Interesting and concerning article about flax

[Guest guest]

Hello all. This article comes from the American Journal of Clinical

Nutrition. I am a little concerned about what it says about flax not

being a source of DHA. All of these years I've read that it is. In

fact, since I am vegetarian I used flax oil while I was pregnant, and

during the nine months my son has been nursing. Now I wonder if he's

gotten any of the DHA so necessary to optimal brain development. This

article implies that a person can not be truely healthy unless they

eat fish or at least use fish oil. What do you think?

 

Suzanne

 

Flaxseed Oil Does Not Increase Essential DHA in Breast Milk

 

 

E-mail to a friend

 

Human breast milk is made up of fifty percent fat, a necessary

component to the

growth of the newborn baby. The fat contains omega-3 and omega-6

essential

fatty acids that facilitate the development of the brain, retina and

other

organs. These fatty acids in human milk come from three sources, body

stores of

fatty acids, synthesis of fatty acids by the liver or breast tissue

and the

diet.

 

Omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA, are particularly important

because they

play a major role in the development of the newborn's brain and

retina. The

make up of fatty acid in breast milk is a reflection of the type of

dietary fat

consumed by the mother both short and long term. For example, women

who took

fish oil supplements, rich in DHA, for one to four weeks were found

to have

increased levels of DHA in their breast milk. Comparatively, women

who eat fish

on a regular basis have higher quantities of DHA in breast milk than

those who

do not.

 

Flaxseed oil is a source of another fatty acid, ALA, the precursor

fatty acid

in the synthetic steps that result in DHA, however studies have shown

that

humans convert very little ALA from flax to EPA or DHA. One study

found that in

the conversion of ALA to DHA, only .05 percent of ALA was available

for

synthesis of DHA.

 

In one recent study, participants were given 15,000 mg flaxseed oil

daily for

12 weeks. Quantities of EPA, DPA, DHA or total omega-3 fatty acids

did not

increase in plasma or erythrocytes. Moreover, after the flaxseed oil

supplementation was stopped, ALA concentrations in the blood and

breast milk

had reverted to the original concentrations.

 

Therefore, the study indicates that flaxseed oil is not an ideal

source of

fatty acids for breast-feeding mothers.

 

American Journal Clinical Nutrition January 2003 77: 226-233

 

 

----

----------

 

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

E-mail to a friend

 

It is clear that DHA, not ALA from flaxseed, is the key fatty acid in

optimizing development of the newborn child's brain. It is important

to

remember that approximately 60 percent of the human brain is composed

of fatty

material -- and 25 percent of that material is DHA.

 

 

Some people will seek to use flaxseed oil to increase their DHA

content, but as

the above study shows this will not work. Despite receiving 15,000 mg

of

flaxseed oil for three months, the important omega-3 fat, DHA, was

not produced

in breast milk.

 

 

Always remember omega-3 fats are essential to your, and your

children's,

health. The best source for omega-3 is fish oil and cod liver oil,

as, unlike

other sources such as walnuts or flax seeds, it is high in two fatty

acids

crucial to human health, DHA and EPA. These two fatty acids are

pivotal in

preventing heart disease, cancer, and many other diseases. The human

brain is

also highly dependent on DHA - low DHA levels have been linked to

depression,

schizophrenia, memory loss, and a higher risk of developing

Alzheimer's.

 

When choosing your fish oil or cod liver oil, it is important to

remember that

not all brands are the same. In my research -- and in my clinical

experience

with my patients -- I have found that 1) the liquid form is superior

to

capsules; 2) that certain brands definitely seem inferior to others;

3) that

the Carlson's brand of fish oil/cod liver oil is of an exceptional

quality and

purity. It is likely not the only brand in the world of such high

quality, but

up to this point it is the only one of such quality that I can

recommend, so I

now offer the Carlson's fish oil and cod liver oil on Mercola.com;

you can also

check your local health food store to see if they carry it.

 

As for fish itself, patients consuming nearly every type of fish

these days are

showing high levels of mercury in their systems. In short -- and

sadly, as it

would otherwise be one of the healthiest meats on the planet -- I now

advise

against consuming any fish from any source, including fresh water,

farm-raised

or ocean, because most are contaminated with mercury. If you do

consume fish,

you should be certain the provider can demonstrate that the fish are

free of

detectable levels of mercury and other toxins (Carlson's fish oil/cod

liver oil

has been entirely purified so you don't have to worry about these

toxins.)

 

So what is the difference between fish oil and cod liver oil? In

short, fish

oil should be consumed in warm weather months and warm climates,

while cod

liver oil should be consumed in cool weather months and cool

climates. Cod

liver oil is high in vitamin D (and vitamin A); those in cool weather

climates

do not generally get enough vitamin D. However, in warm weather,

their vitamin

D is usually sufficient, as sunshine is one of the primary methods of

obtaining

this vitamin; if you consume too much vitamin D in these warm weather

months,

you do risk overdosing.

 

A reasonable dose for both fish oil and cod liver oil is one teaspoon

for every

50 pounds of body weight daily.

 

Generally, our diets contain not only far too little omega-3, but far

too many

omega-6 fats. Experts looking at the dietary ratio of omega-6 to

omega-3 fatty

acids suggest that in early human history the ratio was about 1:1.

Currently

most Americans eat a dietary ratio that falls between 20:1 and 50:1.

