Fish eggs contain all of the bio-available vitamins and minerals your body needs to support optimal health. This ancestral superfood is especially rich in vitamins A, D, E, K2, zinc, iodine, choline, and phospholipid omega 3's. These essential nutrients all work synergistically with each other in harmony with nature, and in harmony with the wisdom of our ancestors.
Vitamin D
It is no wonder fish roe was so highly prized by isolated natives. According to the Weston A. Price Foundation, a single tablespoon of fish roe contains approximately 17,000 IU of Vitamin D! This means that one tablespoon of fish eggs supplies even more Vitamin D than a midday dose of daily sunshine! This is the Vitamin D boost that the Inuit and traditional mountain-dwelling tribes of South America used when sunlight was not a readily available option.
For pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant, vitamin D is of particular importance as it helps to mitigate glucose regulation, develop healthy bones and it even helps to tone the uterus – helping the uterus to contract properly during labor. For women suffering from polycystic ovarian disease, vitamin D is helpful as it offers beneficial effects on insulin resistance. A low-glycemic diet rich in these critical nutrients is also essential for improving fertility in both men and women. (13)
Many health experts argue that the seasonal flu is really just a Vitamin D deficiency. By some estimates, over 90% of Americans are deficient in this critical nutrient. About 75% of people with IBS have insufficient vitamin D, and about 70% see improvement when supplementing with Vitamin D. Get your daily dose of midday sunshine and enjoy vitamin D rich foods like Wild Caught Fish Eggs with, pastured animal fats and raw Grass Fed dairy.
K2-MK4 (Activator X)
Wild Caught Fish Eggs is rich in Vitamin K2. Price discovered that Activator X (now known as K2), seemed to be responsible for normal bone formation, overall skeletal health, cognitive function, healthy cavity-free teeth, reproductive capabilities, and protection against arterial calcification. K2 is one of the fat-soluble activators, a super nutrient that enables our bodies to absorb and utilize all of the minerals from the foods we eat.
"It is possible to starve for minerals that are abundant in the foods eaten because they cannot be utilized without an adequate quantity of the fat-soluble activators.” - Weston A. Price.
There are two major forms of Vitamin K2 — MK-4 and MK-7. MK-4 is derived from animal sources, such as fish eggs, pastured chicken eggs, Grass Fed dairy (butterfats), meat, and in particular organ meat, such as liver. MK-7 is derived from fermented foods like sauerkraut, hard cheeses, and kefir.
Vitamin K2 is an essential ingredient to include in your diet if you're interested in decalcifying your pineal gland. K2 deconstructs calcium phosphate deposits of the pineal gland and ushers the released calcium back into the bones, where it belongs.
Bone marrow, organ meats, and wild-caught fish eggs are all abundant in vitamin K2 (the MK-4 variety). While smashing bones and sucking out marrowfat was the hard way our ancestors obtained vitamin K, it's not that difficult to obtain marrow bones and either oven roast 3" pieces or slow cook them to make them extra delicious/nutritious... or consider getting our Bone Marrow on board!
Vitamin A
Vitamin A (retinol) is one of several fat-soluble activators necessary for the assimilation of minerals in the diet. Its many functions include forming and maintaining healthy teeth, skin, mucous membranes, skeletal and soft tissues. It also plays a role in protein utilization. The majority of nutrition experts insist that humans can transform carotenes from fruits and vegetables to vitamin A. This is only conditionally true and is highly inefficient. Infants, diabetics, and those with poor thyroid function or zinc deficiency, (a group that makes up nearly half the US population) don’t make the conversion. And as for the rest of us… excessive consumption of alcohol, nonheme iron, prescription drugs, polyunsaturated fats, and even cold weather can hinder the conversion of carotenes to vitamin A. (4) Wild Caught Fish Eggs is a good source of pre-formed, bio-available Vitamin A.
Choline
Choline plays a key role in lipid transport, cell membrane structural support, and neurotransmission. This essential nutrient improves adult hippocampal and cerebral neurogenesis, increases BDNF, and improves cognitive performance on memory tasks.
Choline is of particular importance in the diets of parents planning to conceive, pregnant/lactating women, and young children. It plays a crucial role in placental development and exponential fetal organ growth. Choline supports tooth development, as well as brain development, and significantly decreases the chances of cognitive dysfunction. (5)
Zinc
Zinc is an essential trace mineral, or "helper molecule", that plays a vital role in delivering Vitamin A from the liver to other soft tissues throughout the body. Zinc, like many other nutrients, is best absorbed from animal food sources, and it is particularly essential for the reproductive health of men and women. Low zinc levels often indicate infertility.
