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SKIP THE INFO AND BUY THE FERMENTED COD LIVER OIL
Part 1: Why is the fermented cod liver oil even better nutritionally than the regular cod liver oil?
Part 2: What are the taste differences? How MUCH should you take? What about butter oil?
(Or see the complete index of posts about CLO)
WHAT ARE THE PRICE DIFFERENCES?
There’s not much price difference between the regular Blue Ice CLO (that I used to recommend) and fermented CLO liquid, when you take into account the daily serving size difference.
However, there is quite a difference in the price of the capsules, so it might be worth trying to get the liquid down (I’m going to make an attempt).
Just to show you the approximate cost difference in the liquid vs. the capsules, I’ll show you a comparison using prices (current at the time I wrote this) for 1 bottle of liquid (237 dose) vs. 120 capsules (60 dose), although keep in mind, you can get it cheaper the more you buy. The liquid costs 20 cents per dose; the capsules cost 64 cents per dose!
WHERE TO BUY FERMENTED COD LIVER OIL
(I’ll be paid a small amount when you click to buy through this link – and I thank you!)
ONE LAST NOTE:
When you get your Fermented Cod Liver Oil, you’ll notice that the dosage recommendations are lower than what the Weston A. Price recommended doses page says you should take. Normally I would then just increase my dose, but in this case I will only take what is recommended on the bottle for two reasons:
- The expense!
- Dave at Green Pastures said that the amounts of Vitamin A & D on the label are just the minimum guaranteed amounts, because they have to put something on the label; however, there is actually much more A & D, even more than in regular CLO, (what a superfood!) but it is still always safe, because it is how God provided it in nature. The Fermented Cod Liver Oil is natural, and not easy to pin down on amounts of beneficial nutrients, because it is a living food and difficult to test.
***Check out the comments in part one for more specifics on this topic from a reader in the comments. 
- Have you read this Cod liver oil update with info on possible vitamin toxicity from Chris Masterjohn & Sally Fallon?
- Cod liver oil: do we really need to take it?
- Cod liver oil: tips for getting it down
- How do YOU use coconut oil?
- Many more topics along the right in the sidebar (just in case you’re sick of reading about cod liver oil…)
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{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello Kelly, I so enjoy reading your blog!
I understand of course, that you are not a nutritional consultant, but I am going to take my chances and consult you anyway.
How does one tell from a given description of CLO how it is processed and what the amounts of the nutrients signify. What are the “catch phrases” to look for or to avoid while shopping.
I order monthly from Azure Standard http://www.azurestandard.com/ through a local group of families. So this was the first place I looked for CLO. They carry three different ones all by a company called Twin Lab.
The description of the unflavored Norwegian Cod Liver Oil http://www.azurestandard.com/product.php?id=NS016 and how it is processed sounds very natural and whole. (The flavored and softgels have a few other things in them. The amounts per recommended serving are not a whole lot different than the ones listed in your blog or on the Weston A. Price site. But the cost per dose seems to be substantially less.
Aught the price difference alone serve as a deterrent?
Thanks, Mary
Hi Mary,
I’ve just done a little research and I don’t think that’s a good brand, but let me do some more digging and I’ll get back with you soon.
Thanks for asking, so I can learn more now, too!
Kelly
Mary,
Just wanted to ask you to be patient, in checking this out, I’ve been led to even more things I need to research now, so I’m waiting for return phone calls, etc., it may be a while before I have an answer. Just wanted to update you.
Thanks,
Kelly
Thanks for all your work, Kelly.
Mary
Hi again Mary,
What a can of worms! OK, I found out something specifically about Azure Standard’s CLO that would deter me from taking that brand: in each capsule there is also soybean oil – personally, that’s not something I want more of in my diet – I try to avoid it when I can.
However, Monday I am putting up a post with some very important information that I was led to when checking into that brand for you…stay tuned!
Kelly
Kelly,
I listen to Dr. Asa Andrew from time to time on the radio.
He said not to take capsules because they can actually turn into trans fat due to the way they are processed. Have you read anything about that?
Hi Donna,
No, I haven’t heard that, but I do know that there was intense research that went into the making of these fermented CLO capsules.
The GreenPasture.org website says this: “We have gone through great expense and effort to provide these products in a special ‘non-gelatin’ two part capsule. This special encapsulating process is done without heat or chemicals (unlike gelatin capsules).”
Maybe it was the gelatin capsules that Dr. Andrew was referring to?
Have a good week!
Kelly
Kelly, question for you. I’ve been trying to see if you have suggestions on brands for CLO like you do for CO. My son has begun taking CLO (at 5) and currently takes the Nordic Naturals ProOmega Junior. Now you have me concerned that I’m doing him more harm than good… any thoughts on this one?
Hi Michelle, I’d switch him to the fermented CLO – it’s the most safe and natural. I don’t know if the one you mentioned even has vitamins A & D (very important) and if so, they may be synthetic (harmful).
