Carlson Laboratories Cod Liver Oil (Lemon) - 250ml

Carlson Cod Liver Oil comes from cold-water fish found in deep Norwegian waters, and is bottled in Norway to ensure maximum freshness. Cod Liver Oil is a natural source of important vitamins A & D. Natural-source vitamin E is added to ensure the freshness of the oil.

Carlson fish oils are regularly tested (using AOAC international protocols) for freshness, potency and purity by an independent, FDA-registered laboratory and are determined to be fresh, fully potent and free of detectable levels of mercury, cadmium, lead, PCB's and 28 other contaminants.

Essential Fatty Acids

The standard North American diet is deficient in essential fatty acids, especially omega 3s. Every cell needs essential fatty acids for its cell membrane where the fats make the important barrier that lets other molecules into and out of the cell.

There are three categories of EFAs, omega 3, omega 6 and omega 9. Vegetable-based combination oils usually contain alpha-linolenic acid, ALA, for omega 3, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), for omega 6 and oleic acid, for omega-9. The sources of the oils are several of the following: flaxseed, borage, black currant, hemp, pumpkin seed, primrose, sunflower or safflower. Some combination oils include fish oils derived from fish such as herring, cod, mackerel, tuna or salmon. These oils give the added benefit of containing docosahexanoic acid, DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, two other types of omega 3 fatty acids.

DHA: The Brain EFA

Docosahexanoic acid is an omega 3 essential fatty acid. It is an essential component of the brain and central nervous system. It seems to concentrate in areas where there is lots of electrical activity such as the synaptosomes, where nerve cells communicate, and the photoreceptors of the eye. This is why a deficiency of DHA can result in poor brain development, attention/deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disorders, memory problems and poor visual development.

EPA: The Heart EPA

Eicosapentaenoic acid is an omega 3 essential fatty acid. It is an important fatty acid in the maintenance of cardiovascular health and the regulation of inflammation. EPA is a precursor to a series of chemicals whose job it is to regulate the inflammatory effects of arachidonic acid. Too much arachidonic acid leads to pain and inflammation in conditions such as arthritis. Arachidonic acid also causes inflammation in arteries and leads to the development of atherosclerotic plaques. Deficiency of EPA can result in cardiac arrhythmias, high cholesterol and excessive aging. EPA has been used to treat heart disease, arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

Benefits of Omega-3

• Reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• Improve overall heart functions.
• Reduce triglycerides and increase HDL Cholesterol ("the good cholesterol").
• Reduce inflammation in the joints and elsewhere in the body.
• Promote healthy brain function by enhancing concentration and attentiveness.
• Promotes healthy moods and a sense of well-being.
• Improve skin health including dry skin, eczema, psoriasis.
• Improve your immune system.

Why are they Essential?

Omega-3s (and omega-6s) are termed essential fatty acids (EFAs) because they are critical for good health. However, the body cannot make them on its own. For this reason, omega-3s must be obtained from food, thus making outside sources of these fats "essential."

Although the body needs both omega-3s and omega-6s to thrive, most people consume far more 6s than 3s. Hardly a day goes by, however, without reports of another health benefit associated with omega-3s. For this reason, many experts recommend consuming a better balance these two EFAs.