Thread: flax oil
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Old 03-02-2005, 08:16 PM   #8 (permalink)
ChefX
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olive oil is a carrier of other things in food and essential, hence its in my diatia, butter is as well
BUT fish oils are powerful drug like and essential for optimizing health

Fish vs. Flax
The optimal intake of LA compared with ALA appears critical for the metabolism of omega-3 fatty acids. An increase in AA, EPA, and DHA leads to an increase in membrane fluidity, alters the structure of the membrane receptors, and can have other beneficial effects associated with the omega-3 fatty acids. They also play a role in the regulation of cell surface expression, cell-cell interactions, and cytokine release.10 A ratio of 1:4 (LA:ALA) or less is recommended for conversion of ALA to longer chain metabolites (EPA and DHA).9 This is an important concept for vegetarians, whose diets are often much richer in LA. The intake of 3 grams per day to 4 grams per day of ALA is equivalent to 0.3 grams per day of EPA with optimal elongation. (This means you need 10 times as much flax to get the same benefits as fish aka 120g of flax oil or an additional 1000 calories of flax in order to match the benefits of just 12g of fish oils aka 108 calories added... follow????)

ALA(from flax) does not appear to be comparable with its biological effects, compared with EPA and DHA found in fish oil. It appears that the EPA and DHA from marine oils are more rapidly incorporated into plasma and membrane lipids. Algae and some fungi are also capable of forming omega-3 fatty acids de novo, and the DHA from algae supplements needs to be explored further (as in teh whole food vitamins I reccomend follow???).
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