If you want to be as healthy and strong as Erik the Red, you might want to consider a special food that was an influential part of the Viking diet.

Norsemen such as Erik, being rooted in a seafaring culture, relied heavily on fish for their sustenance and carefully reserved the nutrient-laden fatty livers of the fish for use after the peak fishing season was over. Traditional methods were passed down through the generations to extract “liquid gold” from the livers, and this oil was prized for its health-giving properties.

The purest fish oil was used for food, with the lower-quality batches being used topically on the skin for wound care and to treat aching joints. Not a drop went to waste as even the lowest-quality oil, left after the best had been extracted, was used as a fuel and lighting oil.

The elements that made the Vikings such hardy folk included the powerful Omega-3 fatty acids (specifically EPA and DHA) and Vitamin A and its partner Vitamin D that are abundant in oil extracted from the livers of the Atlantic Cod. These nutritional building blocks are even more important to health now, as modern diets are chronically low in these and other crucial nutrients.

Science began revealing as far back as the 1800s that diets rich in nutrients from fish oil can protect healthy heart and brain function, contribute to strong teeth and bones, and can even have an impact on cognitive ability and emotional balance. Cod liver oil can boost immunity, especially valuable during the dark, germ-laden winter season when cold and flu are so prevalent and our own reserves of the “sunlight vitamin”, Vitamin D3, may be running low.

How can you incorporate these benefits in your daily life without going to sea and catching the fish yourself? Thankfully, there are several kinds of Cod Liver Oil (CLO) on the market today, each with its own advantages.

Regular

Standard CLO is extracted commercially through a steam process which cooks the livers and separates the oil from the organ tissue. The resulting liquid is then purified and sometimes encapsulated or flavored for ease of use. Beeyoutiful®’s Cod Liver Oil is screened for mercury and other impurities and is free of additives and preservatives.

This kind of CLO is readily available and inexpensive. It makes a concentrated source of fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins easy to find and use, making it a simple way to partake in a healthful habit that’s been proven over a millennia.

Extra Virgin

The highest quality and cleanest tasting of all the CLO options is Extra Virgin Cod Liver Oil. It is extracted in Norway in a natural process that uses no heat, solvents, or mechanical processes, thus preserving intact a wide array of nutrients and micronutrients. Extra Virgin CLO is fresh, raw, and completely unrefined, resulting in a purity of both quality and taste that is beyond compare.

Butter oil and cod liver oil have been treated by traditional societies as sacred foods, important for pregnant and nursing mothers and young children, and has been recommended as a tool to help rebuild decaying teeth.

Helpful Links

Here’s a 2-minute video on how to use CLO in your diet to prepare for pregnancy, and more information on the crucial role played by fat-soluble vitamins in overall health and immunity. More details on Extra Virgin Cod Liver Oil are here. The powerful combination of Butter Oil and Cod Liver Oil is discussed in reference to tooth decay here.

Bring a bit of Scandinavia into your health routine with the addition of Cod Liver Oil, and you just might find yourself empowered to conquer new lands and leave your mark on history just like the Vikings!

*Consult with your physician before using doses of Cod Liver Oil substantially higher than recommended, or taking this product if you are pregnant or lactating, diabetic, allergic to fish or iodine, using blood thinners, anticipate surgery, have a diagnosed cardiovascular condition, nutrient absorption issues, are dealing with a chronic disease, bleeding, or immune system disorders.