The

optimal ratio is most likely closer to the original ratio of 1:1. For

most of

us this means not only increasing our omega-3 intake through fish

oil, but also

greatly reducing the omega-6 fatty acids we consume.

 

Please recognize that we get ALL the omega-6 (and omega-9) fat we

need from

food. We do NOT need to take any supplements for these fats. Many of

the omega

fat supplements you see in health food stores will only serve to

worsen your

health, not improve it, as they contain omega-6 fats that will only

worsen your

omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.

 

I strongly recommend avoiding sunflower, corn, soy, safflower, and

canola oil,

and products that contain these oils. This also means no hydrogenated

or

partially hydrogenated fats, no margarine, no vegetable oil and no

shortening.

These oils are full of omega-6 fats and will only worsen your omega-6

to

omega-3 ratio.

 

Acceptable oils include high-quality extra virgin olive oil, coconut

oil,

avocados and organic butter... or better yet, grass-fed organic

butter.

 

Another way to improve your omega 6:3 ratio is to change the type of

meat you

are eating. Since I can't recommend fish due to their high levels of

mercury

and other toxins these days, the best meats are those raised

primarily or

entirely on grass diets. Nearly all cattle found in grocery stores and

restaurants are grain-fed before slaughter, so if you eat this type

of beef, it

will typically worsen you omega 6:omega 3 ratio. Though it may sound

unusual to

some, two of the best meats on the planet -- in terms of nutrition

value and

their incredible taste -- are bison and ostrich. And on Mercola.com,

I offer

bison meat and our exclusive omega-3-rich ostrich meat, both of which

are

free-ranged, fed primarily grass/alfalfa diets, and contain no

antibiotics or

steroids. Whether from my site or elsewhere, I urge you to try bison

and

ostrich.

 

You can also consume a more " gamey " meat like venison, or try grass-

fed beef,

which I also highly recommend on Mercola.com. The grass-fed beef I

recommend is

even higher in omega-3 than fish, with a 6:3 ratio of 0.16 to 1 (this

information is from a study done at Iowa State University in August

2001). It

is still hard to find in grocery stores, however, and unlike bison

and ostrich

-- which both taste like prime beef -- some find the taste of grass-

fed beef

too lean.

 

On a side-note, you should be cautious of stores advertising grass-

fed beef

that really isn't true grass-fed. ALL cattle are grass-fed to some

small

extent, but the key is what they are fed the months prior to being

processed.

Most all cattle are shipped to giant feed lots and fed corn to fatten

them up.

Your best bet is to call the person who actually grew the beef, NOT

the store

manager, to find out the truth. Another effective way to determine if

the meat

is really from a grass-fed animal is to purchase the ground beef and

slowly

cook it until it's done, then drain and collect all the fat. Grass-

fed beef

will contain a relatively small amount of such fat compared to

traditionally

prepared ground beef (which is why some find the taste of grass-fed

too lean!)

 

In summary:

 

1) Most Americans, young and old, are highly deficient in omega-3,

and one of

the best things you can do for yourself and your children is

routinely consume

fish oil in warm months and cod liver oil in cool months, as they are

high in

the best kind of omega-3.

 

2) You should cut out or reduce the oils and foods high in omega-6

fats, as

Americans get far too much of them. This includes corn, sunflower,

soy, canola

and safflower oil, margarine, vegetable oil and shortening.

 

3) You should eat healthy meats, as store-bought beef and other

common meats

can worsen your omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. Bison and ostrich are two

great-tasting and very healthy choices, and game animals or beef that

is truly

grass-fed are other good options.

 

Related Articles:

 

Flax is Not the Best Omega-3 Fat

 

 

Is DHA The Secret Of Breast Milk's Success?

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

There's a lot of debate concerning flax and how it is

absorbed and used in our bodies. So much so that I

decided to use the fish oil. Once a week only...Much

more often than I would have actually eaten fish.

Anyway, I have flax oil and use that as well. But

just to make sure...I also use the fish. My health is

more important to me than anything and the number one

reason I became a vegetarian:) I sent this article to

another veggie group I'm on yesterday. Do you

to Childbearing News?

Warmly,

Allison

 

 

--- " Suzanne <reiki882002 "

<reiki882002 wrote:

> Hello all. This article comes from the American

> Journal of Clinical

> Nutrition. I am a little concerned about what it

> says about flax not

> being a source of DHA. All of these years I've read

> that it is. In

> fact, since I am vegetarian I used flax oil while I

> was pregnant, and

> during the nine months my son has been nursing. Now

> I wonder if he's

> gotten any of the DHA so necessary to optimal brain

> development. This

> article implies that a person can not be truely

> healthy unless they

> eat fish or at least use fish oil. What do you

> think?

>

> Suzanne

>

> Flaxseed Oil Does Not Increase Essential DHA in

> Breast Milk

>

>

> E-mail to a friend

>

> Human breast milk is made up of fifty percent fat, a

> necessary

> component to the

> growth of the newborn baby. The fat contains omega-3

> and omega-6

> essential

> fatty acids that facilitate the development of the

> brain, retina and

> other

> organs. These fatty acids in human milk come from

> three sources, body

> stores of

> fatty acids, synthesis of fatty acids by the liver

> or breast tissue

> and the

> diet.

