A couple of years ago, I did extensive research to find cod liver oil that had kosher supervision. But I didn’t succeed.
I very much wanted the dental benefits of cod liver oil, but thought that since our diet was rich in bone broths, lots of butter, free range eggs, raw milk, kefir, and fermented vegetables, the emerging teeth of the littles would probably be fine. I was overly optimistic, and I’m frustrated with myself for not giving them the cod liver oil, since you have until the age of three to improve their facial bone structure. So it’s too late for ds4, who has very closely spaced teeth (and as a result, had cavities between most of them – brushing wouldn’t have helped), and ds2 has crowding on his lower jar (I saw this when his baby teeth emerged, but hoped there would be improvement – there wasn’t).
From my experience, a good diet is only enough to maintain health, not to significantly improve underlying issues. (I keep meaning to write about my anecdotal observations on dental structure based on our nine children, and our diet at the time. Remind me if I forget, okay?) So we’ll now be using cod liver oil, which I just bought for the first time last week, and I just hope it’s not too late to help ds2 with his dental spacing.
Regardless of the benefits to dental health, there are lots of benefits to taking cod liver oil (or other fish oils, as well). But getting it down is the hard part. You know all those stories from a couple of generations ago, about kids running away and hiding when they were sick to avoid their mother dosing them with cod liver oil? I’m sure it wasn’t much of an exaggeration.
None of our kids are picky eaters, but every one of them grimaced (ds2 tried repeatedly to wipe his mouth out) and told me how bad it was. But it’s so good for their health, so how to get it down? Here’s my strategy so far, for unflavored cod liver oil (I decided against the flavored oils for a couple of reasons):
I give them each a shot glass with a teaspoon of cod liver oil in it. For some, I immediately give them a chaser of thick, sweet nectar from the peach compote I recently made. Ds4 surreptitiously tried to pour his shot glass into the sink while I was giving the others their glasses, and b) what worked for him was to mix the nectar with his cod liver oil. c) I take mine immediately followed by a teaspoon of lemon juice – it cuts the flavor immediately. d) Dd16 told me she mixed hers with rice and spices, and it was very tasty. 🙂
Ds18 went back to Jerusalem today, and asked if he could take one of the bottles of cod liver oil with him. If he has a different strategy, I’ll add in his suggestion to this post at a later time. 🙂
How do you get your children to take supplements or medicine that they find unpleasant? What kind of supplements do you think are worth the effort, and why?
(This post is part of Real Food Wednesdays.)
Avivah
I’m very “naturally-oriented” in my family’s diet, but medicine of any kind that must be taken gets a “pass”. One of my kids takes daily med in whipped cream and one takes it in store-bought chocolate pudding. I figure that a tsp./day of outright junk (hopefully) won’t hurt them!
Ellen, you perfectly illustrate the phrase, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down”! I think you’re right, that a little junk to get the good stuff down still leaves the kids better off than they would be without the medicine.
Hi Avivah! So are you using the fermented CLO? Just curious.
Kelly
No, I’m not (way out of my budget), and I really feel for the kids who have to take the fermented stuff, as I imagine it would be worse than straight cod liver oil!
Yeah, it’s not great, but it’s not TOO terrible. Two of the kids get 3 chocolate chips with it. The other two take the caps! (They’re even more expensive.) It’s pricey, but worth it, knowing it’s the most natural kind, no synthetic vitamins, etc.
As you said, though, your kids are already getting a lot of fermented foods and other good stuff. 🙂
Kelly
What is brand that you buy? Can I explain the kashrut requirements? Thanks!
Twinlab unflavored. I learned about the dental benefits of cod liver oil over five years ago, when I knew someone whose fillings popped out as their teeth healed themselves using this brand.
This predated any of the real food blogs that are now popular, and as time has gone on, there has been a search for better and better choices. And there really are some fantastic options out there. But they are SO expensive, especially when you take into account that there are eleven of us who would be taking it.
