It's been about 50 years since she started that dreaded "morning ritual" before we ate breakfast on school mornings. My mom would be standing by the kitchen sink with a spoon in one hand and a bottle of cod liver oil in the other. We had to down a tablespoon of cod liver oil before we could make our way to the table for breakfast. When I think of it, I can still smell that oil and remember how it lingered for much of the morning.
My mom's brother was a pharmacist in Switzerland (where my mom was born and raised) but today we would call him an "herbalist". In 1981, I visited Switzerland for 3 months where I helped in my uncle's pharmacy. His customers would come in, describe their ailment, and he would mix up a tea for them to drink or a salve to rub on. It was my mom's brother that persuaded her when we were young to begin this "morning ritual" of cod liver oil because he knew the value of great oils and the protection they would bring to our bodies. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, we quit taking the cod liver oil each morning. Possibly it was 6 grumbling kids or the added expense of that oil that was enough to make our mom give it up!
In the Bible, the book of John records Jesus saying to His disciples, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." Jesus came, and after taking the bread and giving it to them, He did the same with the fish. Fish was an important part of their diet so I know they had a regular dose of great quality fish oil. Jesus only provides the finest for His children, and we can look to Him, our perfect example of how to live and how to eat.
When Alan and I arrived in southern California in April 2015, our diet was lacking sufficient quantities of omega-3 oils. It was there that Alan and I both started taking an omega-3 supplement. That is one supplement that I continue to take every day. Although I eat the best quality wild-caught cold water salmon (not Atlantic) that I can find, I know that the fatty fish that I'm eating today is not the quality that Jesus fed His disciples on the shore long ago. But I'm thankful that I can purchase Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega (1280 mg Omega-3) and take those daily. There are other brands available, this is just the one I take. When I take those soft gels, I don't get that dreaded fishy taste I got long ago with a spoonful of cod liver oil.....and I'm so thankful. Possibly one day down the road, I won't feel the need to take this supplement but at the moment, it's helping my body heal from decades of not getting good nutrition.
When I first started taking the omega-3 supplement, I was still experiencing some of the "typical" hot flashes and night sweats that most women during menopause have. I can remember my mom going through that phase for more than 10 years. It's well documented in her "medical journal'. I certainly expected to follow in her footsteps. (I would still be in that phase right now for at least a few more years.) After being on the omega-3 supplement (and having cleaned up my diet including significantly less granulated sugar), those symptoms began to diminish and I haven't had any hot flashes or night sweats in well over 2 years or longer. Again, my body responded when it was given what it was lacking. I'm forever amazed at God's creation and how He is healing my body.
Maybe you're like me......never hearing about or thinking about the importance of these fatty acids. Our bodies can not make the required omega-3 fatty acids so we must get them from our diet. Some of the best food sources are: Salmon, Mackerel, Sardines, and Anchovies. Omega-6 fatty acids also can not be made by the human body but most Americans get plenty of omega-6s from our diet. These are some food sources that are high in omega-6 fatty acids: soybean oil, corn oil, mayonnaise, nuts, and seeds. Most Americans eat a diet that is very heavy in omega-6 fatty acids and minimal in omega-3s. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is way out of balance for most Americans.
Maybe you're like me......never realizing that your body might be missing one very important key to much better health. Male or female.......our bodies need those great fish oils to function well. My newest daughter-in-law, Alisha, experienced significant improvements with her monthly cycle when she added the omega-3 supplement to her daily routine. Her body responded beautifully because she was obedient and took the omega-3 supplement every day along with other great food choices including more fatty fish. She's a testimony of how the body will heal itself when you trust and OBEY. Within a few months, her cycle was regular for the first time ever!
In a recent article by Dr. Lisa Tostado, a Naturopathic doctor in Louisville, she shared amazing results about children with ADHD and the positive effects experienced from adding omega-3 supplements into their daily routine. Up to 50% of children receiving fish oil supplements no longer met the criteria for ADHD within 3 months of beginning the supplements (750-800 mg EPA and DHA per day - with a ratio of 3x more EPA to DHA). The longer the children took the fish oil, the better the improvement. There have been other studies showing similar positive results for ADD when omega-3 supplements were added to their daily routine.
Many times, I have had to remind myself, "I didn't know what I didn't know" and maybe you want to extend yourself that same grace and start something new today. If there's any one supplement I would suggest, adding good quality omega-3 fish oil is the one. We're quickly approaching a new year and this might be a New Year's resolution that you want to make and keep!
To spice things up for 2019, you might start this New Year with the Honey Sriracha Salmon recipe below.