>

> Omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA, are particularly

> important

> because they

> play a major role in the development of the

> newborn's brain and

> retina. The

> make up of fatty acid in breast milk is a reflection

> of the type of

> dietary fat

> consumed by the mother both short and long term. For

> example, women

> who took

> fish oil supplements, rich in DHA, for one to four

> weeks were found

> to have

> increased levels of DHA in their breast milk.

> Comparatively, women

> who eat fish

> on a regular basis have higher quantities of DHA in

> breast milk than

> those who

> do not.

>

> Flaxseed oil is a source of another fatty acid, ALA,

> the precursor

> fatty acid

> in the synthetic steps that result in DHA, however

> studies have shown

> that

> humans convert very little ALA from flax to EPA or

> DHA. One study

> found that in

> the conversion of ALA to DHA, only .05 percent of

> ALA was available

> for

> synthesis of DHA.

>

> In one recent study, participants were given 15,000

> mg flaxseed oil

> daily for

> 12 weeks. Quantities of EPA, DPA, DHA or total

> omega-3 fatty acids

> did not

> increase in plasma or erythrocytes. Moreover, after

> the flaxseed oil

> supplementation was stopped, ALA concentrations in

> the blood and

> breast milk

> had reverted to the original concentrations.

>

> Therefore, the study indicates that flaxseed oil is

> not an ideal

> source of

> fatty acids for breast-feeding mothers.

>

> American Journal Clinical Nutrition January 2003 77:

> 226-233

>

>

>

----

> ----------

>

> DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

> E-mail to a friend

>

> It is clear that DHA, not ALA from flaxseed, is the

> key fatty acid in

> optimizing development of the newborn child's brain.

> It is important

> to

> remember that approximately 60 percent of the human

> brain is composed

> of fatty

> material -- and 25 percent of that material is DHA.

>

>

> Some people will seek to use flaxseed oil to

> increase their DHA

> content, but as

> the above study shows this will not work. Despite

> receiving 15,000 mg

> of

> flaxseed oil for three months, the important omega-3

> fat, DHA, was

> not produced

> in breast milk.

>

>

> Always remember omega-3 fats are essential to your,

> and your

> children's,

> health. The best source for omega-3 is fish oil and

> cod liver oil,

> as, unlike

> other sources such as walnuts or flax seeds, it is

> high in two fatty

> acids

> crucial to human health, DHA and EPA. These two

> fatty acids are

> pivotal in

> preventing heart disease, cancer, and many other

> diseases. The human

> brain is

> also highly dependent on DHA - low DHA levels have

> been linked to

> depression,

> schizophrenia, memory loss, and a higher risk of

> developing

> Alzheimer's.

>

> When choosing your fish oil or cod liver oil, it is

> important to

> remember that

> not all brands are the same. In my research -- and

> in my clinical

> experience

> with my patients -- I have found that 1) the liquid

> form is superior

> to

> capsules; 2) that certain brands definitely seem

> inferior to others;

> 3) that

> the Carlson's brand of fish oil/cod liver oil is of

> an exceptional

> quality and

> purity. It is likely not the only brand in the world

> of such high

> quality, but

> up to this point it is the only one of such quality

> that I can

> recommend, so I

> now offer the Carlson's fish oil and cod liver oil

> on Mercola.com;

> you can also

> check your local health food store to see if they

> carry it.

>

> As for fish itself, patients consuming nearly every

> type of fish

> these days are

> showing high levels of mercury in their systems. In

> short -- and

> sadly, as it

> would otherwise be one of the healthiest meats on

> the planet -- I now

> advise

> against consuming any fish from any source,

> including fresh water,

> farm-raised

> or ocean, because most are contaminated with

> mercury. If you do

> consume fish,

> you should be certain the provider can demonstrate

> that the fish are

> free of

> detectable levels of mercury and other toxins

> (Carlson's fish oil/cod

> liver oil

> has been entirely purified so you don't have to

> worry about these

> toxins.)

>

> So what is the difference between fish oil and cod

> liver oil? In

> short, fish

> oil should be consumed in warm weather months and

> warm climates,

> while cod

> liver oil should be consumed in cool weather months

> and cool

> climates. Cod

> liver oil is high in vitamin D (and vitamin A);

> those in cool weather

> climates

> do not generally get enough vitamin D. However, in

> warm weather,

> their vitamin

> D is usually sufficient, as sunshine is one of the

> primary methods of

> obtaining

> this vitamin; if you consume too much vitamin D in

> these warm weather

> months,

> you do risk overdosing.

>

> A reasonable dose for both fish oil and cod liver

> oil is one teaspoon

> for every

> 50 pounds of body weight daily.

>

> Generally, our diets contain not only far too little

> omega-3, but far

> too many

> omega-6 fats. Experts looking at the dietary ratio

> of omega-6 to

> omega-3 fatty

> acids suggest that in early human history the ratio

> was about 1:1.

> Currently

> most Americans eat a dietary ratio that falls

> between 20:1 and 50:1.

> The

> optimal ratio is most likely closer to the original

> ratio of 1:1. For

> most of

> us this means not only increasing our omega-3 intake

> through fish

> oil, but also

> greatly reducing the omega-6 fatty acids we consume.

>

> Please recognize that we get ALL the omega-6 (and

> omega-9) fat we

> need from

> food. We do NOT need to take any supplements for

> these fats. Many of

> the omega

> fat supplements you see in health food stores will

> only serve to

> worsen your

> health, not improve it, as they contain omega-6 fats

> that will only

> worsen your

> omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.

