceland has the lowest rate of infant mortality. The Icelandic women give birth to healthy babies with well-developed immune and nervous systems, in addition to optimal brain and eye function.

An Old Tried and True Remedy

Cod liver oil was used in the prevention and treatment of everything from minor infections to the most severe cases of chronic joint pain long before science could even explain its beneficial properties.

By the 1840s, there were many accounts of the medicinal value of cod liver oil, for example: "Whether the disease of rickets be in its most severe form, with swollen joints and crooked legs, or at its commencement, the cod liver oil will supersede every other means of cure" and, "A case of inflammation of the eyelids and intolerance of light was cured within ten days with cod liver oil as were several cases of conjunctivitis of the cornea". But scientists in those days could only speculate as to how and why it worked.

Beneficial Components of Cod Liver Oil

This marvelous golden oil contains large amounts of elongated omega-3 fatty acids, preformed vitamin A, the sunlight vitamin D, small amounts of the important bone and blood maintainer vitamin K, and essential nutrients that are hard to obtain in sufficient amounts in the modern diet. Cod liver oil provides vitamin D that helps build strong bones in children and helps prevent bone deterioration in adults. The fatty acids in cod liver oil are also very important for the development of the brain and nervous system. "If you want to prevent learning disabilities in your children," says David Horrobin, distinguished medical and biochemical researcher, "feed them cod liver oil."

Cod liver oil contains more fat-soluble vitamin A per unit weight than any other common food, almost three times more than beef liver, the next richest source. In addition, Icelandic cod liver oil contains 7-12% each of the elongated omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. EPA is the precursor of important prostaglandins, localized tissue hormones that help the body deal with inflammation; and DHA is extremely important for the development and function of the brain and nervous system. Numerous studies have shown that the elongated omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil improve brain function, stress response, allergies, memory, and learning and behavioral disorders, including manic depression.

Vitamin A held great promise as an anti-infective agent prior to WWII, but with the subsequent discovery of sulfa antibiotics for the treatment of infection, the scientific community soon lost interest in vitamin A and clinical trials ceased.

It wasn't until the 1980s and early '90s that several large randomized, double-blind placebo controlled studies were conducted in developing countries around the world, showing that vitamin A supplementation could reduce child mortality by about one-third. In 1993, World Bank declared that supplementation of vitamin A in children to be one of the most cost-effective health interventions we have.

In study after study, cod liver oil has been acknowledged to play a role in the development of the brain, the rods and cones of the retina of the eye, the male reproductive tissue, skin integrity, lubrication of the joints, and the body's inflammatory response.

Syndrome X

There is growing evidence that many of the so-called "diseases of modem civilization" come as a result of relatively high levels of dietary omega-6 fatty acids, low levels of omega-3 fatty acids, and a deficiency in fat-soluble vitamins. Many of the precursors for these diseases fall under the heading of Syndrome X, a term coined by Stanford University researchers used to describe a cluster of conditions, including high blood pressure, high triglycerides, decreased HDL, and obesity, which when occurring together, increase the risks of many degenerative diseases.

The term Syndrome X is also used in reference to a condition known as insulin resistance, in which cells in the body respond sluggishly to the action of insulin. People with insulin resistance often have elevated triglycerides that usually coincide with low HDL. Often these people are overweight, and a daily dose of cod liver oil would benefit them greatly. Cod liver oil can help to improve glucose response and other insulin markers, making it an excellent addition to the diet of Type 2 diabetics.

Healthy Cardiovascular Function

Cod liver oil greatly improves cardiovascular function. It plays an important role in helping to prevent and treat heart conditions. The elongated omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil beneficially affect the linings of the arteries, while vitamins A, D, and K help to facilitate mineral absorption, improve muscle function, and support elasticity of the blood vessels. Cod liver oil also acts as a natural blood thinner, keeping platelets from sticking together, thereby helping to reduce the likelihood of clogged arteries. There is considerable evidence that cod liver oil may reduce high cholesterol levels as well.

In studies performed on rats, treatment with cod liver oil actually caused artery-blocking atheromas to become smaller and blood vessel diameters to enlarge.

Dr. Weston A. Price noted many years ago that deaths from heart failure increased during periods when vitamin A content was low. With cod liver oil, one can easily ingest the required amount of vitamin A throughout the year, effectively lowering risk for heart disease.