This isn’t the most natural or pure option, but it’s workable and it will be of a lot more benefit than an expensive oil that I rarely doled out because of cost. (This isn’t just theory – I once bought six bottles of one of the widely recommended, more expensive brands – and I didn’t give it out regularly because of the cost.)
I just bought it on http://www.iherb.com because the plaque growing on DS’s teeth is concerning me. How much would you say I should give a 1.5 year old? What is the easiest way to give it? Pinning him down? In orange juice?
Sorry for the typos in the previous comment — I was typing on the run…
Oops, sorry about the oversight, Adina, I just realized I didn’t respond to your question – I give my 2.5 year old a teaspoon a day. The easiest way depends on your child; at first I was mixing it with juice, but now I’m giving it to them straight, and they follow it with a few tiny chocolate chips. Amazing how that motivates them to get it down. 🙂
Could you explain the kashrus issues relating to why you had previously been unable to find clo with hashgacha, but are now using it? Did you just decide to use a (kosher) product without hashgacha or has there been a change (e.g. a new product, new hashgacha, etc.)? I will google, too, but I’m interested in any info you’ve already found. Thank you in advance!
We’ve never used clo, but we do take regular fish oil. My kids like it. I guess it isn’t as strongly flavored as the clo. Ours is flavored, but not sweetened. I actually think it might taste better without the flavor. All the brands I considered had added flavors, no unflavored option, but I only considered a relatively small number of brands with hashgacha.
Hi, Binah! Cod are kosher fish but the concern is that non kosher fish were caught and processed together with the cod, and botul b’shishim doesn’t apply in this case.
We asked our rabbi about this, and were told us that if we medically needed it, we could take cod liver oil (the rabbi is in his sixties and told my husband he grew up taking it!). I didn’t do it initially, since I thought we could get the benefits in other ways and didn’t want to make up reasons to ‘need’ it. We’re taking the unflavored and not encapsulated to minimize the kashrus issues.
Thanks for the info! It’s a shame to have to wait for a “reason” to use the clo. Hopefully, someone will start making kosher-certified clo.
I posted about this very thing for Real Food Wed. a couple weeks ago.
We are adopting a little girl who is nearly 9 months old.
She came to use with a pretty bad under bite, but WAPF formula with plenty of FCLO has caused that little jaw to finish growing and fit the upper jaw correctly!
http://bubblingbrookfarm.blogspot.com/2011/09/natural-healing-for-underbite.html
One thing to think about with regards to the expense. You have to take quite a bit of the other brands to get the same levels of vitamins that Blue Ice contains.
One of those bottles will last one person 4-6 months, depending on dosage, so you are looking at a cost of $7-$10 per month per person on an adult dose at the regular price.
If you want to really see results in your little ones mouth, I would advise at least putting him on the FCLO.
This is so exciting, Paula!
I appreciate you breaking down the cost – I’m considering if I can buy some and have it shipped to someone in the US who could bring it to us, at least for my littlest one to use. (We moved to Israel recently, and the shipping and then customs cost to have it sent directly would add quite a lot to the purchase cost itself.) You made a good point about it requiring more of the other brands to get the same benefits. Particularly since we’ve moved here, I no longer have sources for pastured eggs, raw milk, and lots of the other good stuff that was routine in our diet, I’ll have to work a lot harder to help improve his jaw structure.
if you want to buy raw goats milk my friend is selling for 6 NIS / Litre (another friend sells for 7.5 NIS/L). What are pasteurized eggs? I have also just made my own cheese (M – helped with the first batch) and that drastically cuts down on our food costs. MY kids drink the whey like milk. and we have been adding to our grains to up the nutritional value.
Where are you getting raw goat’s milk? I would very much like to buy some.
I was buying it from someone in Tzfat at the time I wrote this post.
Where can I buy raw goats milk for 6 shekel a liter??? What area in Israel?
just curious if you choose liquid over capsules because of nutritional value or because of cost
Because of kashrus – our family doesn’t use gelatin capsules – we were told we have to squeeze out the oil, or wrap the capsule in a piece of tissue and then swallow it.