>

> I strongly recommend avoiding sunflower, corn, soy,

> safflower, and

> canola oil,

> and products that contain these oils. This also

> means no hydrogenated

> or

> partially hydrogenated fats, no margarine, no

> vegetable oil and no

> shortening.

> These oils are full of omega-6 fats and will only

> worsen your omega-6

> to

> omega-3 ratio.

>

> Acceptable oils include high-quality extra virgin

> olive oil, coconut

> oil,

> avocados and organic butter... or better yet,

> grass-fed organic

> butter.

>

> Another way to improve your omega 6:3 ratio is to

> change the type of

> meat you

> are eating. Since I can't recommend fish due to

> their high levels of

> mercury

> and other toxins these days, the best meats are

> those raised

> primarily or

> entirely on grass diets. Nearly all cattle found in

> grocery stores and

> restaurants are grain-fed before slaughter, so if

> you eat this type

> of beef, it

> will typically worsen you omega 6:omega 3 ratio.

> Though it may sound

> unusual to

> some, two of the best meats on the planet -- in

> terms of nutrition

> value and

> their incredible taste -- are bison and ostrich. And

> on Mercola.com,

> I offer

> bison meat and our exclusive omega-3-rich ostrich

> meat, both of which

> are

> free-ranged, fed primarily grass/alfalfa diets, and

> contain no

> antibiotics or

> steroids. Whether from my site or elsewhere, I urge

> you to try bison

> and

> ostrich.

>

> You can also consume a more " gamey " meat like

> venison, or try grass-

> fed beef,

> which I also highly recommend on Mercola.com. The

> grass-fed beef I

> recommend is

> even higher in omega-3 than fish, with a 6:3 ratio

> of 0.16 to 1 (this

> information is from a study done at Iowa State

> University in August

> 2001). It

> is still hard to find in grocery stores, however,

> and unlike bison

> and ostrich

> -- which both taste like prime beef -- some find the

> taste of grass-

> fed beef

> too lean.

>

> On a side-note, you should be cautious of stores

> advertising grass-

> fed beef

> that really isn't true grass-fed. ALL cattle are

> grass-fed to some

> small

> extent, but the key is what they are fed the months

> prior to being

> processed.

> Most all cattle are shipped to giant feed lots and

> fed corn to fatten

> them up.

> Your best bet is to call the person who actually

> grew the beef, NOT

> the store

> manager, to find out the truth. Another effective

> way to determine if

> the meat

> is really from a grass-fed animal is to purchase the

> ground beef and

> slowly

> cook it until it's done, then drain and collect all

> the fat. Grass-

> fed beef

> will contain a relatively small amount of such fat

> compared to

> traditionally

> prepared ground beef (which is why some find the

> taste of grass-fed

> too lean!)

>

> In summary:

>

> 1) Most Americans, young and old, are highly

> deficient in omega-3,

> and one of

> the best things you can do for yourself and your

> children is

> routinely consume

> fish oil in warm months and cod liver oil in cool

> months, as they are

> high in

> the best kind of omega-3.

>

> 2) You should cut out or reduce the oils and foods

> high in omega-6

> fats, as

> Americans get far too much of them. This includes

> corn, sunflower,

> soy, canola

> and safflower oil, margarine, vegetable oil and

> shortening.

>

> 3) You should eat healthy meats, as store-bought

> beef and other

> common meats

> can worsen your omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. Bison and

> ostrich are two

> great-tasting and very healthy choices, and game

> animals or beef that

> is truly

> grass-fed are other good options.

>

> Related Articles:

>

> Flax is Not the Best Omega-3 Fat

>

>

> Is DHA The Secret Of Breast Milk's Success?

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Hi Allison,

I didn't know about Childbearing news. Is it on the internet.

Thanks

Suzanne

 

 

Allison Nations <allyanne2001 wrote:

