A lot of people are interested in cod liver supplements because they remember taking it as a kid. However, a lot has definitely changed since then. Since the cod liver functions to filter out impurities in the cod’s blood, that should tell you that it’s probably not something good for you to consume — Imagine eating the filter in your pool or air conditioner! In the olden days, they used to fill a wooden barrel with cod livers and seawater and allow the mixture to ferment for a year — Gross!

It turns out that cod liver contains high levels of Vitamin A that may be toxic. If you have a Vitamin A or Vitamin D deficiency, this may be an added benefit for you, but there are much higher quality sources of these vitamins available.

Consider purchasing a high-quality fish oil supplement rather than cod liver oil, and getting Vitamin A and D from somewhere else like a high-quality, natural-sourced multivitamin.