GHS Natural Health Blog

Cod liver oil, once considered an old-fashioned remedy, is enjoying a comeback among today’s health professionals, writes Toni Jordan.

In our grandparents’ time, it was normal for children to line up in the kitchen each day for their regular dose of cod liver oil, taken straight off the spoon. Now, in 2008, this healthy habit is undergoing a revival – and for good reason too. Cod liver oil is a powerful natural supplement that’s packed with nutrients scarce in modern diets, and researchers are also discovering new benefi ts for this old favourite.

Who benefi ts from cod liver oil?

Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin because it is produced by the skin in response to ultraviolet rays. These days, everyone is aware we need to limit our sun exposure and use sunscreen to reduce our risk of skin cancer, but doing this can also dangerously lower our vitamin D levels. Vitamin D supplementation is often recommended during winter, especially for older people whose thinner skin is not as efficient at manufacturing vitamin D. People who are housebound, live in nursing homes or work long hours and don’t have sun exposure every day are also ideal candidates for cod liver oil supplementation. Cod liver oil is an excellent supplement for pregnant women, but they shouldn’t exceed the dosage on the package.

Essential ingredients

Cod liver oil is primarily a high-concentration, natural source of the vitamins A and D. Vitamin D protects against many forms of cancers, in particular, colon cancer. Vitamin D is also essential in building strong bones and fi ghting osteoporosis, due to its role in promoting calcium absorption. Some experts even believe that our current osteoporosis epidemic is as much the result of vitamin D deficiency as it is a lack of calcium. As a bonus, cod liver oil also contains the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which have important roles in preventing inflammation and boosting cardiovascular health.

Cod liver oil and depression

A recent study by Norwegian scientists has found a fascinating connection between cod liver oil supplementation and depression. The researchers looked at almost 22,000 people and analysed their cod liver oil usage, as well as other factors that might influence depression, such as smoking, coffee and alcohol consumption, age, gender, education level and physical activity. The study found that regularly taking cod liver oil reduced the risk of depression by a whopping 30 per cent – an effect that may be due to the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.

Choosing your cod liver oil

High pollution levels in the world’s oceans are a sad reality, so care must be taken in choosing your brand of cod liver oil. Make sure the oil you select is routinely tested for heavy metal contamination, especially for mercury, lead and cadmium. Many people prefer a liquid oil to a gelatine capsule. Liquid oils do have advantages; they are cheaper and easier to swallow for many people. If you choose a liquid oil, make sure it’s packaged in an opaque container, since exposure to light can turn the oil rancid. When swallowing cod liver oil off the spoon, aim for the back of the tongue where there are fewer taste buds, or mix the oil with your favourite juice.

Toni Jordan, BSc, Dip BA, has 15 years’ experience in the natural medicine industry. She has lectured across Australia and overseas and is now a freelance writer and consultant based in Melbourne.

A combination of new research and open-minded physicians is blurring the lines in medicine, reports Toni Jordan.

Until now, understanding your health care choices has been relatively simple. If you want a prescription for a pharmaceutical drug, you consult a traditionally trained doctor. If you want a more natural treatment, you visit a naturopath. But to some patients, this division is not only artificial; it’s harmful. It denies both sick and healthy people the ability to choose the best combination of conventional and alternative treatments.

A paradigm shift

But now some medical professionals are offering their patients the best available treatment, regardless of its origins. Professor Les Cleland, head of rheumatology at Royal Adelaide Hospital, is a doctor at the foreground of this paradigm shift. Professor Cleland has been treating arthritis sufferers for more than 20 years, but his treatment of choice isn’t an anti-inflammatory drug produced by a multinational pharmaceutical company. It’s fish oil. The Royal Adelaide Hospital dispenses over 400 bottles of liquid fish oil each week to arthritis patients. ‘We’ve known for more than 20 years that fish oil supplements can benefit the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis,’ Professor Cleland says. Fish oil’s effectiveness lies in its anti-inflammatory action. The omega-3 essential fatty acids found in fish oil are used by the body to manufacture prostaglandins, which are hormone like chemicals that cause pain and inflammation. All prostaglandins cause inflammation, but those made from the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil are weaker than those made using other fatty acids. So fish oil can actually decrease an arthritis sufferer’s pain, swelling and stiffness.