There's a lot of debate concerning flax and how it isabsorbed and used in our bodies. So much so that Idecided to use the fish oil. Once a week only...Muchmore often than I would have actually eaten fish. Anyway, I have flax oil and use that as well. Butjust to make sure...I also use the fish. My health ismore important to me than anything and the number onereason I became a vegetarian:) I sent this article toanother veggie group I'm on yesterday. Do you to Childbearing News? Warmly,Allison--- "Suzanne <reiki882002"<reiki882002 wrote:> Hello all. This article comes from the American> Journal of Clinical > Nutrition. I am a little concerned about what it> says about flax not > being a source of DHA. All of these years I've read> that it is. In > fact, since I am vegetarian I used flax oil while I> was pregnant, and > during the nine months my son has been nursing. Now> I wonder if he's > gotten any of the DHA so necessary to optimal brain> development. This > article implies that a person can not be truely> healthy unless they > eat fish or at least use fish oil. What do you> think?> > Suzanne > > Flaxseed Oil Does Not Increase Essential DHA in> Breast Milk> > > E-mail to a friend > > Human breast milk is made up of fifty percent fat, a> necessary > component to the> growth of the newborn baby. The fat contains omega-3> and omega-6 > essential> fatty acids that facilitate the development of the> brain, retina and > other> organs. These fatty acids in human milk come from> three sources, body > stores of> fatty acids, synthesis of fatty acids by the liver> or breast tissue > and the> diet. > > Omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA, are particularly> important > because they> play a major role in the development of the> newborn's brain and > retina. The> make up of fatty acid in breast milk is a reflection> of the type of > dietary fat> consumed by the mother both short and long term. For> example, women > who took> fish oil supplements, rich in DHA, for one to four> weeks were found > to have> increased levels of DHA in their breast milk.> Comparatively, women > who eat fish> on a regular basis have higher quantities of DHA in> breast milk than > those who> do not.> > Flaxseed oil is a source of another fatty acid, ALA,> the precursor > fatty acid> in the synthetic steps that result in DHA, however> studies have shown > that> humans convert very little ALA from flax to EPA or> DHA. One study > found that in> the conversion of ALA to DHA, only .05 percent of> ALA was available > for> synthesis of DHA.> > In one recent study, participants were given 15,000> mg flaxseed oil > daily for> 12 weeks. Quantities of EPA, DPA, DHA or total> omega-3 fatty acids > did not> increase in plasma or erythrocytes. Moreover, after> the flaxseed oil> supplementation was stopped, ALA concentrations in> the blood and > breast milk> had reverted to the original concentrations. > > Therefore, the study indicates that flaxseed oil is> not an ideal > source of> fatty acids for breast-feeding mothers.> > American Journal Clinical Nutrition January 2003 77:> 226-233> > >----> ----------> > DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:> E-mail to a friend > > It is clear that DHA, not ALA from flaxseed, is the> key fatty acid in> optimizing development of the newborn child's brain.> It is important > to> remember that approximately 60 percent of the human> brain is composed > of fatty> material -- and 25 percent of that material is DHA.> > > Some people will seek to use flaxseed oil to> increase their DHA > content, but as> the above study shows this will not work. Despite> receiving 15,000 mg > of> flaxseed oil for three months, the important omega-3> fat, DHA, was > not produced> in breast milk.> > > Always remember omega-3 fats are essential to your,> and your > children's,> health. The best source for omega-3 is fish oil and> cod liver oil, > as, unlike> other sources such as walnuts or flax seeds, it is> high in two fatty > acids> crucial to human health, DHA and EPA. These two> fatty acids are > pivotal in> preventing heart disease, cancer, and many other> diseases. The human > brain is> also highly dependent on DHA - low DHA levels have> been linked to > depression,> schizophrenia, memory loss, and a higher risk of> developing > Alzheimer's.> > When choosing your fish oil or cod liver oil, it is> important to > remember that> not all brands are the same. In my research -- and> in my clinical > experience> with my patients -- I have found that 1) the liquid> form is superior > to> capsules; 2) that certain brands definitely seem> inferior to others; > 3) that> the Carlson's brand of fish oil/cod liver oil is of> an exceptional > quality and> purity. It is likely not the only brand in the world> of such high > quality, but> up to this point it is the only one of such quality> that I can > recommend, so I> now offer the Carlson's fish oil and cod liver oil> on Mercola.com; > you can also> check your local health food store to see if they> carry it.> > As for fish itself, patients consuming nearly every> type of fish > these days are> showing high levels of mercury in their systems. In> short -- and > sadly, as it> would otherwise be one of the healthiest meats on> the planet -- I now > advise> against consuming any fish from any source,> including fresh water, > farm-raised> or ocean, because most are contaminated with> mercury. If you do > consume fish,> you should be certain the provider can demonstrate> that the fish are > free of> detectable levels of mercury and other toxins> (Carlson's fish oil/cod > liver oil> has been entirely purified so you don't have to> worry about these > toxins.)> > So what is the difference between fish oil and cod> liver oil? In > short, fish> oil should be consumed in warm weather months and> warm climates, > while cod> liver oil should be consumed in cool weather months> and cool > climates. Cod> liver oil is high in vitamin D (and vitamin A);> those in cool weather > climates> do not generally get enough vitamin D. However, in> warm weather, > their vitamin> D is usually sufficient, as sunshine is one of the> primary methods of > obtaining> this vitamin; if you consume too much vitamin D in> these warm weather > months,> you do risk overdosing.> > A reasonable dose for both fish oil and cod liver> oil is one teaspoon > for every> 50 pounds of body weight daily.> > Generally, our diets contain not only far too little> omega-3, but far > too many> omega-6 fats. Experts looking at the dietary ratio> of omega-6 to > omega-3 fatty> acids suggest that in early human history the ratio> was about 1:1. > Currently> most Americans eat a dietary ratio that falls> between 20:1 and 50:1. > The> optimal ratio is most likely closer to the original> ratio of 1:1. For > most of> us this means not only increasing our omega-3 intake> through fish > oil, but also> greatly reducing the omega-6 fatty acids we consume.> > Please recognize that we get ALL the omega-6 (and> omega-9) fat we > need from> food. We do NOT need to take any supplements for> these fats. Many of > the omega> fat supplements you see in health food stores will> only serve to > worsen your> health, not improve it, as they contain omega-6 fats> that will only > worsen your> omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.> > I strongly recommend avoiding sunflower, corn, soy,> safflower, and > canola oil,> and products that contain these oils. This also> means no hydrogenated > or> partially hydrogenated fats, no margarine, no> vegetable oil and no > shortening.> These oils are full of omega-6 fats and will only> worsen your omega-6 > to> omega-3 ratio.> > Acceptable oils include high-quality extra virgin> olive oil, coconut > oil,> avocados and organic butter... or better yet,> grass-fed organic > butter.> > Another way to improve your omega 6:3 ratio is to> change the type of > meat you> are eating. Since I can't recommend fish due to> their high levels of > mercury> and other toxins these days, the best meats are> those raised > primarily or> entirely on grass diets. Nearly all cattle found in> grocery stores and> restaurants are grain-fed before slaughter, so if> you eat this type > of beef, it> will typically worsen you omega 6:omega 3 ratio.> Though it may sound > unusual to> some, two of the best meats on the planet -- in> terms of nutrition > value and> their incredible taste -- are bison and ostrich. And> on Mercola.com, > I offer> bison meat and our exclusive omega-3-rich ostrich> meat, both of which > are> free-ranged, fed primarily grass/alfalfa diets, and> contain no > antibiotics or> steroids. Whether from my site or elsewhere, I urge> you to try bison > and> ostrich.> > You can also consume a more "gamey" meat like> venison, or try grass-> fed beef,> which I also highly recommend on Mercola.com. The> grass-fed beef I > recommend is> even higher in omega-3 than fish, with a 6:3 ratio> of 0.16 to 1 (this> information is from a study done at Iowa State> University in August > 2001). It> is still hard to find in grocery stores, however,> and unlike bison > and ostrich> -- which both taste like prime beef -- some find the> taste of grass-> fed beef> too lean.> > On a side-note, you should be cautious of stores> advertising grass-> fed beef> that really isn't true grass-fed. ALL cattle are> grass-fed to some > small> extent, but the key is what they are fed the months> prior to being > processed.> Most all cattle are shipped to giant feed lots and> fed corn to fatten > them up.> Your best bet is to call the person who actually> grew the beef, NOT > the store> manager, to find out the truth. Another effective> way to determine if > the meat> is really from a grass-fed animal is to purchase the> ground beef and > slowly> cook it until it's done, then drain and collect all> the fat. Grass-> fed beef> will contain a relatively small amount of such fat> compared to > traditionally> prepared ground beef (which is why some find the> taste of grass-fed > too lean!)> > In summary:> > 1) Most Americans, young and old, are highly> deficient in omega-3, > and one of> the best things you can do for yourself and your> children is > routinely consume> fish oil in warm months and cod liver oil in cool> months, as they are > high in> the best kind of omega-3. > > 2) You should cut out or reduce the oils and foods> high in omega-6 > fats, as> Americans get far too much of them. This includes> corn, sunflower, > soy, canola> and safflower oil, margarine, vegetable oil and> shortening. > > 3) You should eat healthy meats, as store-bought> beef and other > common meats> can worsen your omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. Bison and> ostrich are two> great-tasting and very healthy choices, and game> animals or beef that > is truly> grass-fed are other good options.> > Related Articles:> > Flax is Not the Best Omega-3 Fat> > > Is DHA The Secret Of Breast Milk's Success?> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been> removed]> > > > > > > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now.http://mailplus.contact owner: -owner Mail list: Delivered-mailing list List-Un: - no flaming arguing or denigration of others allowedcontact owner with complaints regarding posting/list or anything else. Thank you.please share/comment/inform and mostly enjoy this list

