As the days get shorter, something happens that you can't see: the sun sits so low that in Northern Europe your skin makes hardly any vitamin D. That stays the case until around March. If you spent a lot of time outdoors in summer, you built up a small reserve, but it runs out over the course of the winter. That's why the start of the dark months is the moment to think about cod liver oil: not when winter is already half over, but now.
Want to choose right away? Go to the guide ↓
The basics
What cod liver oil actually is
Cod liver oil is oil from the liver of cod. Unlike fish oil, which comes from the flesh of oily fish, liver oil naturally contains vitamin A and vitamin D alongside the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. That's why generations of Northern Europeans grew up with it: one spoonful, three things at once.
Green Pasture uses cod from the Bering Sea off Alaska, from an MSC-certified fishery.
The difference
Fermented or regular?
Most cod liver oil in supermarkets and pharmacies is heated and refined. Vitamins A and D are then added back, because too much is lost during refining. Green Pasture does it differently: the liver is fermented, an old Scandinavian process that releases the oil without heat. Nothing is added and nothing is taken away.
What you get is the oil as the fish made it, with a taste to match: strong, a little sour, not for everyone. There's a solution for that. Natural is for the purists. Cinnamon and chocolate are for those who want it but don't want to taste it. And if you'd rather not deal with the taste at all, take capsules.
Combination
Add butter oil?
Green Pasture also sells its cod liver oil combined with concentrated butter oil: oil from the milk of grass-fed cows. The combination goes back to the work of Weston Price in the 1930s, who used the two together. Whether you want that combination is a personal choice. Many customers choose it; the cod liver oil on its own gives you exactly the same vitamin A, D and omega-3. Besides fish, the combination also contains milk.
How to choose
Which Green Pasture suits you?
For the whole season
The whole dark season in one go
Three jars of capsules last exactly 180 days together: the whole dark period. That way you don't have to think about it again all winter.
With butter oil
Cod liver oil + butter oil – 3 × 120 capsules
6 months
Choose the season packFree shipping above your country's threshold. Ships the same day on working days. Offers: while stocks last.
How to use
How much and when
- Follow the label. 2 capsules a day, or 2 ml of oil with the dosing syringe. For the gel, a daily dose is about half a teaspoon.
- With a meal. Take it with food that contains some fat, which suits fat-soluble vitamins.
- Keep it cool. Once opened, keep the bottle or jar in the fridge.
- Start when the days get shorter. Not in the middle of winter: that way you have the whole season ahead of you.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between fermented and regular cod liver oil?
Regular cod liver oil is heated and refined, after which vitamins A and D are often added. Green Pasture ferments the liver without heat and adds nothing.
Will I taste the capsules?
No. The oil is in a plant-based capsule; you won't taste a thing.
How long does a jar or bottle last?
120 capsules: 60 days at 2 a day. A 180 ml bottle: 90 days at 2 ml. A 188 ml gel: about 75 days.
Is cod liver oil suitable for vegetarians?
No. It is oil from cod liver. The version with butter oil also contains milk.
I'm pregnant. Can I take cod liver oil?
Cod liver oil contains vitamin A. So check with your doctor or midwife first.
Start now, not halfway through winter
Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Keep out of reach of young children. Cod liver oil contains vitamin A: if you are pregnant, check with your doctor or midwife first. If you take medication, consult your doctor.
