Cod Liver Oil

[nikkiend]

I knew there was NO WAY that I would willingly use any of the oils recommended. I did find cod liver oil in capsules. I haven't found anything about them in the books, so I'm hoping they're acceptable. I figure they're better than nothing at all...
The instructions say to take 3 per day. Well I tried that and about had to leave work yesterday afternoon because I couldn't stay out of the rest room. :o
Any suggestions on taking these without having this problem? I haven't taken any today so far; I figure I'll start with one per day but I don't know what time of day I should take it so that it does not affect me at work. Also, does your system adjust to taking them in time?

[Rob]

when you say you couldnt keep out of the rest room ,do you mean you had the runs , if so did also have gas?

Sorry for being so personal but it may have been too strong for you .

I personally take flax oil liquid , neat , but fish oil is just as good . Flax oil has never caused me to have stomach upset .

Maybe try to take less and build up , or swap to flax oil liquid . Capsules not as good .


Rob :wave:

[nikkiend]

Definitely the "runs". No gas.
I have worked myself up to 2 capsules a day. One in the morning and one in the evening. I've never tried flax seed oil, but from some posts I've read, I don't think I could stomach it.
I am sure that the capsules are not as good as the liquid, but they've got to be better than nonthing at all... Fish oil is DEFINITELY out of the question. I would never bite one every few days to see if it's rancid. YUCK!!! I figure I'll just take what I can stomach and hope for the best.
Thanks for your advice.

[Rob]

Hey ,

flax oil is really not as bad as you think , it is mildly aromatic and I treat it as a medicine , so I DO stomach it . :D


Really it just takes a bit of getting used to , its just Sooooo
good for one anyhow


Rob :wave:

[nikkiend]

I would be willing to try it, I guess. I have some questions, tho.
Does it do the same thing to your digestive system as cod liver oil? Where do you buy it? Is it very expensive? Is it really thick like cod liver oil? What does it taste like?
Sorry to bombard you with questions, but I actually never even heard of it until PP. I just know some of the posts I read say it's pretty gross.
Thanks.

[Rob]

hey,

Its not gross . It does take some getting used to drinking oil from a spoon though but it is so good for one that I say tough shit about the taste . You could even use it in salad dressing in place of regular olive oil , or put it into shakes.

It tastes very mild , a definite plant taste but it is hard to say exactly , sorry I cant be more precise . I wish I could say it tastes like chocolate but sadly it dont :D

it does not give you the runs at all
it is less expensive than fish oil
it is better in free liquid cos the capsules are processed
it must be stored in the fridge in its dark, airtight bottle
it must not be rancid . Rancid flax oil tastes vile , believe me I have tasted it !
One bottle of 200ml should last you 1 month
You can get it at the supermarket or at most health stores


Your body will thank you for it


Rob :wave:

[nikkiend]

The rancid thing is what I'm worried about. If I took one taste of that, I'd never be able to take it again. I remember when I was young and was in the hospital, I was forced to drink cod liver oil mixed with orange juice for some tests the next day. I'm surprised I can even take the capsules now. I can STILL taste that nasty concoction!!!

[Rob]

Rancid flax oil is old and stale and not worth having cos of its toxicity .

Any oil that is older than 1 month should be dumped ,in that way you wont ever have rancid flax oil


:D

go on , take the plunge



Rob

[nikkiend]

Ok, Rob,
I will pick some up when I find it. If it's totally disgusting, I'm going to let you know about it! :D
How much do you take and how often? What makes it so good for you anyway?

[Rob]

I take 2 tsp neat but you can mix it with a shake or use it as part of a dressing .

You can start with 1 tsp daily and work up to 3 tsp if you want .

I cant say exactly what it does for me but I know intriniscally what it is supposed to do and heres a great website explaining it


http://www.spectrumnaturals.com/flaxoil/bene1.html


Rob :wave:

[nikkiend]

I just placed an order over the internet for it. I'll let you know how it works out.
Thanks for the website. I'm going to look at it now.

[nikkiend]

Hi Rob,
I finally received the flaxseed oil a couple of days ago. It's pretty gross. I am forcing myself to take it even tho it makes me gag. I figure I'll either develop a taste for it or never be able to take it again. At least I'm trying... :)

[Rob]

Hi Nikkiend,

sorry you find it so gross :D I must say that I used to drink it in a glass of SF fruit juice , or you can use it to make a salad dressing or add it to a shake .

i must admit it is a bit odd drinking oil , I suppose I must be used to it now coz I dont find it so bad , very slightly fishy LOL


Rob :wave:

[nikkiend]

Just like I feel about Cod Liver Oil, if I have to take it, I'll take it straight. Mixing it with other things makes me feel even queasier!
Do you notice a difference in your health or how you feel since you've been taking it?