[Guest guest]

I believe I d through Midwifery Today. It's

a free weekly newsletter (though sometimes it seems

like it's a few times a week). If you cannot find it

on their website, let me know and I'll forward the

next newsletter to you and you can that way.

 

Warmly,

Allison

 

 

 

--- Suzanne De Gregorio <reiki882002 wrote:

>

> Hi Allison,

> I didn't know about Childbearing news. Is it on the

> internet.

> Thanks

> Suzanne

>

>

> Allison Nations <allyanne2001

> wrote:There's a lot of debate concerning flax and

> how it is

> absorbed and used in our bodies. So much so that I

> decided to use the fish oil. Once a week

> only...Much

> more often than I would have actually eaten fish.

> Anyway, I have flax oil and use that as well. But

> just to make sure...I also use the fish. My health

> is

> more important to me than anything and the number

> one

> reason I became a vegetarian:) I sent this article

> to

> another veggie group I'm on yesterday. Do you

> to Childbearing News?

> Warmly,

> Allison

>

>

> --- " Suzanne <reiki882002 "

> <reiki882002 wrote:

> > Hello all. This article comes from the American

> > Journal of Clinical

> > Nutrition. I am a little concerned about what it

> > says about flax not

> > being a source of DHA. All of these years I've

> read

> > that it is. In

> > fact, since I am vegetarian I used flax oil while

> I

> > was pregnant, and

> > during the nine months my son has been nursing.

> Now

> > I wonder if he's

> > gotten any of the DHA so necessary to optimal

> brain

> > development. This

> > article implies that a person can not be truely

> > healthy unless they

> > eat fish or at least use fish oil. What do you

> > think?

> >

> > Suzanne

> >

> > Flaxseed Oil Does Not Increase Essential DHA in

> > Breast Milk

> >

> >

> > E-mail to a friend

> >

> > Human breast milk is made up of fifty percent fat,

> a

> > necessary

> > component to the

> > growth of the newborn baby. The fat contains

> omega-3

> > and omega-6

> > essential

> > fatty acids that facilitate the development of the

> > brain, retina and

> > other

> > organs. These fatty acids in human milk come from

> > three sources, body

> > stores of

> > fatty acids, synthesis of fatty acids by the liver

> > or breast tissue

> > and the

> > diet.

