where you get your flax. I bet some folks would be ...

[Guest guest]

> What do you consider to be large sums of flax?

 

Hi Vache!

 

The amount of toxins in a plant species varies greatly. Many of the factors

that influence the amount of glycosides depends, for example, on the climate

conditions, soil factors, sunlight/shade, time of year - even time of day,

etc.; generally speaking, what may be harmless in one situation could be

deadly in another.

 

The truth is from what I've learnt cyanogenic plants are not toxic until they

have been broken down by the digestive system which in turn releases HCN

(hydrocyanic acid), in other words cyanide. This is why it is said one

should boil (beet pulp again)! Actually I've never boiled and never have

known anyone who did. Most of the flax cultivated is from mature plants.

The immature seeds contain traces of prussic acid as do the leaves.

 

Even then, small quantities of glycosides are actually beneficial,

stimulating respiration, also aiding and improving digestion. Sounds almost

homeopathic, as in like treats like!

 

Nice to meet you!

 

Kandi

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Kandi,

 

What do you consider to be large sums of flax? I bet I eat a pound

of it a day. Guess it is better than eating candy bars, though am I

still killing myself anyway?

 

All my charges do very well on boiled flax. In fact their coats

become slicker before the ones flax left unadulterated. Go figure.

Anyway, one of my old roommates was married to Ph.D. that was (still

is?) on the team at Purina that formulated horse feeds. He is the

one that told me to boil flax before feeding it to the horses, & I

have heard it numerous times since. Who knows, perhaps it is just

another one of those arguments like how to feed beet pulp???

 

Also boiled flax is often used an egg white substitute for those with

egg allergies.

 

 

Vache

(geez, if it is not one thing it is another that is going to get me;

those parrots are looking better & better all the time)