Cod Liver Oil? - Spanish Fork,UT

Don'tcha love unsolicited "advice"? Sheesh.

Cod Liver Oil is so 1920. Seriously, if you're worried about Omega 3s, calcium or other nutrients go to Costco, head to the vitamin section and grab a jar of Omega 3 gummies, calcium gummies and Flinstones if you're feeling lavish. They make vitamins that are tasty for kids, just like we don't let kids don't in the backseat with no carseat we don't need to give them nutrition from 1920.

Side note: both my kids hate milk so I supplement with Calcium OJ and calcium gummies.

Costco has the best stuff for kids. There are chewy Omega vitamins with fish oil. They are sour but sugar coated so my youngest kids love them but my 10 yr. old can taste fish and wont take them. She will eat tuna for omegas. Also at Costco, I just bought this Wellesse Vitamin D3 that is liquid and fruity for kids. All they need is a teaspoon or 2 a day which you can put in juice or on cereal so they don't even know. Especially in the winter, 2000 IU of D3 will boost all of our immune systems more as we aren't getting enough from the sun. It also will help you FEEL happier so you aren't lacking sun. I think these supplements do well for my kids and taste great... not like cod liver oil. I got enough of both vitamins for the entire winter for under $30 (for my 5 kids)and that is a bargain as I think we avoid drs. because of it.

Whether her observations and solution for them were correct or not, this woman was at least right that some form of omega 3's would be good for your son. As kids brains are growing, EFA's (essential fatty acids) are very crucial. They are always good for us, but especially for children. In other words, whether it's because of what she said or not, they are a good idea. They can be given in the form of any fish or flaxseed oil. Several people recommended some better tasting options, probably very worth checking out. And I do know that giving him probiotics also will increase the positive effects of the EFA's, as they allow the body to better absorb nutrients. Good luck!

Cod liver oil is a great source of vitamin D and healthy fats. I recommend Carlson's brand lemon flavor. My 3.5 year old drinks it straight, but it can be mixed with applesauce to mask the texture and taste.

I would also recommend looking into food allergies.

Good luck!

my brothers has some problems like that turn out to be allergies one of them being milk. after we found that out and changed their diets they look amazingly healthy. so i would check in to that.

I am sorry I do not have an answer to the cod liver oil thing. But I do know of something that could give you the peace of mind that your son is getting all the nutrients he needs. I don't know if you know this, but our foods are lacking in the nutrients we need and it is now recommended that everyone be supplementing their diets with vitamins. Sounds easy enough, right? Wrong, and I found out the hard way. Even though the labels on the bottle may say that there is 100% of your vitamin c for example, that doesn’t mean 100% is actually absorbed. In fact most of it is flushed right down the toilet. Luckily I have found a company that has vitamins that are actually absorbed into the system and they actually have the science to back it up. I would definitely encourage you to get some information. You can go to http://www.gogreenwebcast.com/gagreen to sign up for a free online presentation. My son who is now 22 months old did a complete 180 when he started taking the children's vitamins. They will also show you many more things that will help you keep him healthy! I highly encourage you check it out!

I can't say anything about your son's overall health (only you and your doctor know that), and I don't know enough about calcium absorption to advise about that, but I think everyone could use more good healthy Omega-3s in their diet. Costco has a great Fish Oil that tastes like lemon. 1 teaspoon a day for kids and 2 for adults. My son loves it, and there's no gross fishy aftertaste or burps.

I am hesitant to give supplements (like Vitamin D) because artificial vitamins/nutrients affect the way the body absorbs the nutrients from the natural source, but if you feel like your son is really Vit. D deficient and you can't get him enough from sunlight or other natural sources, then by all means consider a supplement.

Your son's pediatrician should have more (and better than anecdotal) information for you regarding these issues.

There is an author named Adele Davis, and I am 99% sure these observations are from one of her books. My mom loved these books and raised her children (and went through pregnancy) with many of Adele's ideas; then she passed the books to me. :) See if you can find "Let's have healthy children" or other titles by her. I'm not sure which specific book those old lady's thoughts come from, but I might know if you emailed me a couple titles. Basically, they are pretty intense nutrition books, written "before their time." Hope this helps in your search.
A.
www.breastandbottlefeeding.com

It's funny, people think that they need to give us advice on our kids' health when they really know nothing about it. I even had one person tell me that I should get my son on growth hormones (because he's small for his age ... duh! I'm 5'0" he's going to be small!) Usually they have decent intentions but that doesn't make them at all right. If your doctor is worth anything, he will be saying if your son is "calcium deficient" or anything else. If you're concerned, ask the doc. Before you start following any advice.

Fish oil is full of Omega-3, which is important for brain growth and a healthy heart. But at 19 months, the amount he needs is far less than what an adult or older child might need. And I have no idea if there is a toxicity level (as there is for Vitamins A & D). It's also not just a "cut it in half" thing either. So again, ask your doc or a pharmasist about the correct amount for your guy before you give him ANY medicine - OTC (unless its on the package for HIS age/weight) or herb/homeopathic/natural source. "Natural" does not necessarily equal "safe" or "safe for all ages"

I know my parents took one spoonful of cod liver oil a day when they were kids and they said it tasted horrible, and that you burp up the taste all day.

But I think instead of taking it you could try giving him more fish to eat or krill (fish) oil tablets.