[jaykay]

hi, we had a discussion on oils recently, in the General Lowcarb section, about flaxseed oil versus fish oil and the general consensus seemed to be that fish oil is better for you (obviously if you are only going to take flaxseed oil that's better than nothing). There was some good info there from Natrushka, DebPenny and Voyager. I'd give you the link, but I don't know how to do it. I take 2 1000 mg Omega-3 fish oil capsules, which has enough EPA in it according to the Protein Power book. If they've got enough in I can't see why the liquid would be any better.
They occasionally give me fishy burps, but nothing worse.
Take care, Jay
Apart

[nikkiend]

Do you do what they say in the book? Bite one every few days to make sure they're not rancid? I couldn't do that. How long have you been taking them?

[Rob]

Hi nikkiend,

I must say that I dont feel any different since taking flaxoil , but I know how good omega-3 EFA is for one ,so I dont question . I also take 1000 IU Vitamin E , which I have done for years , never felt any different ,but I know the benefits to the cardiovascular system ,so I take em .
It is said that Omega-3 works from the inside out and benefits even your hair and skin . As I said , I dont take capsules ,I take it neat by the spoonful

Here is an interesting link

www.goldenflax.com (http://)


Rob

[Rob]

Thanks for replying Jay,

yes Fish oil is as good as Flax ,maybe better , but flax is not as unpleasant and Flax is cheaper ( apparently) . You dont get fishy burps LOL



Rob :wave:

[wcollier]

Hi Nikkiend:

I couldn't find Cod Liver Oil (or Carlson's brand) in a dark bottle (only plastic) at any of my local health food stores/vitamin stores. I ended up opting for a very high quality (expensive) Cold Water Fish EPA-DHA Complex in capsules. Not sure if I'm allowed to say the name, but the brand is from Canada anyway. I bought these capsules at a specialized Vitamin store (not a general health food store). The company states on their label that the oil is assayed for peroxides and environmental contamination. Natural Vit E is also added to guard against oxidation. I will probably force myself to at least try one capsule and see if it's okay. It seems to me that since the printing of PPLP, manufacturers have been more vigilant about encapsulating these delicate fatty acids. It's too bad that the Eades don't have a site that gives updated information as new information comes in. It would be nice to know about the manufacturing changes of these capsules.

I only started out taking one per day because I am severely intolerant to flax seed oil and wasn't sure how I'd react. I was taking Perilla Oil (an alternate source instead of flax, but I can only get it from the US). Anyway, I feel better taking an oil supplement that has already been converted to EPA/DHA for me. The fish oil hasn't given me any trouble so far (knock on wood). Have you tried a different brand of Cod Liver Oil? Maybe a different brand will affect you differently?

The only oil I have been able to actually eat in food is Hemp Oil, which is the most balanced Omega 3:6 ratio for our bodily requirements. However, it's only good if you don't eat a lot of other oils rich in Omega 6s to put it too far off balance (which is easy to do).

Good luck,
Wanda

[nikkiend]

Thanks, Wanda. I've been able to tolerate two of the cod liver capsules a day normally unless I eat steak or something fatty. If I'm going to do that, I don't take them. I have been managing to get down a tablespoon twice a day of the flax oil, but from what I've been reading it does seem that fish oil is the healthiest for you. I would be interested in getting the name of the supplements you are taking. I don't believe there is a rule against putting brand names in your posts, but if there is, Moderator, please set me straight on that. Most of the fish oil I've been seeing is not in a glass bottle and I'm very hesitant to buy it, especially since alot of it is on the expensive side. I don't know if I can get it in the US, but I'll check on the internet.

[wcollier]

Hi Nikkiend:

I was in error, which is good news for you. :) The company name is Metagenics, but there is BOTH a US and a Canadian company (it's not just Canadian). They make professional quality vitamins, so they are harder to get and they aren't cheap. At worst, you should be able to contact the company for purchasing information if you can't find them.

I haven't gathered the courage yet to bite into one yet, but I'm working on it. I'll just use a needle and sqeeze out a tiny drop, I think. For the meantime, I feel a little better knowing that the quality of the product is better than most.

Good luck,
Wanda

[nikkiend]

Thanks, Wanda. I think that's all I'd be able to do, too, is poke it with a needle. Hopefully the smell would tell you?
I'm going to get on line and see if I can find the company and see if their products are even affordable for me. You've got me scared about their prices! :)
I'll let you know what I find out.
Thanks again.

[wcollier]

Hi Nikkiend:

I just did it! If I can do it, so can you! ;) The needle trick was perfect! I just squeezed out a tiny drop and licked it. There wasn't much taste to it (and I'm not a big fan of fish). I could do that every few days, for sure. As long as I don't run into rancid oil, I'll be fine. At least if I buy a good quality oil, chances are, I won't have to worry about hitting a bad batch. Plus, the good quality capsules seem to now contain anioxidants in them to prevent rancidity. The Metagenics brand uses the mixed tocopherols (which the Eades recommend taking).

Don't know if you'd be able to smell the rancid oil from a pin drop. Maybe if you have a good sense of smell.

My pills cost $20 CDN for 90 capsules. Not sure what the US price comparison would be, though, but it would definately be cheaper. The company is www.metagenics.com if you haven't already found it. There seem to be quite a few reputable EFA companies on the internet that guarantee their product in writing. Maybe things have changed since that initial rancid fat study came out? Maybe it's wishful thinking?

