What Prenatal Vitamins Does Cod Liver Oil Supply?

You may have heard tales of your grandmother having to take her spoonful of this revered oil throughout her childhood. If that grandmother also had a good whole food diet throughout most of her life, chances are she is still healthy and relatively free of health problems. This is a great example of how the best sources of vitamins, including the essential prenatal vitamins, are your food and specific whole food supplements. Cod liver oil is one of those special supplements you want to make sure and include.

What prenatal vitamins does cod liver oil supply?

*It is a supplement made from the liver of cod fish

*It contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids - EPA, DHA

*It contains high levels of vitamins A and D

*Vitamin A 20,000 IU/day

*Vitamin D 4,000 IU/day

*These nutrients are critical for fertility and a healthy baby

Fermented cod liver oil is made by the traditional method of fermenting the cod livers, and no heat is used. Thousands of micro-nutrients are present in this oil, including several different natural forms of vitamin A and D and the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. They are all present in the proper amounts and ratios to each other. It is truly a whole food supplement. This is absolutely the best type available.

Regular cod liver oil is made from cooking cod livers. This process destroys most of the natural vitamin A and D, which are then added back, often in a synthetic form. Vitamin D levels may be very low in these products. Fish oil and krill oil come from the tissues of oily fish, not the livers. These oils are made from by-products of the fish meal industry. They do contain EPA and DHA, but have very low levels of vitamins A and D. Both of these alternatives are far inferior for supplying essential prenatal vitamins in the most concentrated and effective form possible.

It is important to note that omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids should be in the proper ratio to each other. This is a big topic best covered in another article. Just do not get over enthusiastic and consume excessive amounts of fatty fish, fish oil and cod liver oil. And eat plenty of whole food sources of omega-6's, such as nuts and seeds and olive oil. Both are present in many whole foods.