Flax Seeds Good For You

[Guest guest]

Dear Listmates,

 

Recently someone posted information that flax seeds

were toxic and you should throw them away. (Sorry, I

don't remember the name!!) He refered us to an

article on the Internet.

 

I have tried to research this issue, as the

information is contrary to what nutritionists,

experts, and the general raw-food community believes.

 

I ended up writing Gabriel Cousens. His reply is

below. Also, the entire conversation which I included

in my email to him (in reverse, of course) is

included.

 

Best,

 

Diane

 

 

Dear Diane,

 

Wherever you got the information, it seems to have

been reversed; cooked flax can become rancid and

toxic. Raw is recognized as incredibly healthful

and safe.

 

Gabriel

 

Tree of Life Health Practice

Tel: 520-394-2520, ext. 207

Fax: 520-394-2099

e-mail: healing

website: www.treeoflife.nu

 

 

Diane Holmes [diane_holmes]

Tuesday, October 15, 2002 3:50 PM

tlrc; healing

Flax Seeds

 

Dear Dr. Cousens,

 

I am searching for an expert opinion on Flax seeds.

In fact, I posed my question over at the

www.rawfoods.com discussion board and your name came

up. The basic question is this: are flax seeds

toxic? Someone on a raw foods list has claimed this.

 

I am including my full post to rawfoods.com. (See

Below.) If you have any answer or can point me in the

right direction I would truly appreciate it!

 

Best,

 

Diane

 

Hello,

 

I'm on a raw foods list, where one of the members told

another to throw all flax seeds out because they are

" toxic when raw. "

 

He went on to say:

 

> Seed - raw or cooked. The seed contains 30 - 40%

oil, which comprises

> mainly

> linoleic and linolenic acids. The seed also contains

cyanogenic

> glycosides

> (prussic acid). In small quantities these glycosides

stimulate

> respiration

> and improve digestion, but in excess can cause

respiratory failure and

> death.

> Cultivars low in these glycosides have been

developed and large

> quantities of

> the seed would need to be eaten to achieve a harmful

dose.

>

> And from

http://www.coconut-info.com/facts_on_flax.htm

 

I talked to my vegan-partly raw nutritionist, and she

says, " I don't know about this without more research. I

do know that you should never heat flax because the

EFAs are so sensitive to oxidation, so the fact that

he

recommends cooking with it concerns me. I 'd have to

do some research on the toxins he's talking about...of

course he doesn't mention a source. Perhaps writing to

David Wolf or some at the rawfoods.com site ...maybe

they've researched it...they recommend flax

seeds..... "

 

 

So... I'm turning to you for some information!

 

Thanks so very much,

 

Diane

 

 

 

 

 

 

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