What's so great about flax oil?

[Guest guest]

This single biggest thing I'm confused about after reading a lot

about traditional nutrition is flax oil. I understand and appreciate

our need for omega-3's, but why on earth would anyone want to get

them from LNA instead of DHA and EPA? The conversion rate from LNA to

EPA and DHA is awful - about 2% to 4%. The absorbtion rate of omega-

3's is not good w/o saturated fat, but most people take flax as a

supplement or mixed with olive oil in a salad.

As the WAP site points out repeatedly, excessive polyunsaturates can

do you harm and that we mostly consume our omega's in trace amounts

with whole foods. So why violate that principle by taking flax oil?

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

I have wondered both silently and aloud on these very questions

and as far as I am concerned you are absolutely correct. It is clear

that excess PUFA's are toxic and poisonous even in slight excess.

Usually the PUFA deficiencies that are observed are with people who

are not converting and processing their fats well. I am not

suggesting not to eat PUFA's however your line of thinking as to how

to get them is right on the money.

All My Best,

Dr. Marasco,BS,DC

Cincinnati, Oh

> This single biggest thing I'm confused about after reading a lot

> about traditional nutrition is flax oil. I understand and

appreciate

> our need for omega-3's, but why on earth would anyone want to get

> them from LNA instead of DHA and EPA? The conversion rate from LNA

to

> EPA and DHA is awful - about 2% to 4%. The absorbtion rate of omega-

> 3's is not good w/o saturated fat, but most people take flax as a

> supplement or mixed with olive oil in a salad.

>

> As the WAP site points out repeatedly, excessive polyunsaturates

can

> do you harm and that we mostly consume our omega's in trace amounts

> with whole foods. So why violate that principle by taking flax oil?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Its great to know that I'm not alone on this one

My first encounter with nutrition was Udo Erasmus's " Fats that heal,

fats that kill. " He advocates taking 3 to 5 tablespoons a day for

weightloss! Ouch.

> > This single biggest thing I'm confused about after reading a lot

> > about traditional nutrition is flax oil. I understand and

> appreciate

> > our need for omega-3's, but why on earth would anyone want to get

> > them from LNA instead of DHA and EPA? The conversion rate from

LNA

> to

> > EPA and DHA is awful - about 2% to 4%. The absorbtion rate of

omega-

> > 3's is not good w/o saturated fat, but most people take flax as a

> > supplement or mixed with olive oil in a salad.

> >

> > As the WAP site points out repeatedly, excessive polyunsaturates

> can

> > do you harm and that we mostly consume our omega's in trace

amounts

> > with whole foods. So why violate that principle by taking flax

oil?

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

>but why on earth would anyone want to get

>them from LNA instead of DHA and EPA? The conversion rate from LNA to

>EPA and DHA is awful - about 2% to 4%. The absorbtion rate of omega-

>3's is not good w/o saturated fat, but most people take flax as a

>supplement or mixed with olive oil in a salad.

This is a very, very good question, and one I'd like an answer to

myself. In the mean time, I'm avoiding pretty much all unsaturates except

whatever I get in fish and eggs and whatnot and a tiny bit of olive oil on

occasion, and I'm definitely not going to take flax oil as a

supplement. It just seems completely wrongheaded.

-

[Guest guest]

> > This single biggest thing I'm confused about after reading a lot

> > about traditional nutrition is flax oil. I understand and

> appreciate

> > our need for omega-3's, but why on earth would anyone want to get

> > them from LNA instead of DHA and EPA? The conversion rate from LNA

> to

> > EPA and DHA is awful - about 2% to 4%. The absorbtion rate of omega-

> > 3's is not good w/o saturated fat, but most people take flax as a

> > supplement or mixed with olive oil in a salad.

I take about 1/2 teasp. fresh ground flax seed and some walnuts along with

butter on my cereal in the morning. I hope that is a better routine.

Peace,

Kris , gardening in northwest Ohio