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
I was down with the whole fermented CLO thing and then I saw the prices – you say the dose is smaller though. What is the dose? Trying to see if this fits into our budget. I am giving my littlest guy little strawberry pearls and my older one gets lemon flavored oil (can’t remember the brands now) but sounds like I am wasting my money on those! I love this blog – having a hard time navigating into NT with all the other food changes we have going on in our household (no more processed foods = me in the kitchen A LOT).
Annette’s last blog post..Upcoming Sustainable Classes
Hi Annette, I know how overwhelming all this can be! (Did you see my post about that? Look on the right under “overwhelmed”.)
The dose on the bottle says 1ml (just less than 1/4 t.), but we take a little more than that daily.
I like that we would be taking smaller amounts too – it would make it easier to get down or hide in a smoothie or applesauce!
Annette’s last blog post..Upcoming Sustainable Classes
Kelly,
I’ve been lurking for a while, but just wanted to let you know that Green Pastures Cinnamon FCLO is on sale right now, no matter how many you order.
I want to get some, but I don’t know how many bottles to get since I’ve never had it before. Should I just try the one, to see if me and my son will take it, or should I get more since it’s such a steal? Do you have any idea how long will an unopened bottle stay good? Or does something like this never go bad?
I’d appreciate any input! Thanks,
Michelle
Hi Michelle, thanks for the great scoop on the FCLO!!
I don’t know how long it would last, but I would guess quite a while – you could check with Green Pastures – if you find out, let us know!
Thanks, Kelly
Michelle, when checking out those sale prices, I just found this update on their CLO that said you shouldn’t keep it over 6 months to preserve freshness:
https://www.greenpasture.org/node/130
Hi Kelly
I live in a place where it is sunny throughout the year. My kids (below 10 yo) don’t sun tan. However they go out quite often.
Should we still supplement with clo?
What is the dosage of fermented clo for kids that young?
Tks!
JK
JK, you could have your vitamin D checked to be sure, but my first inclination is to say YES, because there are so many other nutrients in the CLO, especially the fermented.
I give our kids a 1/4 t. daily.
Kelly
hi, kelly
i read where you give your children 1/4 tsp of FCLO daily. What are there ages? and do you give them grassfed cow’s butter to prevent tooth decay? If so have you ever noticed any signs of Flourosis prior to these supplements? and how about now? i have two sons 4 and 6. Your professional observations would be of great help to me . Thanks.
Hi Mitchell,
These won’t be “professional observations”, but I’ll do my best!
I give 1/4 t. to all our younger ages (4, 7, 10) and yes, they get lots of butter, grass-fed raw milk/cream.
The only Fluorosis (discolored teeth) in our kids is in our oldest (16), and I’m convinced this is from the liquid Fluoride our doctor said he needed as a baby…his teeth are still discolored now and it makes me so angry when I think about it. None of the other kids have it at all.
Hope that helps,
Kelly
What about flavors? (http://shop.gapsdiet.com/category.sc?categoryId=2) Do kids take those better?
Hi Ann,
I can only tell you about my kids, and otherwise, I’m sure it varies from kid to kid.
2 of our kids won’t go near the liquid and choose instead to swallow the capsules. The other 2 open right up. We used to take mint flavor, but when fermented came out there was no mint offered (there is again now), so we got the cinnamon – it took a few chocolate chip bribes, but now they take that fine, too.
Kelly
hi,
im looking into getting fermented fish oil and high vitamin butter oil. i saw that fermented skate liver oil has all of the nutrieents in fclo plus valuable nutrients found in shark oil such as squalene and alkoxyglycerols. but i have 2 questions.
1. is blue ice the best brand for fermented fish oil?
2. does fermented skate liver oil have the same synergistic benefits with butter oil as FCLO? because this is one of the main reasons for me buying these supplements.
Hi JJ,
The answer to #1 is yes, without a doubt.
For #2 I’d guess that the answer is yes, but to be sure you’ll need to contact Dave at Green Pastures. Sorry I’m not more help!
Kelly
thank you kelly,
i just sent a message to green pasture asking about the skate liver oil. ill post his answer
I have eczema and I went to a local natural health food store and they told me that cod liver oil is good for eczema. I was wondering if that is true and also is it safe for me to take cod liver oil while I am breastfeeding?
Hi Stephanie, not to hijak Kelly’s blog but I am inthe breastfeeding space professionally so I wanted to reply. CLO is an excellent esential fatty acid and so it’s great for eczema and many other health conditions. Your baby needs more EFA for good brain development – just be sure your source is free of heavy metals! Green Pasture’s is checked for this and the highest quality CLO that I know of. It’s what I give my family, including my small children.
Yay Annette, hijack my blog ANY day!
Stephanie, that’s exactly what I’d have said, only better.
Kel
Hey Kelly – if you drink raw whole milk – do you still need the butter oil??
Has anyone ever heard of Sonne’s cod liver oil? The company says it’s unrefined.