RE: Flaxseed Warnings for Men

[Guest guest]

I posted a thread on this topic not too long ago and got no replies.

Basically, I started thinking that perahaps flaxseeds were (especially

from a CRON perspective) needless and perhaps harmful calories. The

problem, I believe, stems from their poly content which is highly

susceptible to oxidation (in the body as well). Ideally, a person

should consume equal amounts of n-3 and n-6 but in small quantities.

Ray Peat (whom I know most people will not agree with here) has

written several interesting articles on the oxidation of non-saturated

fats and how they may be responsible for cancer.

Seems like nothing's safe to eat anymore, huh?

-

> In the September 2003 issue of Harvard Men's Health Watch, a monthy

> newsletter published by Harvard Medical School, there was an article

> which expressed SERIOUS concerns over the use of flaxseed ( " Flaxseed

> oil: Healthful or Harmful " ).

>

> Essentially, the essay pointed out that several well-done studies

> strongly suggested that the ALA present in flaxseed " may increase a

> man's risk of prostate cancer. " They cautioned that " none of these

> studies is conclusive, " but they felt the evidence was strong enough

> to warrant avoiding - or least using minimally - flaxseed. The

> article also suggested that the risks involved in flaxseed usage

> probably escalated at higher dosages, but they gave no indication of

> how much was considered " safe " (e.g., a daily UL as with vitamins).

>

> The authors mentioned that there are some other well-done studies

> which seemed to exonerate flaxseed, and noted that " it's too early to

> say whether flaxseeds are right for you. "

>

> However, the " tone " of the article can be summed up in this

> statement: " At present, the limited evidence suggests that the seeds

> are a better bet than the oil, though it's still a betting

> proposition. While awaiting new studies, men who are attracted to

> flaxseeds should consider the alternatives. The present evidence

> favors fish as the best source of healthful omega-3 fatty acids. "

>

> Does anyone have an educated opinion on the above? (I used 2

> tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed on my cereal, daily. I wonder

> if this is considered risky?)

>

> ~ andy

[Guest guest]

================================= ==========================

On 05 Oct 2003, wrote:

I posted a thread on this topic not too long ago and got no replies.

Basically, I started thinking that perahaps flaxseeds were (especially

from a CRON perspective) needless and perhaps harmful calories. The

problem, I believe, stems from their poly content which is highly

susceptible to oxidation (in the body as well). Ideally, a person

should consume equal amounts of n-3 and n-6 but in small quantities.

Ray Peat (whom I know most people will not agree with here) has

written several interesting articles on the oxidation of non-saturated

fats and how they may be responsible for cancer.

Seems like nothing's safe to eat anymore, huh?

-

[Guest guest]

Hello and CR ALL:

Many of our CRONie friends have quit taking flax oil and

quit the flax seeds too. In my particular case,

I discontinued flax for reasons different from others.

When I had ELISA blood anti-body allergy testing done

(blood IgE, IgG immune cell allergy reactions), test results

showed that I was highly allergic to the ground seeds,

which I had been diligently preparing in a coffee grinder.

Of all allergies that appeared on my testing, the flax

reaction was the strongest and worst of all. You can

imagine my shock and disappointment, esp after doing all

the work to buy them and prepare them daily, all the time

believing that I was doing something good for my health.

Apparently mankind has not been consuming flax seeds

historically over the centuries. This new food flax

is one for which mankind is paleolithically mal-adapted.

Flax may be a radically new food in our ancestral

evolutionary heritage.

-- Warren

================================= ==========================

On 05 Oct 2003, wrote:

I posted a thread on this topic not too long ago and got no replies.

Basically, I started thinking that perhaps flaxseeds were (especially

from a CRON perspective) needless and perhaps harmful calories. The

problem, I believe, stems from their poly content which is highly

susceptible to oxidation (in the body as well). Ideally, a person

should consume equal amounts of n-3 and n-6 but in small quantities.

Ray Peat (whom I know most people will not agree with here) has

written several interesting articles on the oxidation of non-saturated

fats and how they may be responsible for cancer.

Seems like nothing's safe to eat anymore, huh?

-

[Guest guest]

I too stopped consuming them after Warren's warning that they were a strong

allergen.

on 10/5/2003 3:25 PM, Warren at warren.taylor@... wrote:

> When I had ELISA blood anti-body allergy testing done

> (blood IgE, IgG immune cell allergy reactions), test results

> showed that I was highly allergic to the ground seeds,

> which I had been diligently preparing in a coffee grinder.

> Of all allergies that appeared on my testing, the flax

> reaction was the strongest and worst of all.

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

From: " Warren " <warren.taylor@...>

> Many of our CRONie friends have quit taking flax oil and

> quit the flax seeds too. In my particular case,

> I discontinued flax for reasons different from others.

>

> When I had ELISA blood anti-body allergy testing done

> (blood IgE, IgG immune cell allergy reactions), test results

> showed that I was highly allergic to the ground seeds.....

For Warren-

What did you replace flaxseed with?

Did you experience any actual noticeable negative effects?

In brief, what would be the danger of taking a moderate

small amount of some allergen like this? ( I really don't

know.)

I'd also like anyone to give an opinion on something i've

been using lately - cod liver oil, this in a formulation

" Twinlab Emulsified Cod Liver Oil " . It is an orange -

flavored thick syrup, nothing like the old fish oil of

my young years. It seems to have about 2x the EPA/

DHA (tablespoonfull) as the next capsule contender,

which is ( i think ) " Dale Fish Oil Concentrate "

with about 230/ 130 mg per LARGE capsule. The only

downside i can see with the cod oil, is it's about 4500 IU

of A per the spoonfull, so 2 is around 9000 IU, and i

understand high A may negatively affect calcium

absorption. ( Though i unscientifically add, i have

not noticed any slowing of my fingernail growth, etc.

while taking both C and A ).

