Getting Omega-3s and Flaxseed

[liamona]

Originally Posted by WordKeeper

liamona he gets some probiotics from kefir. Do you think I should add more?

I was wondering about his digestion, since you said he took the Coromega with out any trouble (does he have trouble with regular cod liver oil?).

Taking probiotics made a dramatic improvement in mine. You have to be careful not to take too much of it (Custom Probiotics) at first, because it will give you diarrhea, no matter how little fiber you have in your diet.

[WordKeeper]

He has a very sensitive palate. It has taken over a year to get him to take the Coromega regularly without severe resistance. The cod liver oil is simply not palatable for him.

But he does have digestive issues and has most of his life. He suffers from "functional constipation" which means that he receives frequent doses of enema and suppositories.

I have recently upped his magnesium glycinate intake from 400mg to 600mg. No diahrhea from that yet. The kefir has probiotics. I wonder if I should supplement that.

Each addition to his supplements is a real ordeal. It took me 4 months to find a method to deliver the magnesium which comes in capsule or large tablet - neither of which can he swallow. In the past I have given him capsules by opening them up and stirring the contents into kefir. The magnesium is too bitter. Same with crushing up the tablets. I finally began cutting the tablets into small pieces which he then swallows with juice or flavored water. But it took 4 months and 5 forms and labels of magnesium to get it right.

I am so thankful to be getting Omega 6s and Mg in him each and every day. As we make progress I may consider adding more probiotics.

[Angela Leeds]

Flax seed... *gack* Can't abide the taste of them.

Just keep hemp seeds in your kitchen and make a smoothie with them every day. They taste good, make your smoothie creamy, and have a great balance of omega 3-6-9s.

[Dimond]

Spouted flax tastes good. Couple companies sell it pre-spouted.

[liamona]

I separated your reply into two pieces, one about probiotics and one about magnesium:

Originally Posted by WordKeeper

But he does have digestive issues and has most of his life. He suffers from "functional constipation" which means that he receives frequent doses of enema and suppositories.

Each addition to his supplements is a real ordeal. As we make progress I may consider adding more probiotics.

I'm sorry to hear that! You may want to look into Custom Probiotics when you're ready to add probiotics. It comes in capsules or as a powder. I take the powdered custom blend of six strains. It's flavorless (to me—your son may disagree!). It certainly couldn't hurt to take them, even if he has functional constipation.

It took me 4 months to find a method to deliver the magnesium which comes in capsule or large tablet - neither of which can he swallow.

I have recently upped his magnesium glycinate intake from 400mg to 600mg. No diahrhea from that yet. The kefir has probiotics. I wonder if I should supplement that.

Isn't there a sweet powdered magnesium you add water to to make a drink? Have you seen that? The brand name escapes me right now. I can imagine that taking Mg without any sweetener wouldn't taste very good.

Kefir would be great to add! But be careful. I drank a bunch of my friend's cultured drinks yesterday, and was in the bathroom all day today. Let's just say I'm on a forced cleanse. They're powerful stuff.

[WordKeeper]

You are right about the probiotics. I have often opened capsules for myself. They actually have a lovely slightly sweet taste - very pleasant.

We both take kefir daily but only 4 - 6oz. I add coconut oil to mine.

I believe the magnesium drink you refer to is CALM. We have tried 3 or 4 of the flavors both for child and adult. At first he liked them but not for long. I find every single one just lovely - especially the citrus flavors - crisps, sparkly and ever so slightly tart. But as much as I like them - he doesn't but they don't have enough magnesium regardless.

I am presently pleased with what we have going and will adjust as needs be.

As always - interested in your keen thoughts and comments. Thanks.

[EmeraldWolf]

I just buy the costco sized flax capsules.

Cheap and effective. Sometimes i have flax cereal mixes or flax muffins to supplement the pills. I used to take flax oil straight with a spoon. Very nasty. The taste sticks for way to long.

[joanmhe]

I read somewhere that flax oil spoils pretty quickly even refrigerated, so now I grind flax seeds into smoothies. I have also read that whole flax seed is basically indigestable. Frying or sauteing will also destroy the omega-3s, but baking does not.
I have also seen articles about how only a small percentage of ALA is converted to EPA and DHA. Why are some people able to convert and some not?

[liamona]

Originally Posted by joanmhe

I read somewhere that flax oil spoils pretty quickly even refrigerated, so now I grind flax seeds into smoothies. I have also read that whole flax seed is basically indigestable. Frying or sauteing will also destroy the omega-3s, but baking does not.

