Q. My father grew up on a small island in Norway in the 1940s. In winter the teacher in their one-room schoolhouse gave each child a tablespoon of cod liver oil daily. When my father told this story, he remarked at how beautiful the wood floors in that schoolroom were. They shone with the oil kids managed to “accidentally” spill off their spoons every day!
When I was growing up in Ohio, my dad made me take a tablespoon of cod liver oil every winter day. Why mess with tradition? I was mad when I found out cod liver oil comes in easy-to-swallow capsules.
A. Cod liver oil is rich in omega 3 fats and vitamins D and A. Evidence suggests that it bolsters immune function, as demonstrated by a recent study from Sweden.
No doubt many other readers sympathize with your reaction to having to swallow cod liver oil by the spoonful. Do read the label of the capsules, as some cod liver oil has had much of its vitamin D removed in the process of making it taste better.
There are also some hazards to taking high doses of cod liver oil. Epidemiology suggests that it may contribute to weaker bones in older people.
1/7/19 redirected to: https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/what-happened-to-cod-liver-oil-as-a-home-remedy/
