Why flax? Does good fat really help burn fat?

[BrokenBricks]

I would just like some rationale for this.

I know that is the body is starved of fat i will feel that it need to conserve it, but does flax (or more specificaly the omega 3,6,9's) do anything secific to facilitate fat loss?

I ask because untill now i was taking the pills but realized that it wasnt enough per serving and too expensive compared to the liquid to justify munching a handfull of pills. So i get home and smell the shit....needless to say i want a good reason to drink this shit.

Also, why do people avoid milk? just the GI?

BTW, weighed 205 today. week 3 of diet. The diet is working faster than any ive ever done. Cuts are popping out now. I need to get a digi cam and get some pics soon or ill just have after pics.

[painintheazz]

I have just alway heard that flax is healthy and promotes fat loss, maybe someone with a bio background can break it down for us. People avoid milk because of the carbs in it. The GI value of milk is actually low but causes a high amount of insulin secreation. Scientist aren't sure why this happens but they think it has something to do with its amino acid profile and the fact that it is meant to stimulate the growth of young mammals. So that is why most people stay away from dairy when cutting. Hope this helps a little.

Pain

[durbin22]

Put it in a protein shake.

[BrokenBricks]

I have tried it with different things now...I havnt put it in oatmeal of a shake though. I put a tablespoon of it in my mouth and then a sip of pickle juice and coulndt taste it at all. (i like pickle juice )

[Big Rush]

Arnold claims it is a great supp to take...just read his encyclopedia of modern bb'ing

[Steele]

milos sarcev told me the other day it makes no sense not to supplement with essential fatty acids becasue they are essential. you cannot produce them so you must ingest them for health. he takes them year round.

[HiFi]

what is this flaxseed oil, where can i buy it? whats the best time to take this flax stuff? is it better than what i currently do for good fats, by eating natural peanut butter

[abstrack]

Flax seed oil is considered by many to be the answer to this health dilemma. Oil extracted from flax seed is unique because it contains both essential fatty acids: alpha-linolenic, an omega-3 fatty acid, and linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, in appreciable amounts. Flaxseed oil is the world's richest source of omega-3 fatty acids at a whopping 57% (over two times the amount of omega-3 fatty acids as fish oils). Omega-3 fatty_ acids have been extensively studied for their beneficial effects toward the following: arthritis, cancer, high cholesterol levels, heart pain "angina", high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, eczema, stroke, and heart attack.

The high content of omega-3 fatty acids in flax seed oil is but one of its positive attributes. The essential fatty acids combined here have proven to impart a regulatory function on the body's fatty acid metabolism. Fat metabolism is as important, if not more critical, than our body's metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates as evidenced by the drastic rise in fat related degenerative diseases, such as vascular disease and strokes._ Dietary essential fatty acids common to flax seed oil are ultimately converted to hormone-like substances known as prostaglandins, and are important for the regulation of a host of bodily functions including inflammation, pain, and swelling, pressure in the eye, joints or blood vessels, secretions from mucus membranes and their viscosity, smooth muscle & autonomic reflexes, gastrointestinal, arterial, ear, heart, water retention, blood clotting ability, allergic response, rheumatoid arthritis, nerve transmission and steroid production & hormone synthesis

Scientists continue to discover regulating effects of prostaglandins. Without the essential fatty acids, the building blocks of prostaglandins, a malfunction of fat metabolism is certain, as are problems in the regulation of the above listed bodily functions.

For some individuals, flax seed oil may offer only half of the solution. Those deficient in co-factor nutrients, specifically the vitamins pro-A, A, C, E, B2, B6, pantothenic acid, B12, biotin, and the minerals calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulfur, and zinc, sometimes have difficulty in converting the omega-6 fatty acid, linoleic acid, found in flax and other seed oils to the healthful prostaglandins.

[sigrabbit]

I was told several years ago that flax has a negative caloric effect on the body. I don't have any studies to back it up, but my source did at the time. Anyone else hear this?

[thebrain]

In a nutrition magazine for a fat loss shake one of the ingredients was High lignan flax seed oil. Just thought i would share that since the discussion was on flax seed oil. I dont know how important it was to get the flax seed oil with the high lignan or not.

[abstrack]

Lignans are a highly studied and researched class of plant chemical (phytochemical) and a form of insoluble fiber that have recently come to the forefront of nutritional research. Compelling studies funded by the National Cancer Institute have shown that lignans may possess impressive preventative properties. Research has established that the amount of lignans present in human blood samples is directly related to the amount of lignan rich producing foods consumed. When flaxseed was compared to other lignan rich producing foods, it was found to have 200-800 times more lignan precursors.

