The History of Fish Oil: From Ancient Remedy to Modern Super Supplement

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Posted: October 15, 2024

Watch Time: 45 minutes

Posted: April 01, 2025

Watch Time: 11:58 minutes

Hosted By:

By Dr. Barry Sears

Founder & President, Zone Labs

Mary Perry

Clinical Trials Director, Zone Labs

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Summary

Why Fish Oil Has Been a Health Staple for Centuries | The Wellness Zone Podcast with Dr. Barry Sears

Long before fish oil became a supplement aisle favorite, it was prized by ancient civilizations for its powerful health benefits. From the fermented fish sauces of the Phoenicians and Romans to the cod liver oil boom in colonial America, omega-3s have always played a crucial role in human health—especially for reducing inflammation, the root cause of most chronic diseases.

In this episode of The Wellness Zone, Dr. Barry Sears takes you on a fascinating journey through the history of fish oil—from 18th-century transatlantic cod trade to the Norwegian innovations that transformed the industry. You’ll even hear why kids in the early 1900s were force-fed spoonfuls of cod liver oil before leaving the house—and how that tablespoon delivered 25 times more omega-3s than the average American gets today.

But not all fish oil is created equal. Dr. Sears also breaks down the importance of purity, potency, and what to look for in a high-quality supplement today.

🎧 Tune in and discover why fish oil has stood the test of time—and why it still matters for your health.

Topics We Discuss:

[00:01]- Fish oils are now probably the most valued medicine in ancient world. Far more valuable than olive oil. And why?

[00:08]- Because we now know their abilities to reduce inflammation, the underlying cause of virtue all uh, chronic diseases. Hello and welcome to the Wellness Owned Podcast,

[00:25]- where we discuss the science of wellness metabolism and the dietary pathways to maintain them. I’m Mary Perry, and I’m here with Dr. Barry Sears.

[00:32]- And this week we’re going back in time to talk about the history of fish oil. So, Dr. Sears, before we begin, people don’t really know exactly.

[00:40]- what fish oil is ’cause there’s a lot of different terms like omega threes, Omega-3 concentrates that sort of, you know, circulate with the terms.

[00:47]- So can you just kind of just go back to the basics of what exactly we’re talking about when we say the word fish oil?

[00:52]- Well, when we say the word fish oil, we mean oil derived from fish. Makes, makes sense. That means nothing.