Fish » Linenweb.com

Should You Take Flax Seed Oil Or Fish Oil Or Some of Both

Lately, there has been a debate between supporters of fish oil and flax seed oil. Both camps have dedicated fans but I believe that some of these consumers are in the wrong discussion. These are not competing products. They can be taken together but for different reasons.

First, omega 3 fish oil has two essential fatty acids called DHA and EPA. Flax seed oil also has an omega 3 essential fatty acid but it is called ALA. By essential, that means the body can not make it. It must be outsourced.

The health benefits of DHA and EPA are beyond dispute. They are recommended by the FDA, American Heart Association, the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Eye Institute and the Arthritis Foundation among others.

The ALA from flax seed oil does not directly provide most health benefits. The body must first convert it to DHA and EPA in order to work. Some people think by using flax seed oil in cooking, it will enhance the benefits.

Not true. Heat breaks this down faster than a guilty witness in an old Perry Mason court room trial. Those of you old enough to remember that reference need to pay particular attention to this next point – the older you are, the less ability your body has in converting ALA to DHA/EPA. To give you an idea, it is estimated that most adults would have to consume 10 – 40 grams of flax seed oil to produce just 0.2 grams of DHA.

In other words, if you are looking to get the DHA/EPA omega 3 benefits from flax seed oil, you are doing it the hard way, assuming it happens at all.

Why should I take flax seed oil?

Not for the fish oil benefits. However, the ground up seeds provide beneficial ingredients such as soluble and insoluble fiber and lignan. Studies show that lignan possesses anti-cancer properties. Research results have been most promising in breast cancer prevention. It is thought that lignan can inhibit the onset of estrogen-stimulated breast cancer.

The fiber aids the digestive system and helps lower cholesterol levels.

Should I take both?

Each of these essential fats have benefits that the other does not. It is important that you do your research on both supplements.

To get the amount of omega 3s you need, you should consider a supplement. However, there are many bad fish supplements. They can be rancid, contaminated and contain very little DHA or EPA. Stick to a quality product. Check out the companies website. The few good ones will tell you everything you need to know. The bad and mediocre ones think the word disclosure is no longer part of the English language – they make all sorts of claims and will hide everything they can to prove those claims. Remember, this is an unregulated market.

I do not use flax seed oil. I use ground up seeds in cereal, salads etc. If you get an ALA supplement or an omega 3 6 9 product, you are not getting the fiber or the lignan. Also, I do not have to worry about potential negative side effects from an overdose.

In conclusion, do both. Get your EPA and DHA through a fish oil supplement. My website can help in that area. Any decent health food store offers ground flax seeds.

Get my free five-part mini course on the benefits of omega 3, including critical information on why you should take omega3 fish oil. To sign up for the course and get more tips on the importance of omega 3, visit my website: http://www.omega-3-guide.com/

Article from articlesbase.com

Learn the Truth about Fish Oil VS Flax Seed Oil

Let’s face it. There are probably some of you out there that are a little confused when it comes to the fish oil VS flax seed oil debate over which one is the best source of omega-3 fatty acids. Both of these sources are beneficial to your health, and they are effective at treating some of the same things. It all comes down to which of these nutritional supplements offers you more overall.

The primary omega-3 fatty acid in flax seed oil is alpha-linolenic acid, which can also be found in fish oil. There are not a lot of plant oils that have a high level of alpha-linolenic acid. Most plant oils are much richer in linolenic acid, which is an omega-6. Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids compete for positions in cell membranes, and they have very different effects on your health.

Alpha linolenic acid shouldn’t be a figure in the discussion of fish oil VS flax seed oil, because since both have it you are getting the same benefits. What alpha-linolenic acid does is lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. It is still unclear whether the protective effect against cardiac arrhythmia comes from alpha linolenic acid, or from the fatty acids EPA and DHA.

What is known is that both EPA and DHA are factors in treating far more than just cardiovascular disease. They have an effect on allergies, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, visual function, cognitive development, brain function, arthritis, and gout. These two omega-3 fatty acids even play a role in the prevention and treatment of certain types of cancer.

When it comes to the discussion over fish oil VS flax seed oil the supporters of flax oil are always quick to point out that the body can transform alpha-linolenic acid into EPA, and EPA is capable of a metamorphosis into DHA. This series of conversions is far less efficient than simply absorbing the EPA and DHA that is naturally found in fish oil, so to talk about these conversions as though they were a benefit of some kind is a poor argument for flax seed.

One of the other things that flax seed oil has going against it is that it has a very short shelf life. Even when kept under cool conditions this oil only has a few weeks before it becomes rancid. When oil becomes rancid it contributes to the formation of free radicals, and may even become carcinogenic. Do you really want to take a chance on an oil this highly oxidative?