Relief from Chronic Joint Pain

The benefit of cod liver oil to those suffering from all forms of chronic joint pain cannot be overstated. Joint research in Great Britain found that the elongated omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil reduce pain and damage to inflamed joints, and can even reverse the destruction of joint cartilage. Higher levels of vitamin D from cod liver oil improve bone mineral density in women.

Professor Bruce Caterson of the Cardiff University School of Biosciences highly recommends cod liver oil to those suffering from chronic joint conditions, particularly in place of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and COX-2 inhibitors (the drugs most commonly prescribed for these conditions) for for those who experience adverse side effects from these drugs.

Improves Digestive Disorders

A study published in 1990 showed that the omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil were impressively effective in treating digestive and bowel disorders. Another study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1996, showed that an enteric-coated preparation of long chain omega-3 fatty acids, significantly reduced the rate of relapse in patients with digestive disease that were in remission. The corticosteroid requirements were reduced, as was the disease activity index, and gastrointestinal histology improved overall. Cod liver oil is an ideal supplementation for those who suffer from irritable bowel and other digestive disorders.

Prevents Middle Ear Infections

Middle ear infections are common among children during the winter months, and often are preceded by upper respiratory infections. A recent study published in the July 2002 issue of Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology showed low levels of three important chemicals in children that may predispose them to middle ear and upper respiratory infections, two of which are found in sufficient quantities in cod liver oil.

The first is eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid that helps decrease inflammation. "This was a new and important finding," said Dr. Linda A. Linday, a pediatrician and researcher at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.

The second chemical of importance lacking in these children was Vitamin A, also present in large quantities in cod liver oil.

According to Dr. Linday, "This study provides preliminary evidence that middle ear infections may be prevented and that the reliance on antibiotics may be reduced among young children by using nutritional supplements."

Note: The third missing chemical is selenium, which can be easily supplemented along with cod liver oil.

Pregnancy and Breast Feeding

Cod liver oil improves the fatty acid profile in breast milk, and promotes optimal brain development in the fetus, while increasing levels of vitamin A for the prevention of infections. Books on feeding infants published in the 1930s and 1940s routinely recommended cod liver oil, starting with 1 teaspoon at the age of three weeks.

A study published in the January 2003 issue of Pediatrics, examined the effects of supplementing pregnant and lactating women with omega-3 fatty acids from cod liver oil, monitoring the mental development of their offspring compared with those of mothers supplemented with omega-6 fatty acids from corn oil. The study showed that 4-year-old children of mothers who were supplemented with omega 3-fatty acids from cod liver oil had higher mental processing scores than the children of mothers who were supplemented with omega-6 fatty acids from com oil. Additional studies indicate that supplementing with cod liver oil during pregnancy may result in an increase of the child's IQ by an average of 7 points.

Depression and Other Mental Disorders

Research has suggested that the balance of omega-3 fatty acids in the brain may become skewed in people with depression. In addition, other studies suggested that omega-3 fatty acids may help minimize, if not alleviate, symptoms of a number of other mental imbalances.

A recent study involved 70 depressed patients who, for 12 weeks, were given a daily dose of one to four grams of the omega-3 fatty acid EPA. Sixty-nine percent of the patients who took 1 gram of EPA daily for 12 weeks achieved a 50 percent reduction in symptoms, including sadness, anxiety, and sleeping problems.

Relieves Skin Disorders

The regular consumption of omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial to those suffering from inflammatory skin disorders, as well as itchy, irritated skin. Sufferers generally register low levels of omega-3 fatty acids and have altered essential fatty acid metabolisms. Therefore, the regular consumption of cod liver oil, high in omega-3 fatty acids, may be beneficial in reducing the inflammation and overall severity of these conditions. Topically applied, cod liver oil contributes to faster wound healing and improvement in skin quality. An excellent treatment for diaper rash and other skin conditions is cod liver oil mixed with zinc oxide. In addition, cod liver oil taken orally helps maintain soft skin and minimize wrinkles.

Heavy Metal Testing

One concern about taking cod liver oil is the presence of heavy metal contaminants such as mercury, cadmium, and lead, as well as PCBs, etc. All cod liver oils for import into the USA must be tested and approved according to protocols of the Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC), to be free of detectable levels of 32 contaminants before they can be imported into this country. Also, mercury is water-soluble but not oil-soluble: Even if it were present in the flesh of the fish, it would not be in the oil.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, but rather is a dietary supplement intended solely for nutritional use.