Let me know how it works out.

[nikkiend]

Great. Thanks so much! The price isn't that bad. I'm paying close to that for my multi's and my B Complex's. I also take something called Bee Caps that is manufactured here in Florida that is very healthy for you. It's got bee pollen, royal jelly, and all of that good stuff in it and it's more expensive than the fish oil. I figure my health is worth it. Since I've been taking the Bee Caps, I very rarely get sick.
I'm going to check out the website right now.

[nikkiend]

Hmmmm. I was hoping it would be as easy as getting on line and placing an order...I guess I need to do some research to find somewhere that sells them. Did you find your store thru a list they sent you?

[wcollier]

Hi Nikkiend:

The place I got these supplements is a high end vitamin store. All they sell is vitamins. Many high quality vitamin companies will only distribute their products to professionals, but they will, occassionally, distribute to one of these types of vitamin stores if they have trained people on staff. These companies are trying to maintain the credibility of their industry, which has come under considerable attack. Selling rancid oil capsules in HF stores is probably a great example of why the company doesn't want to distribute their product to just anyone who may not understand the importance of proper storage.

The company's website should tell you who sells in your area. I can't see why a professional wouldn't sell you a bottle of EFAs without a consultation. Your best bet is to call them up before making the trip to enquire if they will allow you to purchase their oils.

There are also some other companies on the internet that sell to both professionals and internet consumers. You might find this link helpful and their oil also contains natural lemon flavor (they must expect people to bite into them to test for rancidity): http://www.nordicnaturals.com/consumer/products_omega3.html Their capsules don't come in bottled jars though. But if the oil is lemon flavored, you'd be able to check the pills each time.

Here's another site I found that does package in glass bottles
http://www.americasnutrition.com/antioxidants.html The company, Twinlabs, doesn't appear to have a website that I can find.

You may have better luck than I did finding some other alternatives if Metagenics doesn't work out. Even if you find yourself a really high quality vitamin store (that doesn't sell the cheap, inexpensive vitamins), they might be able to order for you or give you an appropriate alternative.

Wanda

[nikkiend]

I did a search thru some search engines and found all kinds of websites that sell the Metagenics. I'm a little apprehensive as I don't know how long they've had them in stock. I do buy most of my supplements over the internet, tho, because I find I can get them much cheaper than nutrition stores. I find they really inflate their prices. I guess you can't be guaranteed how long a store has had them even if you buy them in person. The one website I looked at the price had the 90 count bottle for $10 and change. That's not bad at all.

[wcollier]

Hi Nikkiend:

That's awesome!! I would just inquire if their stock is refridgerated. Also, the shipping would be most important. Opt for quicker shipping, especially in these hot months. Probably at $10/bottle, their stock doesn't sit very long, but you may want to ask if they could tell you the expiry date on the bottle, just to be sure.

I'm kind of confused about the dosage for the capsules. I've seen conflicting information. The PP website states 300 - 400 mg/day, http://eatprotein.com/answers5.html#5f even though they neglected to put this info in their book. I seem to remember reading something in the book about the dosage, but it was a non-chalant passage in an off-topic chapter. There is no reference to the doses in their index, so I never did find the passage. Others say to double that amount. I've read you need to take 6-14 pills a day. That can't possibly be right (I hope). The bottle states 1-3/day (=300-900mg). I only started these one week ago at 1/wk to make sure I could tolerate them. Now I'm ready to increase my dosage. Maybe I'll just increase to 2 pills/day and then go maximum 3/day if all goes well.

[nikkiend]

Thanks. I'll definitely call them and ask those questions before I order. As far as the dose, I do think more than 3 per day would be excessive, but I'm certainly no expert! I'll probably order them today or tomorrow. I'll keep you posted. Good luck with the tolerance. How long have you been taking them?

[nikkiend]

Hi Wanda. Just wanted to let you know I got the Metagenics capsules and have been taking them for 4 or 5 days now. I haven't gotten the nerve to taste one to check for rancidity yet. Guess I need to do that! I haven't had any problems at all with "fishy burps" as people fondly call them. I can tell you, this is MUCH better than choking down flaxseed oil twice a day. ICK! I tolerated it, but it was nasty. I shudder every time I think about it. How are you doing with them?

[wcollier]

Originally posted by nikkiend
I haven't gotten the nerve to taste one to check for rancidity yet. Guess I need to do that! I haven't had any problems at all with "fishy burps" as people fondly call them.

Hi Nikkiend:

Glad you are happy with them! I haven't had any trouble either. I've been checking the capsules for rancidity, but these are a good quality product as far as I'm concerned. The oil doesn't taste fishy whatsoever. It actually has a lemony taste to it (even though there is no flavoring added). I still don't bite into it, I just poke them with the needle and squeeze out a little oil. It has worked fine for me.

I don't understand the fishy burps. If the oil isn't rancid, it shouldn't taste fishy at all so why would anyone get fishy burps? Hmmmm.

Good luck,
Wanda