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what are the main differences between the two and how would you choose which to buy?
In Reply to: flaxseed or fish oil posted by em [7071.4] on September 22, 2006 at 17:40:16:
Em,
The exact differences are in Udo Erasmus classic: "Fats the Heal, Fats that Kill". Your library can find you a copy. Let us know what you learn.
Walt
In Reply to: flaxseed or fish oil posted by em [7071.4] on September 22, 2006 at 17:40:16:
I respectfully disagree with Walt on this one. Udo has become outdated on this question. Omega 3 fatty acids are derived from alpha-lenolenic-acid (ALA), which is broken down into EPA and DHA via the D6D enzyme. It is now known that this enzyme is lacking in 40-50% of people, and is destroyed by all manner of things like stress, tobacco, alcohol, etc. In the case of fish oil, this is not a problem because you are getting EPA and DHA directly, thus bypassing the enzyme. In the case of flax, you are getting ALA, thus requiring the enzyme that may not be there. It is estimated that, at most, we get 5-10% of flax intake broken down into omega 3 fatty acid - hardly enough to warrant taking it.
This info was first told to me by my doctor, but can be found at www.level1diet.com or in Barry Sears' book The Anti-Inflammation Diet as well. I give the references because I've found many people resist believing their flax is not worth taking for fatty acids. It needs to be remembered that this is a relatively new field with new info being learned all the time.
Likewise, for those interested, GLA is only worth taking if there are sufficient omega-3's in the diet, something which is almost impossible to achieve. Again, the GLA competes with ALA for the D5D enzyme. If a person takes enough EPA and DHA (only via fish oil, otherwise you'd have to eat fish at every meal to balance the omega-6 in the diet), the body will selectively use it to make omega-3's and GLA will produce the good prostaglandins. If there is not enough EPA and DHA, the enzyme will be used to make arachidonic acid, leading to the harmful prostaglandins.
The lesson is to stick with fish oil, and plenty of it.
In Reply to: Re: flaxseed or fish oil posted by kc [594.74] on September 23, 2006 at 08:32:59:
I have to agree with KC. Flax oil did nothing for me, whereas fish oil has had a dramatic effect on my headaches, aches and pains and dermatitis. I take 2 caps three times a day and thank god for it!
In Reply to: flaxseed or fish oil posted by em [7071.4] on September 22, 2006 at 17:40:16:
Any thoughts on fish oil vs. cod liver oil? Obviously, cod liver oil has vitamin D. I am looking to fight inflammation and help knee pain which I do not think is arthritis, and to alleviate irritated eyes (possibly rosacea-related). Many Graves' patients swear by flax oil for their eyes. I just got some cod liver oil and some flax oil and intend to take them both to see if they help and then to maybe eliminate the flax. I am very careful with my cooking oils, so I'm probably not too overloaded with omega 6s.
Linda
In Reply to: Re: flaxseed or fish oil posted by moonchild [1815.2844] on September 23, 2006 at 13:11:54:
The only problem with cod liver oil is that you cannot take too much of it because of the possibility of overdosing on the vitamin A in it. That is not a problem with fish oil capsules, where you can take as many as you want.
Avoiding any oils except olive oil is a good thing, but you have to remember that ALL foods have little or no omega 3's compared to fish. You have to take quite a few fish oil capsules every day to balance the omega 6's in your diet even if you don't touch ANY other oils.
A good website on efa's can be found at efa.education.nih.gov. If you use the KIM software, you can plug in your daily diet (including 240mg EPA and DHA fish oil capsules under specialty foods) and it will tell you the percentage of omega 6's you are eating. Without adding any fish oil in, and eating a "good" diet, I consistently find my percentage to be in the 70-90% range. A balanced percentage would be approximately in the 30% range. Adding in 12-15 of the fish oil capsules usually brings it into that range.
In Reply to: Re: flaxseed or fish oil posted by Walt Stoll [93.1889] on September 23, 2006 at 07:00:24:
i live in new zealand library never heard of it can you summarise answer?!?!?!
In Reply to: Re: flaxseed or fish oil posted by SusanW~ [1626.1351] on September 23, 2006 at 10:25:14:
what strength are you capsules
i have 1000mg capsules is 3 a day enough?
In Reply to: Re: flaxseed or fish oil posted by moonchild [1815.2844] on September 23, 2006 at 13:11:54:
I'd start with the cheapest one, which should be cod, and see if it helps. Cod relieved One knee pain problem in minutes and cured it in 18mo, 20 yrs ago.
I've had two other knee problems that needed other things, and different ones to cure both.
I'd try the cod for a while, and see what that does, and then the flax, and then both together if neither helped.
In Reply to: Re: flaxseed or fish oil posted by moonchild [1815.2844] on September 23, 2006 at 13:11:54:
Probably more information than you actually want to know, but some of the best info on cod liver oil can be found on the Weston A. Price website. Start with this article:
Cod Liver Oil: The Number One Superfood
There is also a somewhat-lengthy but quite interesting arcticle on Vitamin A and how important it is to balance it properly with Vitamin D, particularly as found in high-vitamin cod liver oil:
Does Vitamin A Cause Osteoporosis?
I hope that helps.
Later,
Colin
In Reply to: Re: flaxseed or fish oil posted by kc [594.74] on September 23, 2006 at 14:36:27:
Thanks, guys. Actually, I'm not much of a capsule person when it comes to oils--prefer to bite the bullet and take the liquid. If the cod liver oil doesn't seem to help, I'll add some fish oil and see what that does.
Linda
In Reply to: Re: flaxseed or fish oil posted by moonchild [1815.2844] on September 23, 2006 at 19:58:33:
you can bite the capsule and get the liquid.))
In Reply to: Re: flaxseed or fish oil posted by kc [594.74] on September 23, 2006 at 08:32:59:
Thanks, KC.
I can not disagree with anything you have said here. I have not kept up with the particulars of organic chemistry like I could have. Pehaps we should give this reference as the new "authority" for this question? My health no longer permits me to keep up to the minute for stuff like this.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: flaxseed or fish oil posted by SusanW~ [1626.1351] on September 23, 2006 at 10:25:14:
Thanks, Susan.
I, too have always recommended fish oil as the #1 recommendation for omega 3s. Only those strict vegetarians, or those who have not been able to tolerate the fishy after taste sometimes present with fish oil, should consider flaxseed oil for this supplement.
Hope this helps.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: flaxseed or fish oil posted by kc [594.74] on September 23, 2006 at 14:36:27:
Thanks, KC.
Good stuff.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: flaxseed or fish oil posted by emma [7071.4] on September 23, 2006 at 14:58:42:
All the capsules are 1000mg. What you want to do is check the label to see how much EPA and DHA is in one capsule. It can range from about 300 to 500mg per capsule combined. I personally would take at least 3g of EPA and DHA, which would be 6-9 capsules depending on the amount of omegas.
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