Additional benefits

A reduction in the crippling symptoms of arthritis isn’t the only benefit of taking fish oil. ‘Not only do we have better disease control in arthritis patients, we also have a reduction in a number of cardiovascular risk factors,’ Professor Cleland says. Research shows that patients taking fish oil have improved triglyceride and cholesterol profiles, which could lead to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Also, if you’re taking fish oil, you’re less likely to be taking non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, known as NSAIDs. NSAIDs were originally touted as a cure-all for a wide range of inflammatory diseases, but one, Vioxx, was recalled worldwide in 2004 because of its fatal side effects. ‘The Vioxx issue has caused an increased scrutinising of the other NSAIDs – they almost all increase the level of cardiovascular risk,’ warns Professor Cleland. So why isn’t everyone with arthritis taking fish oil? ‘The number one reason has been the lack of availability of a suitable dosage,’ says Professor Cleland. To control the symptoms of arthritis, sufferers need to take 10 or more fish oil capsules a day. At this dosage, fish oil supplementation quickly becomes expensive, and some people find this many capsules difficult to digest. Instead, the Royal Adelaide Hospital uses liquid fish oil. ‘Most people cope well with the liquid, taken on juice,’ adds Professor Cleland. So is this mixing of conventional and natural medicine a sign of things to come? If the patients at Royal Adelaide Hospital are any guide, in the future more and more health consumers will combine the best of both worlds.

Royal Adelaide Hospital dispenses Melrose Liquid Fish Oil as part of their arthritis treatment program. For further details contact Jackie Edgar at the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s Preventative Care Centre on 08 8222 5219.

Article thanks to Herbs and Health Magazine Australia

Flaxseed was traditionally used to make cloth, but the oil of this ancient plant is now being heralded as a solution to two great modern ills: cardiovascular disease and arthritis.

To the heart rescue

Flaxseed oil is an excellent source of omega- 3 fatty acids and contains twice the amount found in fish. The most important omega- 3 fatty acid found in flaxseed oil is called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). This essential fatty acid cannot be made inside the body so it must come from your diet.

ALA is important for your health because it lowers blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. This helps to reduce fatty deposits in the blood stream that can build up and make the walls of the blood vessels narrow and stiff. As vessels become narrower and harder, blood pressure increases and the blood supply becomes blocked, causing angina, stroke and heart attacks.

One way ALA helps to reduce blood pressure is by increasing cell membrane fluidity and flexibility, and improving the elasticity of blood vessels. It also acts as a natural blood thinner, reducing the ability of blood to form clots. Studies have shown that, even in healthy young men, taking flaxseed oil every day will decrease this tendency for blood platelets to form.

Anti-inflammatory effects

Another function of ALA is to improve the body’s inflammatory responses. Your body converts fatty acids into substances called prostaglandins – hormone-like chemicals that control inflammation. There are many types of prostaglandins and some are more inflammatory than others. When the body produces a greater amount of stronger, more inflammatory prostaglandins, it results in conditions such as arthritis, gout and joint pain, severe menstrual cramping, skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, and asthma.

Old-timers used to say that flaxseed oil ‘oils your joints’, relieving the pain and stiffness of arthritis. Now we know they were right about this effect and understand the complex biochemistry behind it.

Prostaglandins that are made from omega-3 oils are weaker than those made from omega-6 oils, so a diet that includes flaxseed oil can ‘down regulate’ the inflammatory response and improve these inflammatory conditions.

Flaxseed oil for everyone

Flaxseed oil is an essential addition to the diet, but it is most important for anyone who suffers from cardiovascular disease or inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, period pain or asthma. Many people are concerned about the level of heavy metals found in fish these days. If this is you, or you are vegetarian or just don’t like fish enough to eat the recommended two servings a week, you can achieve your omega-3 fatty acid requirements from flaxseed oil.

Choosing the right flaxseed oil

• Flaxseed oil is available as a liquid or capsule.
• Check the label to make sure the oil is cold pressed, unrefined and GMO free.
• Look for certified organic flaxseed oil because non-organic oils can sometimes carry trace amounts of herbicides and pesticides.
• A reputable manufacturer will measure the amount of ALA contained in their flaxseed oil, so make sure the one you choose has this clearly displayed on the label. At least 52 per cent ALA is recommended.
• All oils need to be fresh and not exposed to light or oxygen so flaxseed oil should be packed in opaque packaging and refrigerated.  Always take flaxseed oil capsules with food.
• Flaxseed oil can be used in salad dressings, poured over cereals or mixed in with yoghurt or smoothies. Flaxseed oil is not suitable for use as a cooking oil.