-Hue

[Guest guest]

> Seems like nothing's safe to eat anymore, huh?

>

> -

Amen. It's a minefield out there, yes? And i just opened a new

package of flax last nite. But, it wouldn't be the first time i tossed

a near full package of something, after learning it does not agree

with me, or that i can not resist eating too many calories of it.

Hue

[Guest guest]

Dr Snuffy Meyers, who has PCa, is against flaxseed oil for his patients. Checkout

mailto:alternatives-admin@...and ask him. From what I recall not so adamant against flaxseed.

Regards.

----- Original Message -----

From: Andy

Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2003 12:23 PM

Subject: [ ] Flaxseed Warnings for Men

However, the "tone" of the article can be summed up in this statement: "At present, the limited evidence suggests that the seeds are a better bet than the oil, though it's still a betting proposition. While awaiting new studies, men who are attracted to flaxseeds should consider the alternatives. The present evidence favors fish as the best source of healthful omega-3 fatty acids."Does anyone have an educated opinion on the above? (I used 2 tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed on my cereal, daily. I wonder if this is considered risky?)~ andy

[Guest guest]

Hello Hue and CR ALL,

Important questions, and the answers are important too.

See my quick responses embedded in the text.

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Hue [mailto:kargo_cult@...]

> Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2003 1:02 PM

>

> Subject: Re: [ ] Flaxseed Warnings for Men

>

>

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: " Warren " <warren.taylor@...>

>

> > Many of our CRONie friends have quit taking flax oil and

> > quit the flax seeds too. In my particular case,

> > I discontinued flax for reasons different from others.

> >

> > When I had ELISA blood anti-body allergy testing done

> > (blood IgE, IgG immune cell allergy reactions), test results

> > showed that I was highly allergic to the ground seeds.....

>

> For Warren-

> What did you replace flaxseed with?

Replace flax with walnuts in the shell (if you are not

allergic to walnuts). Walnuts have about 4 or 5 times less

omega 3 (don't want too much omega-3, per Harvard Men's

Health Newsletter). Walnuts are hand-cracked to prevent

me from over-eating the tasty things. Also, hand-cracking

helps to assure freshness if direct from the shell.

Also be careful... Current year's crop of walnuts only,

or else they are partially oxidized, fats are partially

rancid, and they don't taste good either. Walnuts that

come from a crop 2 years or older should be avoided.

One-year old walnuts are OK. You can actually taste

the difference that an extra year makes.

Note: Nuts are among the top-10 items among allergy

provocative foods. Those allergic might not know that

they are actually allergic unless tested. And note this

.... skin allergy is not a food allergy -- different.

Food allergies come in many degrees and styles, and are

challenging to pin down, especially delayed allergies

that occur 1, 2, or 3 days later (IgG type).

> Did you experience any actual noticeable negative effects?

Bad effects were not detectable for me, because of all the

other variables that affect me in daily life. Might feel a

little run down, but I recognized no obvious symptoms.

One allergy item that definitely made me extremely sick --

that was a total nightmare trying to figure out --

was ground turmeric, that I was taking at 2 TBL per day,

in order to get the curcuminoid anti-oxidants. It took

2 or 3 months to figure this one out. My skin was turning

yellow from taking it. People asked me why!

> In brief, what would be the danger of taking a moderate

> small amount of some allergen like this? ( I really don't

> know.)

Effects vary from person to person... and unpredictable.

If I had taken turmeric at 2 tsp per day, instead of

the 2 TBL per day, I might have felt under the weather,

rather than mysteriously sick. It is a dosage thing,

and a per-individual sensitivity thing.

>

> I'd also like anyone to give an opinion on something I've

> been using lately - cod liver oil, this in a formulation

> " Twinlab Emulsified Cod Liver Oil " . It is an orange -

> flavored thick syrup, nothing like the old fish oil of

> my young years. It seems to have about 2x the EPA/

> DHA (tablespoonful) as the next capsule contender,

> which is ( I think ) " Dale Fish Oil Concentrate "

> with about 230/ 130 mg per LARGE capsule. The only

> downside I can see with the cod oil, is it's about 4500 IU

> of A per the spoonful, so 2 is around 9000 IU, and I

> understand high A may negatively affect calcium

> absorption.

The skeleton is critical for staying alive. The number

one universal risk for osteoporosis is advancing age.

Start adding other risk factors, and you jeopardize your

bones, which you can not live safely without.

> ( Though I unscientifically add, I have

> not noticed any slowing of my fingernail growth, etc.

> while taking both C and A ).

> -Hue

Fingernail growth rate -- unrelated to osteoporosis.

Fingernail strength, maybe.

Yes, over-dose of vitamin-A has adverse effects on bones.

For every 5000 IU extra of pre-formed Vitamin-A

(retinol form, like from cod-liver oil, acetate, succinate,

chopped liver, etc), the Scandinavians were observed to have

a doubling of their osteoporosis rate. Several American

follow-up studies confirmed this. The Food and Nutrition

Board of the National Academy of Sciences recently lowered

the US RDA for Vitamin-A by 50 percent (cut it in half)

because of the known risks.

Vitamin-A in the beta-carotene form is OK -- non-toxic,

OK for bones, and only converted inside the human body

to retinol form if the body needs it.

-- Warren