Although flax seed oil is a good ingredient and there is nothing wrong with taking it, you must be careful that you don't take it to the exclusion of a good Omega 3 fish oil.
The reason?
As I have alluded to a number of times over the years it is because flax seed oil does not help raise your levels of DHA which is probably the most important of all the essential fatty acids. Proponents of flax seed oil will tell you that the body can convert ALA (which is the main constituant of flax seed oil) to DHA.
This is simply not true...at least to any extent. A minute fraction may be able to be converted but nowhere near enough to meet your body's needs. This is because the DHA molecule is a lot more complex that the ALA molecule. Please click here and you will find more info about why this is so.
A recent study concerning the issue of 'conversion' of these components of Omega 3 has just been completed. It provides more evidence of what we already know but many people/companies continue to deny. For more info please click here.
As an added footnote, it is also difficult to convert EPA to DHA for the same reasons. Also, note that is is easy for DHA to convert to EPA or ALA because it just has to drop off some components to convert which is a lot easier than trying to add components on.
Reader Comments
Did you ever do any blood testing (I asked this in a previous post and from memory you said you might look into this)
I started taking Fish Oil after a blood test showed my DHA and EPA was low (I had been taking a lot of Flax Oil for years before the blood test)
I took Nordic Natural for so many months and had a later blood test then your product and did likewise.
Xtend-life produced better results so I still take your Fish Oil. But I'm unsure if blood testing is reliably and if it is if testing is done in this way
March 29, 2009 | Robert
I do admit that DHA is better for us humans than ALA.
Also the presence of unsatturated fatty acids makes muscle tissue more insulin sensitive. ALA is also a very good insulin mimick.
What I know is that people don't know that not all omega 3 fatty acids are created equal, plus flaxseed oil is VERY cheap to produce.
That can not be said about DHA, especially the type that is commercialized by Xtend Life.
In the end, we need them all, in the right amounts and the most bioavailable form.
A question for Warren:
What do you think about omega3 enriched eggs (they are fed with flax seed) ?
March 29, 2009 | Alexandru
March 30, 2009 | John
I would like to hear you comments about the european drug aminoguanidine, which is supposely much more effective than carmosine in regard to reverse crosslink molecules provoked by glycation.
Thank you.
March 30, 2009 | Gerald Matos
Hi Alexandru,
Thank you for your comments. I really don't have an opinion about Omega 3 enriched eggs as I don't know how they achieve it. I would imagine they are still produced by battery caged hens. I only buy free range eggs which I think are the best.
April 1, 2009 | Warren Matthews
Thanks John...the article about statins is really another attempt to justify the use of this drug. It is easy to reduce CRP without having to resort to these drugs.
April 1, 2009 | Warren Matthews
Hi Gerald,
I would have to do some research about this drug as I am not familiar with it. However, I would have reservations about using a drug for this purpose as you are using a synthetic molecule which may very well be effective in a certain area...but, when you introduce a synthetic molecule into your body neither you nor the drug company know if there are likely to be any long term negative effects, so I take the view, why risk it when there is a natural alternative.
April 1, 2009 | Warren Matthews
Hi Robert,
No, I have not done any blood testing yet, but thanks for the reminder. I will put that on my to do list. Right now I am still under a lot of pressure with new staff, travelling etc. Thanks
April 1, 2009 | Warren Matthews
Hi Warren,
I had a question about dosage again. I've been taking TB Unisex Premium with Neuro-General (alternating monthly with Memory) for the past 6 - 7 months. I was taking the full dose of TB Premium of 6 tablets a day with between 4 - 5 of the Neuro.
I just purchased Neuro-Serenity because I think that would help with my OCD and Anxiety. Should I be taking the full dosage of Serenity with TB? Or can I reduce the dosage?
Thanks a lot
Reagan
April 1, 2009 | Reagan
Hi Reagan,
I would be inclined to try just three tablets a day of Serenity and see how that goes with you. Try that for say a month.
If you are not getting the results that you want you could try increasing the daily dose of Serenity to 6 tablets a day and replacing the Total Balance with Multi-Xtra (just two a day) and try that for another month and see how it compares.
The Multi-Xtra still contains all the vitamins and minerals that are in TB but doesn't have the specialty ingredients. But, by combining it with Serenity you will be getting a number of the specialty ingredients and it won't be so hard on your pocket.
Let me know how you get on.
April 1, 2009 | Warren Matthews
I've found how they make omega 3 enriched eggs. You see they give the hens flax seed. The ALA is then "upgraded" up to DHA in the eggs the lay. And they also say that the hens are not caged and live freely. They also taste very natural, I've been blessed to eat eggs from the country side.
The amount of DHA per egg is aprox. 400 mg of DHA, obviously in the tryglyceride form.
April 3, 2009 | Alexandru
Hi Alexandru,
Thanks for sharing this. I would like to see the evidence re the amount of DHA per egg. If it is true they should be able to provide test results from an independent laboratory that can be verified.
Humans cannot effectively convert ALA to DHA. MAybe there is a mechanism in chickens that enables this conversion but until I see it I am somewhat skeptical until I see hard date. Perhaps you could ask them for that.
April 3, 2009 | Warren Matthews
Hi Warren I have a question for you.
These are my cholesterol values:
Tryglycerides:54
LDL:75
HDL:32
TOTAL:118
My previous values were:
Tryglycerides:55
LDL:89
HDL:36
TOTAL:136
Is it good ? Is it bad ?
April 3, 2009 | Alexandru
Hi Alexandru,
Your figures are great. No worries about your cholesterol and triglycerides.
April 3, 2009 | Warren Matthews
Hi Warren
I've checked my glucose level on a standard blood test at work and the value vas 38 mg/dl(venous plasma level). I also took the Glycosylated hemoglobin test and the value was 4.8%.
I've checked that at values below 40 mg/dl you get obvious mental impairment.
I think the test is flawed somehow, because I was very active and my mind was sharp, in a word, I was feeling excelent.
April 4, 2009 | Alexandru
Hi Alexandru,
I wouldn't be concerned about this. Remember that the figures are only guidelines and you are not too far outside them. Also there can be variations in lab tests. Also, it is only one indicator and what might be a concerning level for one person my be normal for another.
April 8, 2009 | Warren Matthews
Warren