Article thanks to Herbs and Health Magazine Australia

This natural oil, also known as Linseed oil is collected from a blue flowering plant that is mainly grown on the Western Canadian Prairies. Flax seed oil is highly recommended for the general well being and whole body nutrition and is considered to be nature’s richest source of omega-3 fatty acids that are required for the health of almost all body systems.

Flax seed oil contains omega-6 and omega-9 essential fatty acids, B vitamins, potassium, lecithin, magnesium, fiber, protein, and zinc and also provides approximately 50% more omega-3 oils than fish oil. Some nutritionists, researchers, and scientists believe that it could be the most important health promoting supplement next to a multi-vitamin. Nearly every system in the body can benefit from flax seed oil’s natural properties, including the cardiovascular system, immune system, circulatory system, reproductive system, nervous system, as well as the joints. This amazing oil has healing benefits that may help to lower cholesterol, protect against heart disease, control high blood pressure, counter inflammation, reduce cancer risks and control constipation, hemorrhoids and diverticular disorders.

Flax seed oil takes a bit of time to be absorbed into the body before the full beneficial effects begin, ranging anywhere from a few days to as many as six weeks, depending on your overall well-being. Although it is marketed as a nutritional supplement the use of linseed oil has declined over the past several decades. The edible flax seed oil has a strong flavor and odor and is only a minor constituent of the general publics nutrition. It would be ideal to consume small portions of flaxseed oil every day. However if flax seed oil is used in a diet for a long time without other oils, it may cause Omega 6 deficiency symptoms. So it is best to blend flaxseed oil with other oils that contain more Omega 6 in order to get the right balance, such as sesame oil, sunflower oil and evening primrose oil. This combination can be great with cider vinegar in a salad dressing.

Add flax seed to your diet and watch what it will do for you! If you’re unsure about trying flax seed, contact your physician and ask for more information. Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, dietary supplements should be taken only under the supervision of a knowledgeable health care provider. Flaxseed may slow down the absorption of oral medications or other nutrients if taken at the same time. Try to avoid taking flaxseed at the same time as medications and other supplements.

It’s important to buy high-quality flax seed oil as it is prone to rancidity. Light and oxygen will slowly breakdown the essential fatty acids. Flaxseed oil requires special packaging because it is easily destroyed by heat, light, and oxygen. Look for flax seed oil capsules that are dark coated soft gels or oil that is bottled in amber-brown bottles, as these are more resistant to the light and oxygen. Make sure you refrigerate your flax seed oil to help extend its shelf life. Like any oil, flaxseed oil may turn rancid if it is not refrigerated.

References:

Essortment
Wikipedia
Healing Daily

Oil has long been thought as an evil part of the diet – something to avoid at all costs, but did you know that there are some healthy oils that are good to include in your diet?  These are polyunsaturated oils that are high in omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids and have a range of health benefits.

Some of these oils include:

• avocado oil
• safflower oil
• sesame oil
• sunflower oil
• soybean oil
• pumpkin seed oil
• grapeseed oil
• flaxseed oil
• wheatgerm oil
• fish oil
• olive oil
• canola oil
• corn oil
• evening primrose oil

How to Use Healthy Oils

Even though these oils are significantly better for your health than saturated fats and other hydrogenated oils, remember that they are still a liquid fat.  Use the oils sparingly so that you do not overindulge and possibly suffer from weight gain.

Oils need to be stored in dark bottles as clear glass or plastic bottles allow light to penetrate into the oil and oxidise the fatty acids.  Contact with air will also affect the oil so be sure to keep the lid on tightly.  Be aware that the healthier the oil is, the more quickly it will spoil.  Many healthy oils will need to be stored in the refrigerator.  Olive oil is an exception however as it is high in oleic acid and contains antioxidants that slow spoiling. 

The more omega 3 fatty acids that are in the oil, the less suitable it is for cooking.  High temperatures can damage many oils as the heat not only damages the fatty acids, it can also make them harmful.  Where possible, use the healthy oils at room temperature, such as in salad dressings.  Olive oils are the best for cooking.

How Often Should I Eat These Oils?

Essential fatty acids are important for the diet and should be eaten on a regular basis.  You should consume a source of omega 3 or 6 essential fatty acids three to five times a week.  Where possible, consume them in a food form such as fish or flaxseed oil, rather than in a supplement form, as fresh is always better.

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