Yes to all that; the best way to use flax is to grind the whole seeds in something like a coffee grinder, and then consume the meal immediately. Like in a smoothie, or mixed in with hot cereal.

I have also seen articles about how only a small percentage of ALA is converted to EPA and DHA. Why are some people able to convert and some not?

That is correct. The conversion is an interesting process that requires special enzymes like delta-6 desaturase (D6D) and many nutrients:

One of the most common blocks in the prostaglandin chain involves delta-6 desaturase (D6D), the first step in the production of prostaglandins from essential fatty acids. When action of this enzyme is blocked, so is the entire pathway. This vital enzyme is inhibited first and foremost by trans fatty acids found in margarine, shortening and hydrogenated fats.2 These should be avoided at all costs. In addition, excess omega-6 fatty acids from modern commercial vegetable oils inhibits the pathway that leads to the Series 3 group. This is because both pathways begin with desaturation by the same delta-6 desaturase enzymes. Too much omega-6 in the diet "uses up" the delta-6 desaturase enzymes needed for the omega-3 pathway.

[...]

Deficiencies of biotin, vitamin E, protein, zinc, B12 and B6 all interfere with the action of delta-6 desaturase and other enzymes involved in prostaglandin production.4

[..]

Diabetes, poor pituitary function and low thyroid function are synonymous with altered and inhibited D6D function.6

From: Tripping Lightly Down the Prostaglandin Pathways

[LaylaStar]

Great thread!!

I used to take fish oil & flaxseed last year when I had troubles with my back..

My Dad cured his rheumatism/backache & joint ache with healthy food & recommended fish oil to me. He drinks it from a spoon (the trick is to not breathe/smell at the same time, he says!) while I could only take it in capsules..
They were huge though, & I felt a bit iffy after them, so I tried flaxeed oil capsules then, those were even worse! /eg my sensitivity to light went radically worse after taking one, & I felt 'off', so I stopped/

At another forum, people said flaxseed oil is a bad idea, while freshly ground flax is good.. If one has a deficiency & it's really fresh, it tastes quite yummy, if sprinkled on other food.. A bit nutty flavour..

I actually tried the hemp seed too!! (After I thought some people were joking about it first!) Again, if you have a deficiency, it tastes quite good!
If you don't, it can taste funny.. (eg when I ate both hemp & fish oil or flax for a while, apparently it was too much of everything.. just one was okay..)

You must be careful to clean the coffee grinder if you use it to grind the flax.. (orelse it will smell rancid & disgusting )

lol better don't get me started on magnesium & calcium too, I took some supplements last year & don't want to go near them again!

To the OP - Basically, if you're healthy & eat varied food, you probably don't need supplements. You can track your nutrition on fitday.com or Cronometer & such, & see if any deficiencies pop up.. In that case it's good to check what you eat & increase healthy stuff, or go see a doctor/nutritionist etc.. There's a lot of info online too..

If you have any problems, such as could be related to lack of omega 3 or other nutrients, well, in that case I prefer natural stuff to any iffy all-chemical pills!!

[joanmhe]

lamona - thanks for the info! So if I use olive oil and sometimes a little peanut oil or canola oil, and eat lots of different kinds of nuts in addition to some ground flax seed, am I getting enough omega-3? I also eat lots of raw salads, avocados, and fruit, and avoid processed foods. I eat oily fish (not farmed) twice a week, but no eggs and dairy. How would I know if I am getting enough? Are LDL/HDL ratios indicative?
Thanks again.

[steeveebee]

Hey Kwich...

My wife and I thought the same thing. We would spend a small fortune in herbals and such. But we discovered "mangosteen" and for the past few years it has done a wide range of things to maintain our health! We prefer the XanGo brand since they were the 1st to market. -steve

[liamona]

Originally Posted by joanmhe

lamona - thanks for the info! So if I use olive oil and sometimes a little peanut oil or canola oil, and eat lots of different kinds of nuts in addition to some ground flax seed, am I getting enough omega-3? I also eat lots of raw salads, avocados, and fruit, and avoid processed foods. I eat oily fish (not farmed) twice a week, but no eggs and dairy. How would I know if I am getting enough? Are LDL/HDL ratios indicative?
Thanks again.

It sounds like you are doing a lot already diet-wise. How do you feel? If you're mostly in a good mood, and can think clearly, then you're probably on the right track.