> >

> > Omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA, are

> particularly

> > important

> > because they

> > play a major role in the development of the

> > newborn's brain and

> > retina. The

> > make up of fatty acid in breast milk is a

> reflection

> > of the type of

> > dietary fat

> > consumed by the mother both short and long term.

> For

> > example, women

> > who took

> > fish oil supplements, rich in DHA, for one to four

> > weeks were found

> > to have

> > increased levels of DHA in their breast milk.

> > Comparatively, women

> > who eat fish

> > on a regular basis have higher quantities of DHA

> in

> > breast milk than

> > those who

> > do not.

> >

> > Flaxseed oil is a source of another fatty acid,

> ALA,

> > the precursor

> > fatty acid

> > in the synthetic steps that result in DHA, however

> > studies have shown

> > that

> > humans convert very little ALA from flax to EPA or

> > DHA. One study

> > found that in

> > the conversion of ALA to DHA, only .05 percent of

> > ALA was available

> > for

> > synthesis of DHA.

> >

> > In one recent study, participants were given

> 15,000

> > mg flaxseed oil

> > daily for

> > 12 weeks. Quantities of EPA, DPA, DHA or total

> > omega-3 fatty acids

> > did not

> > increase in plasma or erythrocytes. Moreover,

> after

> > the flaxseed oil

> > supplementation was stopped, ALA concentrations in

> > the blood and

> > breast milk

> > had reverted to the original concentrations.

> >

> > Therefore, the study indicates that flaxseed oil

> is

> > not an ideal

> > source of

> > fatty acids for breast-feeding mothers.

> >

> > American Journal Clinical Nutrition January 2003

> 77:

> > 226-233

> >

> >

> >

>

----

> > ----------

> >

> > DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

> > E-mail to a friend

> >

> > It is clear that DHA, not ALA from flaxseed, is

> the

> > key fatty acid in

> > optimizing development of the newborn child's

> brain.

> > It is important

> > to

> > remember that approximately 60 percent of the

> human

> > brain is composed

> > of fatty

> > material -- and 25 percent of that material is

> DHA.

> >

> >

> > Some people will seek to use flaxseed oil to

> > increase their DHA

> > content, but as

> > the above study shows this will not work. Despite

> > receiving 15,000 mg

> > of

> > flaxseed oil for three months, the important

> omega-3

> > fat, DHA, was

> > not produced

> > in breast milk.

> >

> >

> > Always remember omega-3 fats are essential to

> your,

> > and your

> > children's,

> > health. The best source for omega-3 is fish oil

> and

> > cod liver oil,

> > as, unlike

> > other sources such as walnuts or flax seeds, it is

> > high in two fatty

> > acids

> > crucial to human health, DHA and EPA. These two

> > fatty acids are

> > pivotal in

> > preventing heart disease, cancer, and many other

> > diseases. The human

> > brain is

> > also highly dependent on DHA - low DHA levels have

> > been linked to

> > depression,

> > schizophrenia, memory loss, and a higher risk of

> > developing

> > Alzheimer's.

> >

> > When choosing your fish oil or cod liver oil, it

> is

> > important to

> > remember that

> > not all brands are the same. In my research -- and

> > in my clinical

> > experience

> > with my patients -- I have found that 1) the

> liquid

> > form is superior

> > to

> > capsules; 2) that certain brands definitely seem

> > inferior to others;

> > 3) that

> > the Carlson's brand of fish oil/cod liver oil is

> of

> > an exceptional

> > quality and

> > purity. It is likely not the only brand in the

> world

> > of such high

> > quality, but

> > up to this point it is the only one of such

> quality

> > that I can

> > recommend, so I

> > now offer the Carlson's fish oil and cod liver oil

> > on Mercola.com;

> > you can also

> > check your local health food store to see if they

> > carry it.

> >

> > As for fish itself, patients consuming nearly

> every

> > type of fish

> > these days are

> > showing high levels of mercury in their systems.

> In

> > short -- and

> > sadly, as it

> > would otherwise be one of the healthiest meats on

> > the planet -- I now

> > advise

> > against consuming any fish from any source,

> > including fresh water,

> > farm-raised

> > or ocean, because most are contaminated with

> > mercury. If you do

> > consume fish,

> > you should be certain the provider can demonstrate

> > that the fish are

> > free of

> > detectable levels of mercury and other toxins

> > (Carlson's fish oil/cod

> > liver oil

> > has been entirely purified so you don't have to

> > worry about these

> > toxins.)

> >

> > So what is the difference between fish oil and cod

> > liver oil? In

> > short, fish

> > oil should be consumed in warm weather months and

> > warm climates,

> > while cod

> > liver oil should be consumed in cool weather

> months

> > and cool

> > climates. Cod

> > liver oil is high in vitamin D (and vitamin A);

> > those in cool weather

> > climates

> > do not generally get enough vitamin D. However, in

> > warm weather,

> > their vitamin

> > D is usually sufficient, as sunshine is one of the

> > primary methods of

> > obtaining

> > this vitamin; if you consume too much vitamin D in

> > these warm weather

> > months,

> > you do risk overdosing.

> >

> > A reasonable dose for both fish oil and cod liver

> > oil is one teaspoon

> > for every

> > 50 pounds of body weight daily.