When it comes down to it the issue of fish oil VS flax seed oil is not even arguable, because the contest is not even remotely close. Forget about flax oil, and get yourself the highest quality fish oil supplement that you can possibly find. There are some companies with very good products out there, but a few of these formulas stand out from the rest.

Now nobody has to be confused over fish oil VS flax seed oil, because it is fish oil by a mile.

Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.

Article from articlesbase.com

Flax Oil Versus Fish Oil – Is There a Difference

Consumers have been debating the merits of fish oil versus flax oil for years. Some believe a fish oil supplement is better while others think that flax seed is more useful. We know that both have omega 3 fatty acids in them. Everyone agrees on how essential they are to our health. The debate is over whether the omega 3s from flax oil are as efficient as those derived from fish oil.

There are three omega 3s in this discussion. Flax oil contains ALA while fish oil has EPA and DHA. The story behind these three is more complicated.

ALA, found in the chloroplasts of green leaves, is the most abundant fat on earth. Green leaves are not known for being fatty but there is more green vegetation on earth than anything else.

Animals eat the green leaves. Their bodies convert the ALA into DHA and EPA and it accumulates in their tissues. Predators eat the omega 3 rich animals and become rich in DHA and EPA themselves. This, in turn, was a great omega 3 source for humans.

Think of it this way. ALA is the parent and DHA and EPA are the children. For humans, it is the children that provide all the health benefits to the heart, brain, eyes, skin and joints.

This worked fine up until the 20th century. However, most health professionals now think that EPA and DHA deficiencies are the biggest nutritional problem facing the Western world.

What went wrong?

Our diet changed. There are numerous reasons but here are just a few.

Modern farming methods are capable of delivering huge amounts of food to an ever growing population. The downside is that these foods have lost much of their nutritional value.

A recent Canadian study researched 25 fruits and vegetables [potatoes, apples, tomatoes etc.]. They found that levels of basic nutrients like calcium, Vitamins A, C and various B complex vitamins had dropped dramatically the past 50 years. For example, potatoes have lost 50% of its riboflavin and 57% of its Vitamin C and iron.

This is fairly well known, which is why so many people take multivitamin supplements. What is not so well known is that food manufacturers have been removing omega 3s even more quickly. The reason is that omega 3s oxidize quickly. This means a shorter shelf life – a no-no in the highly processed modern supermarket.

Another reason is us. The animals that I mentioned earlier no longer eat greens. They are fed grain products. The DHA and EPA in the beef we eat now exists in much smaller amounts. In addition, our diet does not have much flax oil or seafood in it. We eat various other vegetable oils derived from corn, soy, canola and so on. Result – much less omega 3s.

What do we do?

Educated consumers are looking for answers. Many of them know that they are omega 3 deficient. The remaining choices are these – eat lots of flax seeds, fish or greens like spinach.

Here are the problems. According to the FDA and others, eating too much fish is unhealthy because of all the contaminants in them. Few people want to eat large quantities of organic spinach every day. Flax oil is not as good for you as flax seeds and you should not be taking flax for the omega 3s anyway. It is too inefficient. Remember, ALA is the parent, not the children.

Wait, you say. What about the animals that eat green vegetation that I mentioned earlier? They convert the ALA. Yes, but they literally eat tons of greens. In these amounts, even a small conversion rate results in enough EPA and DHA. Humans do not consume anywhere near the amount of greens we need.

We need to find the EPA and DHA someplace else. Because fish, flax oil and greens all have issues, omega 3 fish oil products become the best choice. A word of warning. There is a lot of junk out there. For more information in this area, please visit my website.

Article from articlesbase.com

Flax Seed Oil Versus Fish Oil – Which One Is Best

It is interesting to watch the debates between the advocates of flax seed oil and those who favor omega 3 fish oil. There are a lot of good points made on both sides but I think most of these arguments have nothing to do with the real benefits.

There does not have to be a competition here. Both have worthwhile benefits that the other does not. The best way to get all the benefits is by treating these two oils as complimentary and not confrontational. To begin with, omega 3 fish oil has two essential fatty acids called DHA and EPA. The omega 3 in flax seed oil is called ALA. Essential means that our bodies can not create them. They have to gotten by through the diet and only the diet.

There are over 12,000 research studies extolling the health benefits of DHA and EPA. It is difficult to keep track of all the government and private organizations that recommend this dynamic duo. They would include the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the American FDA, the American Heart Association and countless other agencies and groups from around the world.

Here is the problem with ALA from flax seed oil. It is a middleman. Our bodies have to initially change it to DHA and EPA for it to be useful. A number of people believe if they use flax seed oil in cooking, their benefits will be grater. Not correct.

