Product Review: Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil

I decided to post about Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil because I’ve tried many different types of oils and pills to get more omega-3 into my diet and this is the first one that’s not only decent-tasting, but doesn’t upset my stomach. It comes in two sizes: 8 fl.oz and 16 fl.oz, and four flavors: Lemon, Orange, Peach & Strawberry.

I buy the 8 oz. size. It comes in a dark blue bottle, which I like – more harmful light-blocking. I also like the fact that I finish it faster. I think if I had a family and wanted all my kids to take it each morning in their O.J., I’d buy the 16 oz. size to save a bit of money, but the savings isn’t big enough to make me buy the larger size now, when it’s just me taking it… [$18.99 vs. $33.99 on average]. I use the orange-flavored one as part of my ‘mud’ in the morning and because I also add unsweetened cranberry juice and orange juice to the mix, I don’t taste the cod liver oil at all. I’ve taken it on it’s own, too, and was surprised at how well the fishy taste is masked by the orange and rosemary they add to it. It’s a far cry from the stuff my mother used to make us take when we were little! lol…

So far the quality has been consistent [I've tried taking gel caps before and it would be hit or miss on quality - some would be fine, other bottles would make me physically ill]. I store my cod liver oil in the fridge and it’s still liquid at that temperature, so it’s still easy to take and I feel better knowing it won’t spoil as quickly. I also take a full tbsp vs. the tsp they recommend and it lasts me about a month – so if you only take the tsp they recommend, it’ll probably last 2-3 months. I don’t think any of us get enough omega-3 from diet alone. I don’t know about you, but I can’t eat cold-water fish at every meal. That would get way too expensive. 

Now that I know there are more flavors out there, I’m going to try them. If any one of the other flavors happens to be repulsive for some reason, I’ll post again and let you know. 

Image credit: SMARTbomb.com

Weight Fluctuation

Now that I’m weighing myself every morning, so I can enter the number on physicsdiet.com, I’m seeing just how much my weight can fluctuate during the end of my cycle [right before my period]. I hit a crazy low on the 30th, that I think was a fluke because I dropped a pound over night and then the next few days it fluctuated back up and down as it regulated… but between yesterday and today I gained almost 2 lbs. Yikes… hopefully it’ll come back down again in a day or two. It is interesting to see what happens – then I’ll know to expect it next time. 

It probably doesn’t help that I’ve been doing more socializing this week – which means meals out at restaurants. I’ve done really well with my food selections and what I eat and don’t eat. I managed to go to an Italian restaurant yesterday and walked out having NOT eaten any bread or pasta. I had the baked haddock and roasted veggies. There was some breadcrumbs as part of the seafood stuffing, which I did eat, but normally when I go to that place I eat the bread with the oil first, then have the cannelloni stuffed with veal that’s smothered in an awesome cream sauce… sometimes we share a basket of the garlic chips that are so ridiculously delicious, but also full of oil and cheese… normally we’re too full to even try dessert- the only saving grace. Yesterday I wasn’t stuffed and could have had a few bits of dessert, but chose to just have a cappucino [no sugar] instead, and I walked away feeling great instead of stuffed and gross. 

I think I need to get more protein, though – lately I’ve been having fruit for breakfast and snacks, only getting some protein with lunch and dinner. So today I’m making eggs for breakfast instead. With tons of fresh herbs and veggies. Yum. I was eating eggs in the mornings the first week and that’s when my weight dropped the fastest. It’ll be interesting to see if that’ll happen again, or if it was just that ‘flushing’ that happens when you begin eating healthier…