Ja-el, I would be very interested in buying raw goats milk (I was disappointed the girls didn’t come home with any). The main issue I have is that without a car, I can’t get to you or anywhere else outside of my immediate area to pick up the milk. I don’t know how to get around this issue – if I have to pay someone to drive me there and back, the costs will become astronomical.
Pastured eggs come from chickens that free range rather than being raised on commercial feed in chicken batteries. The nutritional value is significantly higher.
Avivah, we have similar issues with our little ones 🙁 I finally bought the fermented clo ( green pasture, the capsules are plant cellulose) so all those able to swallow the capsules and my toddler takes the oil by spoon. He actually has the worst decay of all of them (just recently had some teeth extracted) and one of the natural dr.said at this point it IS medicine for him. He takes it and doesn’t complain too much, but I do give him a little sweetened coconut milk right after. When my 6 year old was younger he would hold a few chocolate chips in one hand and the spoon in the other and chase it down like that. I find shot cups are great for herbal supplements, but didn’t work for us with fish oil, in a tsp it looks like less to the kids……
I am so glad to hear about the capsules being plant cellulose! I was up late last night, re-researching fermented cod liver oil and high vitamin butter oil – it’s been a couple of years since I looked into it.
I’d love to give it to all my kids, but it’s just too expensive, and I really don’t have room in my budget for it. So right now I’m considering giving it to ds2 and ds4, if I can get someone to bring it to me. But they will have to take the liquid – did you get a flavored one for your toddler?
I also take the green pastures FCLO capsules and was told that they were preferable to the straight oil, kashrus wise. I will have to check with my husband, as to which Rabbi told him, if you are interested. I also heard that there is a Rabbi in California who permitted this as well. i can email you his name privately as I am not comfortable publicly displaying it as i don’t know him and didn’t hear it directly from him.
I would be curious to know what you came to in your high vitamin butter oil….
Thank you for the offer, but I’m comfortable with the capsules without asking, based on past questions we’ve asked about. The part I’m not so comfortable with is cost, since it’s ten times the price of the cod liver oil that I’m buying now, and getting it here will require logistical maneuvering. Unquestionably it’s better, but the question I ask myself is, is it ten times better? Because I don’t think taking it is financially sustainable for us at this time.
Could you clarify your question about the butter oil? I wasn’t sure what you wanted to know.
Could you explain why you chose not to get the flavored clo?
Ds (20) is taking Twin Lab CLO liquid flavored with mint. He thought it wasn’t too bad tasting until I put it in the ‘fridge. I had heard that taking it cold helped wth the taste. Unfortunately, it changed the consistancy & taste to much worse!
Bad Mom! 😉
Well, honestly, after posting this, I’ve been rethinking my reasoning!
One reason was because I read the reviews of the flavored oil, and there were enough people saying it tasted like fish oil with a flavor, that it seemed pointless. It was also slightly more expensive, but only a little bit, so I can’t say it was an issue of major savings.
A bigger thing was I needed to keep my order under 3 pounds to avoid being hit with customs issues, and the packing weight of the flavored bottles is higher, so I could have only gotten 2 bottles instead of three in one order.
My question about the butter oil is if it differs at all in terms of kashrus. If you are going to take the FCLO, would you take the butter oil too? Would you get the combined version? Also, if i wanted to give it to my infant (7 months) do you think it is better to take the FCLO alone, since I typically wouldn’t give dairy till around the one year mark?
I would assume the same principle applies, that if it’s medically necessary, it’s okay. But I’d ask before taking it to be sure. As far as giving it to a baby, if you avoid dairy, I’d probably wait another few months, but my thought is that butter is different from other dairy product because of its composition and wouldn’t have some of the associated concerns. That’s just my conjecture, though.