High temperatures destroys any nutrient value quickly. This next point is important. As we age, the body looses its capability to change ALA into DHA or EPA. To give you an idea, a good rule of thumb is that a typical adult would need ten to forty grams of flax seed oil to generate only 0.2 grams of DHA.

Put another way, trying to get fish oil omega 3 benefits from flax seed oil is making life difficult. If you are too old or your health is bad, it may not occur at all.

Is there a reason for using flax seed oil?

Yes, but for the right reasons. Flax’s most powerful health ingredients are fiber and lignan. Research has shown that lignan has strong anti cancer properties. In particular, the most promising results seems to be in inhibiting the start of estrogen stimulated breast cancer.

The soluble and insoluble fiber helps the gastrointestinal tract. It also is very complimentary with fish oil in lowering cholesterol levels.

What if I use both of them?

Both products have uses that the other can not provide. I personally use ground up seeds, not flax seed oil. I add them to soups or even dressings. Taking an ALA or a three-six-nine supplement will not get you the lignan or the fiber. Also, I do not have to worry about potential negative side effects from an overdose.

A recent study from Harvard placed DHA/EPA – not ALA deficiencies as the number six killer in the US. Tobacco, high cholesterol and obesity were 1-2-3. Since most of us do not want to eat seafood every night, the only way to get enough marine omega 3s is by supplement. Unfortunately, the shelves are full of mediocre ones. The oil can be oxidized [stale] and laced with pollutants and/or chemical additives.

Only consider a quality product. Go to the suppliers web site. The difference between the excellent and everybody else is disclosure. It is not difficult to back up claims of purity or potency. Some companies will even publish an independent laboratory analysis of what is actually in the capsules. Remember, this is an unregulated market.

Summing up, use both. Use ground powder instead of flax seed oil. It is easy to find. Get your omega 3s from a good fish oil supplement. My website can help in this area.

Article from articlesbase.com

An interpreter at the Irish Farm exhibit at the Frontier Culture Museum demonstrates how to spin flax fibers into thread.

Flax Seed Oil v.s. Fish Oil – Learn The Real Truth Now

Fish oil and flax seed oil have been touted as miracle supplements because of the health benefits of each one. One of the reasons why obesity and heart disease are on the rise is because the types of fat we consume as a whole are out of balance. You see, fat is not the enemy and never should be the enemy. We need fat in our diet. It is pivotal in many daily functions. Our fat soluble vitamins even need to be taken with fatty acids in order to be processed efficiently.

I can’t stand the thoughts of people who think that eating fat will make them fat. This could not be further from the truth. The truth IS that any over consumption of a macro nutrient (carbs, fats, or protein) will make you fat. And if you don’t exercise, well it’s almost a guarantee.

But there are different types of fats that are better than others. One big bad fat that has absolutely no purpose being in our diets is trans fats. Trans fats except CLA which is naturally found in high amount of organic, grass fed beef, is man made. Through the wonders of food science, we are able to molecularly change our food to taste better and last longer. This is where trans fats come into play. They add hydrogen atoms to the the specified fatty acid and break the double bonds.

What this does is make the fatty acid more stable aka, “preserved.” They are altering the chemical nature of the fatty acid to make it more durable.

A good example is to look on the back of a jar of peanut butter that is not natural or organic. When you look on the back, you’ll see the words partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated. That is a clear cut warning sign of a food product with trans fats. Now, if you have been living under a rock lately, trans fats have been shown to cause cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity.

Now, what has been found with flax seed oil and fish oil are the exact opposite of trans fats. Almost.

Flax seed oil has been touted as a wonderful supplement because it contains omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are hard to come by in the typical American diet. We need on average a 3:1 to 2:1 ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids. The typical American diet is around 20:1!Flax Seed Oil vs Fish Oil

So many people believe taking flax seed oil will help with this, but many studies point to something entirely different.

You see, there are 3 types of omega 3 fatty acids. These are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, found in flax seeds), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, found in fish) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, found in fish).

Studies have found that all of the omega 3 enhancing benefits of flax seed oil and flax seeds is basically nil, compared to fish oil. This is because flax seeds lack EPA and DHA. Now, the body can produce EPA from ALA, but the quantities you would have to consume of flax seed oil would be huge and definitely not safe.

EPA and DHA are only found in fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and herring and have proven health benefits such as a reduction in cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, increase in insulin sensitivity, a reduction in blood pressure, and even an increase in cognitive function. And in some studies, fish oil has been found to help aid in losing belly fat

So all in all, I would skip on the drinking the flax seed oil and just stay with fish oil. It has been proven time and time again to be a wonder supplement with tons of great health benefits.

If you want more nutrition advice on how to lose weight, then click on the link below.

Grab your FREE 10 Commandments to Fat Loss Report and Lose Excess Belly Fat in 30 Days by visiting http://www.BlowtorchBellyFat.com

Article from articlesbase.com