I firmly believe that "you are what you eat" and that growing kids need lots of protein. Also, he does need sunshine and fresh air, and you can't really give that to him as a supplement. You need to bundle him up and let him outside every day if you can, even if it is only for 20 minutes. Lack of sunshine and good nutrition make everyone more ornery and I think most of us could eat more healthy.

BTW, that is a great story!! So funny! But don't be offended. I am sure she just wanted to help!

Marci

as moms we are skeptical. but whose to say right from wrong? i say give it a shot, it is all natural and it can't hurt to just try it. it will most definitely cleanse anything inside his intestines. being a mom is a lifetime of trial and error. do what your gut tells you . trust your self. and if you make a mistake it is OK . your baby will still love you no matter what.good luck and god bless

All I can add to this is that my grandmother, who will be 91 in March, and has pretty much no physical issues, just is on high blood pressure meds and nothing else which is amazing for someone her age, swears by cod liver oil. Has taken it all her life and credits that to her good health. She also swears by vinegar, too. My grandmother is never sick not even a cold. So just thought I would pass that along.

Good grief!

If you have any questions about your son's nutrition, consult a certified nutritionist or check out some (mainstream) books from the library.

Just don't rely on a single author. (If his/her theories are well-founded on actual science, then he/she won't be the only one promoting them!!!)

Be cautioned... there's lots of quackery in this field (which is basically unregulated). Ask 20 people and you'll get 20 totally different answers.

It's OK to get "advice" from others, but your son's total intake is relevant and you should rely on "expert" advice, not some stranger... "very old" or any age!!! Just be very careful in choosing your "experts".

If YOU decide your son needs supplements, I highly recommend Shaklee! Go to www.HealthyEarthWellPeople.com (there's lots of nutrition info there too).

Also be skeptical of anecdotal "wisdom". My aunt drank like a fish, was about as round as she was tall and had a consuming wretching cough... they had to turn off her oxygen so she could smoke her cigarettes... but she lived into her late 80's. Hardly a recommendation!!!

Good luck sorting it all out.

It's so hard to listen to others telling us how to raise our kids! Kudos to you for keeping an open mind. When you think about it, how many kids in 1920 had asthma or obesity? I bet a lot less than now! There is value in wisdom acquired over a long life! I don't know if this lady was right or not, but her advice seems worth considering.

I also recommend the Weston A. Price Foundation (they have a really good website too, I usually just google it) for nutritional advice. The website has a whole section about cod liver oil.

My 17 mo. takes cod liver oil (the gross-tasting kind that I accidentally bought and didn't want to waste), mixed in with just about anything mixable! He really loves it mixed with a blueberry-banana-spinach smoothie, but applesauce, oatmeal, or yogurt work great too. :) You can also find a ton of flavored varieties at Whole Foods. I took the mint-flavored kind every day while I was pregnant, and it's not fishy at all.
Best wishes to you and your kiddo! I'm sure some of his frustration right now is just his age, too.

Hi B.. Just thought I'd chime in and recommend the work of Dr. Weston A. Price. It's fascinating and does show strong links between what we eat and our dental health-- and that the state of our teeth reflect all of our health in general. He does recommend cod liver oil, among other "special foods" like organ meats and high vitamin butter to name a couple.

His book, "Nutrition and Physical Degeneration" has many photographs to back up his research. These photos show the proof of whole foods' (no flour, no sugar, no processed) effect on the outcome of teeth (meaning the body is in a good state of health) and their development, even having the ability to reverse decay, and, affect facial shape. Many people and conventional medicine, understandably, find it hard to believe so it's best to inform yourself. Google him and also Ramiel Nagel's "Cure Tooth Decay".

I'm sure the woman was trying to kindly share with you some info that was more commonly known years ago. I was blown away when I discovered it myself, especially about raw milk and how many "official groups" that are against healthy things often have money ties to industries that profit from our ill health.

Hope this helps and that you can find stuff out for yourself with an open mind. Oh, also, cod liver oil is recommended, but in moderation, as all things. Don't overdo it because there can be toxicity. So read up on it if you go this route. Good luck!

My son has always been very skinny. He also gets very frustrated with things that don't go his way and gets upset with changes. I have done a lot of research and have found that his type of behaviors could be related to food allergies. We just found out that my husband is allergic to wheat, milk and egg whites. My mom just found out that she's also allergic to milk and wheat plus a bunch of other foods. We are taking him in to get tested today for food allergies (food allergies, we have found, are genetic). They are doing the blood test because it is more sensitive than the scratch test. I would not rush into the cod liver oil. If you think your son needs something I would go to the health food store and get him so really good vitamins first. They make some good ones out there now. My kids take the gummibear vitamins. If that doesn't work then have him tested for allergies. Wheat and milk allergies can really mess with a body. My husband developed psoriasis and would pass out uncontrollably. He even ended up in the ICU because he wouldn't stop passing out...turns out it was all a wheat allergy. Milk really messes with behavior and attitude.

Not exactly sure what the woman was talking out (sounds a little kooky to me, even if she's right), but we just put my 2 year old on cod liver oil (and I was on fish oil since my pregnancy) for her skin and for omega fatty acids, which I'm a firm believer of. Even though we eat a lot of fish, it appears to be doing a lot of good. My grandmother and mother always swore by it. I've worked in the natural products industry for a while and am a huge fan of Nordic Naturals brand. They have a strawberry flavored cod liver oil (natural strawberry) for kids). She loves to take it and I've seen an obvious improvement in her skin. Maybe they had something right a long time ago?