Re: Chia seeds again - nutrition content

[Guest guest]

One mild caution.

While it is true that there are plant sources rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6

fatty acids, the plant forms are " short chain " acids which cannot be

directly utilized by humans. The short chain acids need to be metabolized

into long chain acids before they are actually useful. Within the human

gut this process is very inefficient (published estimates are in the 10%

-13% range.) Because of the definition of an Omega-3 sequence does not

take into consideration the total number of carbon atoms of the chain

(instead it defines the location of the first double carbon bond) sources

of plant based Omega-3's (for example the Flax Council of Canada) can

factually state that Flax contains more omega-3 than fish oil. This is a

true statement. However as the degree of metabolization of short chain

Omega-3 (and Omega-6 as well) is not poorly known, it is not possible to

accurately state how much of the long chain Omega-3 actually gets into

circulation.

I've seen few studies which claims benefits based on Omega-3 consumption

from plant sources, instead fish oil is commonly used. Fish oil has

Omega-3 (and Omega-6) in the long chain form already, allowing direct use

by humans. 1 tablespoon of flax seeds also is 59 calories, with most of

that coming from fat. I do use flax seeds as a substitute for some oils in

cooking.

I've since switched from flax seed to fish oil for Omega-3 supplementation.

Some references:

http://www.beyondveg.com/billings-t/comp-anat/comp-anat-7h.shtml

http://www.nutrition.org.uk/News/keyfacts/n3fattyacids.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article & node= & contentId=A47504\

-2002May20

L106@... on 06/12/2002 09:29:29 AM

Please respond to

cc:

Subject: [ ] Chia seeds again - nutrition content

    No I don't have shares in the chia industry!  I just think this is very

important information for everyone but especially CRONies who are looking

to optimize their diet.

Just thought I would share this with everyone - this would especially

please the more scientifically inclined - it is a scholarly sounding paper

about the contents of chia seeds

http://www.eatchia.com/

Title:CHIA SEEDS: NEW SOURCE OF OMEGA-3 FATTY

ACIDS, NATURAL ANTIOXIDANTS, AND DIETETIC FIBRE

Ayerza (h) & Wayne Coates

Southwest Center for Natural Products Research & Comercialization

Office of Arid Lands Studies, The University of Arizona

(31/7/01)

       Cheers

[Guest guest]

on 6/12/2002 11:43 AM, bareynol@... at

bareynol@... wrote:

>

> One mild caution.

>

> While it is true that there are plant sources rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6

> fatty acids, the plant forms are " short chain " acids which cannot be

> directly utilized by humans. The short chain acids need to be metabolized

> into long chain acids before they are actually useful. Within the human

> gut this process is very inefficient (published estimates are in the 10%

> -13% range.) Because of the definition of an Omega-3 sequence does not

> take into consideration the total number of carbon atoms of the chain

> (instead it defines the location of the first double carbon bond) sources

> of plant based Omega-3's (for example the Flax Council of Canada) can

> factually state that Flax contains more omega-3 than fish oil. This is a

> true statement. However as the degree of metabolization of short chain

> Omega-3 (and Omega-6 as well) is not poorly known, it is not possible to

> accurately state how much of the long chain Omega-3 actually gets into

> circulation.

>

> I've seen few studies which claims benefits based on Omega-3 consumption

> from plant sources, instead fish oil is commonly used. Fish oil has

> Omega-3 (and Omega-6) in the long chain form already, allowing direct use

> by humans. 1 tablespoon of flax seeds also is 59 calories, with most of

> that coming from fat. I do use flax seeds as a substitute for some oils in

> cooking.

>

> I've since switched from flax seed to fish oil for Omega-3 supplementation.

>

> Some references:

> http://www.beyondveg.com/billings-t/comp-anat/comp-anat-7h.shtml

> http://www.nutrition.org.uk/News/keyfacts/n3fattyacids.htm

> http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article & node= & contentId=A475

> 04-2002May20

>

>

>

>

>

> L106@... on 06/12/2002 09:29:29 AM

>

> Please respond to

>

>

> cc:

>

> Subject: [ ] Chia seeds again - nutrition content

>

>

>     No I don't have shares in the chia industry!  I just think this is very

> important information for everyone but especially CRONies who are looking

> to optimize their diet.

>

> Just thought I would share this with everyone - this would especially

> please the more scientifically inclined - it is a scholarly sounding paper

> about the contents of chia seeds

>

> http://www.eatchia.com/

>

> Title:CHIA SEEDS: NEW SOURCE OF OMEGA-3 FATTY

>

> ACIDS, NATURAL ANTIOXIDANTS, AND DIETETIC FIBRE

>

>

> Ayerza (h) & Wayne Coates

>

> Southwest Center for Natural Products Research & Comercialization

>

> Office of Arid Lands Studies, The University of Arizona

>

> (31/7/01)

>

>        Cheers

>

>

>

>

>