Consuming adequate amounts of zinc improves sperm quality in infertile men and pregnant women with higher levels of zinc are able to better moderate stress and are less likely to suffer from symptoms of depression. Zinc has been shown to support proper fetal development, cognitive health, and improve immunity. (14)
The most abundant whole food sources of zinc you can find are Wild Caught Fish Eggs, Grass Fed Beef Eye, wild and pastured animal meats, wild-caught shellfish, raw dairy, and pastured egg yolks... all the basic constitutes of a primal/ancestral diet.
Iodine
Wild Caught Fish Eggs is a whole food source of iodine. Iodine is an essential trace mineral that is only naturally sourced from marine life or grown in iodine rich soil. Other foods high in iodine are either directly fortified, or are sourced from animals that are fed supplemental iodine.
Iodine is an essential component of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4. These hormones regulate the metabolic activities of most cells, blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature. Iodine plays a vital role in our immune system, detoxification pathways and also supports the process of early growth and development of most organs, especially the brain. (6)
As it relates to iodine supplemental drops, I’d steer clear. Our ancestors would have never had access to such concentrations of iodine and the long term effects of concentrated iodine can be toxic. I suggest getting Iodine from whole food sources, such as Wild Caught Fish Eggs, wild-caught lean fish (such as cod), and seaweed.
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
Hoki roe is a source of glycosaminoglycans, also referred to as the “glue of life”. GAGs play a vital role in the health of cartilage, tendons, skin and connective tissue. As we age, we lose precious GAGs and our cartilage becomes drier, thinner and more brittle. The GAGs found in our Wild Caught Fish Eggs help us to regain the elasticity within our connective tissue and maintain supple, healthy joints. (15)
Phospholipid OMEGA-3: DHA, EPA, & ETA
Wild caught fish eggs contain omega-3s (DHA, EPA, & ETA) in the form of phospholipids. Phospholipids are the most effective carriers to deliver these fatty acids into our cells. The phospholipid complex and omega-3 fatty acids function in perfect biochemical harmony to allow the fatty acid molecules to pass directly through cell membranes, including the intestinal wall and the blood-brain barrier. Phospholipids provide the nutritional building blocks for cell membranes, regulate cellular transport by functioning as “gate-keepers” and help protect cell membranes from free radicals.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in every cell of your body and help regulate biological functions, including those of the cardiovascular, reproductive, immune, and nervous systems. They have unique structural properties that provide optimal conditions for a wide range of cell membrane functions. These essential fats are anti-inflammatory by nature and replenish the moisture in our cartilage, which eases discomfort and promotes joint mobility. (2)
DHA:
DHA is the primary structural fatty acid in the gray matter of the brain. It is essential for early brain development, and a necessary nutrient for optimal heart, eye, immune, and metabolic health throughout life. Many studies have been conducted that show DHA supplementation during every stage of pregnancy and early childhood has led to smarter, more attentive children, with higher test scores, and better vision. (7,8)
The rudimentary source of DHA is marine algae; therefore it is found concentrated in fish, fish eggs, and marine oils. While some nutritionists may insist that humans can transform plant sources of ALA into DHA from foods such as flax, chia or green leafy vegetables, this is only conditionally true and is highly inefficient. While the cells of plants, like algae, are photosynthetic, our mammalian cells do not contain the enzymes necessary for the de novo synthesis of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is the precursor for the synthesis of all omega-3 fatty acids. Endogenous synthesis of DHA from ALA in humans is much lower and more limited than previously assumed. Most clinically proven benefits for omega 3 actually come down to DHA, which makes DHA a crucial nutrient to get in our diet as our body cannot produce it on its own. (5)
EPA:
A common assumption is that EPA may not be that important for neurological function because the levels of EPA in the brain aren't very high. However, EPA reduces neuro-inflammation by competing against arachidonic acid (omega-6) for access to the same enzymes needed to produce inflammatory eicosanoids. In other words, EPA prevents inflammation by inhibiting synthesis of the molecules responsible for inflammation in the first place. When we consume adequate amounts of EPA, we are able to reduce and prevent cellular inflammation in the brain eliminating depression, ADHD, brain trauma, etc. (9)
ETA:
ETA (eicosatetraenoic acid) is a unique omega-3 that functions as a potent anti-inflammatory that has been shown to support joint health, through the regeneration of damaged cartilage and synovial fluid.
ETA has only recently been studied and recognized for its health benefits. It is indicated that ETA can limit our body’s production of the omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid (ARA) by redirecting the enzyme that normally creates ARA and convert it to EPA instead.
This lesser-known omega-3 is found in fish roe and can actually help to reduce gastrointestinal irritation associated with long-term ingestion of some NSAIDs. (2)