I highly suggest you check out my research here on this post: http://www.naturalfamilyawareness.com/health/index.php/2011/10/27/cod-liver-oil-brand-comparison-guide-and-cost-analysis/ You can see which brands are more economical. I also compare the cost with fermented CLO. FCLO is actually LESS EXPENSIVE than all but three brands, and those brands contain soy.
If you are interested in which brands contain soy, you’ll want to read this: http://www.naturalfamilyawareness.com/health/index.php/2011/10/31/cod-liver-oil-brands-containing-soy/
I will be posting soon more about FCLO and how to take it without gagging 🙂
So I just started taking CLO because of this post and have found that the easiest way is to take it mixed in a little kombucha. The bubbles and the tang of the kombucha very effectively mask the oily fishiness of the CLO.
Also, did you know that http://www.iherb.com has $4 flat rate intl shipping? You have to keep your order under 4 lbs though to get through customs without astronomical fees.
I take carlson’s lemon fish oil. I need the liquid form to get the higher dose. I take about 2 tablespoons every 2 days. I think even if there is gelatin it might be allowed, since its not a food. I can’t imagine it unflavored, flavored taste like candy, a lemondrop.
Dina, if possible, I’d like the name of the Rav in California who permits the FCLO. Thanks.
interested in this too…can it be bought here?
Suri, until recently I was buying Twinlabs unflavored cod liver oil from iherb, which ships to Israel for free. However, last week my ds13 brought some fermented cod liver oil back from the Us with him – I don’t know of anywhere to buy it in Israel.
Which brand of fermented? Is it a problem kashrus wise in the end? Sorry for the q’s. which is better the cod liver oil or regular fish oil?
I called my rabbi who called the Star K, and the Star-K Cod Liver Oil (when taken in liquid form at least, like on a spoon) has to be kosher certified. Where do I buy kosher cod liver oil? I went to Sinu Refu (a local pharmacy) and they said no kosher vitamin manufacturers make kosher cod liver oil. Please help! : )
There is no cod liver oil that is certified as kosher. Different rabbis have different positions, however – some say it’s better to take it in a capsule, some say better the liquid, and that if it’s for a refua, then it’s okay. But I guess you’ll have to use regular fish oil if this is your rabbi’s position. (Btw, I spoke to the Star K as well and discussed their position on this with two of their representatives.)
Avivah do most rabbonim say it’s better in a capsule for lets say an adult?
I’m sorry, Suri, I don’t know. I can share what we do but really strongly feel that everyone has to ask his own rabbi.
I just reread what I wrote, and it had some typos! Let’s try that again ; )
I called my rabbi who called the Star-K, and the Star-K said that Cod Liver Oil (when taken in liquid form at least, like on a spoon) has to be kosher certified. Where do I buy kosher cod liver oil? I went to Sinu Refu (a local pharmacy), and they said no kosher vitamin manufacturers make kosher cod liver oil.
Please help! : )
Interesting. What did Star-K say directly to you? Or should I call them?
For those of you who don’t take fclo for kashrus reasons, how do you feel about using it topically? Do you think it might be absorbed significantly enough to make a difference?
Thanks.
I have a friend who applies it to her childrens’ feet at night, then puts socks on.
Hello Aviva,
Have also been looking for kosher cod liver oil as a supplement for teeth. Have lost teeth and have avoided taking oil because no kosher certification.
Sincerely,
Elaine
I don’t know of kosher certified cod liver oil but many rabbis allow it since it’s like medicine, not food.
Something important for tooth health is vitamin D3 combined with vitamin K2 m7 – these are the ingredients in cod liver oil that work synergistically to strengthen bone and teeth. Take at a ration of 10:1/d-k.
Good luck and healing wishes to you!
Hope its ok to respond to this old post.
Im in search of kosher cod liver oil i found this post (and interestingly enough I recently started following your blog. )
So- have you any updated info on cod liver oil? My kids are very picky and theres no way they’ll take the shots. Any updated recommendations? Thanks