ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Shark liver oil

Hey kiddo, have you ever heard of sharks? Yes? Great! Sharks are big fish that live in the ocean and have lots of cool features, like sharp teeth and tough skin. But did you know that sharks also have something called a liver? It's like a big organ in their body that helps them digest food and store energy.

Now, some people use a special oil that comes from the liver of sharks. They call it shark liver oil. This oil is really interesting because it has something called squalene in it. Squalene is a type of molecule that helps sharks stay buoyant in the water, which means they can swim faster and more easily.

But that's not the only reason why people use shark liver oil. Squalene is also used in lots of beauty products because it can help moisturize your skin and make it really soft. And some people even take shark liver oil as a supplement because they believe it can help with things like boosting their immune system or reducing inflammation in their body.

But there's something really important that we have to talk about when it comes to shark liver oil. You see, getting this oil means people have to catch and kill sharks. And that's not good for our planet because sharks are really important animals in the ocean. They help keep the ecosystem balanced and healthy.

So, while shark liver oil might seem really cool and interesting, it's actually not something we should be using because it harms sharks and the environment. Instead, we should focus on finding other ways to moisturize our skin or improve our health that don't involve hurting animals.
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