> >

> > Generally, our diets contain not only far too

> little

> > omega-3, but far

> > too many

> > omega-6 fats. Experts looking at the dietary ratio

> > of omega-6 to

> > omega-3 fatty

> > acids suggest that in early human history the

> ratio

> > was about 1:1.

> > Currently

> > most Americans eat a dietary ratio that falls

> > between 20:1 and 50:1.

> > The

> > optimal ratio is most likely closer to the

> original

> > ratio of 1:1. For

> > most of

> > us this means not only increasing our omega-3

> intake

> > through fish

> > oil, but also

> > greatly reducing the omega-6 fatty acids we

> consume.

> >

> > Please recognize that we get ALL the omega-6 (and

> > omega-9) fat we

> > need from

> > food. We do NOT need to take any supplements for

> > these fats. Many of

> > the omega

> > fat supplements you see in health food stores will

> > only serve to

> > worsen your

> > health, not improve it, as they contain omega-6

> fats

> > that will only

> > worsen your

> > omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.

> >

> > I strongly recommend avoiding sunflower, corn,

> soy,

> > safflower, and

> > canola oil,

> > and products that contain these oils. This also

> > means no hydrogenated

> > or

> > partially hydrogenated fats, no margarine, no

> > vegetable oil and no

> > shortening.

> > These oils are full of omega-6 fats and will only

> > worsen your omega-6

> > to

> > omega-3 ratio.

> >

> > Acceptable oils include high-quality extra virgin

> > olive oil, coconut

> > oil,

> > avocados and organic butter... or better yet,

> > grass-fed organic

> > butter.

> >

> > Another way to improve your omega 6:3 ratio is to

> > change the type of

> > meat you

> > are eating. Since I can't recommend fish due to

> > their high levels of

> > mercury

> > and other toxins these days, the best meats are

> > those raised

> > primarily or

> > entirely on grass diets. Nearly all cattle found

> in

> > grocery stores and

> > restaurants are grain-fed before slaughter, so if

> > you eat this type

> > of beef, it

> > will typically worsen you omega 6:omega 3 ratio.

> > Though it may sound

> > unusual to

> > some, two of the best meats on the planet -- in

> > terms of nutrition

> > value and

> > their incredible taste -- are bison and ostrich.

> And

> > on Mercola.com,

> > I offer

> > bison meat and our exclusive omega-3-rich ostrich

> > meat, both of which

> > are

> > free-ranged, fed primarily grass/alfalfa diets,

> and

> > contain no

> > antibiotics or

> > steroids. Whether from my site or elsewhere, I

> urge

> > you to try bison

> > and

> > ostrich.

> >

> > You can also consume a more " gamey " meat like

> > venison, or try grass-

> > fed beef,

> > which I also highly recommend on Mercola.com. The

> > grass-fed beef I

> > recommend is

> > even higher in omega-3 than fish, with a 6:3 ratio

> > of 0.16 to 1 (this

> > information is from a study done at Iowa State

> > University in August

> > 2001). It

> > is still hard to find in grocery stores, however,

> > and unlike bison

> > and ostrich

> > -- which both taste like prime beef -- some find

> the

> > taste of grass-

> > fed beef

> > too lean.

> >

> > On a side-note, you should be cautious of stores

> > advertising grass-

> > fed beef

> > that really isn't true grass-fed. ALL cattle are

> > grass-fed to some

> > small

> > extent, but the key is what they are fed the

> months

> > prior to being

> > processed.

> > Most all cattle are shipped to giant feed lots and

> > fed corn to fatten

> > them up.

> > Your best bet is to call the person who actually

> > grew the beef, NOT

> > the store

> > manager, to find out the truth. Another effective

> > way to determine if

> > the meat

> > is really from a grass-fed animal is to purchase

> the

> > ground beef and

> > slowly

> > cook it until it's done, then drain and collect

> all

> > the fat. Grass-

> > fed beef

> > will contain a relatively small amount of such fat

> > compared to

> > traditionally

> > prepared ground beef (which is why some find the

> > taste of grass-fed

> > too lean!)

> >

> > In summary:

> >

> > 1) Most Americans, young and old, are highly

> > deficient in omega-3,

> > and one of

> > the best things you can do for yourself and your

> > children is

> > routinely consume

> > fish oil in warm months and cod liver oil in cool

> > months, as they are

> > high in

> > the best kind of omega-3.

> >

> > 2) You should cut out or reduce the oils and foods

> > high in omega-6

> > fats, as

> > Americans get far too much of them. This includes

> > corn, sunflower,

> > soy, canola

> > and safflower oil, margarine, vegetable oil and

> > shortening.

> >

> > 3) You should eat healthy meats, as store-bought

> > beef and other

> > common meats

> > can worsen your omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. Bison

> and

> > ostrich are two

> > great-tasting and very healthy choices, and game

> > animals or beef that

> > is truly

> > grass-fed are other good options.

> >

> > Related Articles:

> >

> > Flax is Not the Best Omega-3 Fat

> >

> >

> > Is DHA The Secret Of Breast Milk's Success?

> >

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> > removed]

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

> Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up

> now.

> http://mailplus.

>

> contact owner: -owner

> Mail list:

> Delivered-mailing list

>

> List-Un:

> -

>

> no flaming arguing or denigration of others allowed

> contact owner with complaints regarding posting/list

>

> or anything else. Thank you.

> please share/comment/inform and mostly enjoy this

> list

>

>

>

>