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Remedy for bad knees

I have bad knees. When I climb up the stairs, they feel like they'll pop out of their sockets. Sometimes they buckle under me after a long walk. I thought no relief was in sight, until my mum told me that I should take cod liver oil. When I was little, she used to feed me that 'fishy' white 'goop'. It was a childhood staple for me. Don't get me wrong though, I actually liked eating it! I used to sneak extra spoon fulls when mum wasn't looking.

So, at 31 years of age, I found myself contemplating the 'goop'. I haven't had this stuff in ages and deep down, I was thinking - isn't this for preventing kids' colds? How on earth could it possibly work for me? Nevertheless, it was worth a try. I swung by the pharmacy and got myself a bottle of the orange-flavoured one.

To my surprise, it worked! I've only been taking it for a week or so and barely half a bottle's gone, but I'm already feeling the positive effects. Believe it or not, my knees are getting stronger! My joints don't hurt as much anymore. Puzzled, I looked up 'cod liver oil' on the web. I found that the stuff is clinically used to ease symptoms of arthritis! I suspect grandparents have known this for ages...

I found other interesting facts about cod liver oil on Wikipedia.com. Did you know that:

* It has high levels of omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA).
* It has very high levels of vitamins A and D.
* A 2005 study by researchers at the University of California found that Vitamin D may lower the risk of developing different types of cancers, halving the chances of getting breast, ovarian, and colon cancers.
* Many adults don't meet the RDA for Vitamin D.
* It is clinically proven to have a positive effect on heart, bone and brain.
* It helps to nourish skin, hair and nails.
* Cod liver oil taken by nursing mothers improves breast milk by increasing the amount of fatty acids. This promotes brain development and helps prevent infections.

I thought - Wow! All that sounds too good to be true, but apparently, the stuff does work. However, the axiom 'everything in moderation', applies here. Cod liver oil contains very high levels of Vitamin A and it is therefore possible to exceed the RDA. Consumers should be aware that an overdose of vitamin A causes adverse effects such as:

* Hypervitaminosis A, which may cause birth defects, liver problems, osteoporosis, hair loss and excessive skin dryness.

* A risk of exposure to environmental toxins such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins and other contaminants.

* Increased risk of gestational hypertension in pregnant women.

It has to be noted, however, that the risks of hypervitaminosis and of exposure to environmental toxins are reduced when purification processes are applied to produce refined fish-oil products. Still, if you're concerned about having too much of a good thing, do consult a doctor or nutritionist.

In any case, if you have bad knees, like me, consider taking cod liver oil (either in 'goop' a.k.a. emulsion, or softgel form) to reduce the stiffness. I know now that the 'goop' isn't just for kids, it's for grown ups too. I've opted to stick to the 'goop' because the orange stuff tastes so yummy, I look forward to my daily dose. Around my house, I'm famous for neglecting my (pill form) supplements.

Come to think of it, I've always wondered about the Scott's emulsion logo. Now I know why the man's lugging about that big cod fish... he doesn't get back pain!

Learn more about this author, Addie.
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