[abstrack]

Fats For Health
Flax and Borage Seed Oil
by Jade Beutler
In this day and age of fat phobia and the resultant barrage of low fat and non-fat food products lining the grocery store aisles, a recommendation to supplement your daily diet with one to two tablespoons of essential fatty acid rich oil would appear to go against the grain. To the contrary, this is exactly what health conscious consumers are doing across the country, not only to attain and maintain optimal health, but in many instances, as a treatment for the over 60 health ailments the essential fatty acids have beenscientifically validated to benefit.
While it is true Americans should not consume more than 20-30% of daily calories as fats, a lack of the dietary essential fatty acids has been suggested to facilitate degenerative disease. If surveys are correct that approximately 80% of our population is deficient in the essential fatty acids, this may present a serious health threat. Unfortunately, mass commercial refinement of fats and oils products and foods containing them has effectively eliminated the essential fatty acids from our food chain, contributing to our modern day deficiency.
Organic, unrefined flaxseed oil is considered by many to be the answer to this health dilemma. Oil extracted from organic flaxseeds is unique because it contains both essential fatty acids: alphalinolenic, an Omega-3 fatty acid, and linoleic acid, an Omega-6 fatty acid, in appreciable amounts. Flaxseed oil is the world's richest source of Omega-3 fatty acids at a whopping 57% (over two times the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids as fish oils). Omega-3 fatty acids have been extensively studied for their beneficial effects toward:

* high cholesterol levels
* stroke and heart attack
* angina (heart pain)
* high blood pressure
* arthritis
* multiple sclerosis
* psoriasis and eczema
* cancer
The high content of Omega-3 fatty acids inherent in flaxseed oil is but one of its positive attributes. The essential fatty acids combined here have proven to impart a regulatory function on the body's fatty acid metabolism. Fat metabolism is as important, if not more critical, than our body's metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates as evidenced by the drastic rise in fat related degenerative diseases, such as vascular disease and strokes. Dietary essential fatty acids common to flaxseed oil are ultimately converted to hormone-like substances known as prostaglandins, and are important for the regulation of a host of bodily functions including:

* inflammation, pain, and swelling
* pressure in the eye, joints or blood vessels
* secretions from mucus membranes and their viscosity
* smooth muscle and autonomic reflexes, gastrointestinal, arterial, ear, heart
* water retention
* blood clotting ability
* allergic response and rheumatoid arthritis
* nerve transmission
* steroid production and hormone synthesis
Scientists continue to discover regulating effects of prostaglandins. Without the essential fatty acids - the building blocks of prostaglandins - a malfunction of fat metabolism is certain, as are problems in the regulation of the above listed bodily functions.
For some individuals, flaxseed oil may offer only half of the solution. Those deficient in cofactor nutrients, specifically the vitamins pro-A, A, C, E, B2, B6, pantothenic acid, B12, biotin, and the minerals calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulfur, and zinc, sometimes have difficulty in converting the Omega-6 fatty acid, linoleic acid, found in flax and other seed oils to the healthful prostaglandins.
Still others are thought to lack the necessary enzyme (catalyst) to make this conversion; particularly those afflicted with diabetes, asthma, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, alcoholism and the aged. For those suffering from co-factor deficiencies, a broad spectrum multi-vitamin and mineral may be recommended with, perhaps, an oil supplement rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Individuals who may lack the proper enzyme system would require a GLA supplement in addition to the flaxseed oil to effectively skip over the absent or impaired enzyme and continue on toward normal production of beneficial prostaglandins.
Nature's most potent concentration of GLA comes in the form of borage seed oil (24%). A great deal of scientific research has been conducted with supplements rich in GLA, resulting in significant interest regarding the aforementioned health ailments, as well as those affected by premenstrual syndrome, benign breast disease, eczema, psoriasis, obesity, and vascular disorders.
When considering an essential fatty acid supplement and deciding on either organic flaxseed or borage seed oils the most sensible solution may be a formulation of the two. The combination of organic flax oil and borage seed oil yields a true Omega-Twin by providing nature's best of the Omega-3 fatty acids in flax with the best of Omega-6 fatty acids in GLA rich borage oil. This option has now been made available by a flax/ borage oil product that can be found in many health food stores.
Supplementation with organic flax and borage seed oils combined makes good sense for the following reasons.

* Omega-3 fatty acids and GLA together exert favorable effects on the production of beneficial prostaglandins
* A number of health problems have proven to benefit from both Omega-3 fatty acids and GLA supplementation
* Organic flaxseed oil combined with borage oil may exhibit synergistic complementary effects
* Optimal conversion of fatty acids to beneficial prostaglandins is more likely assured
* Flax and borage oils combined in a single formulation is less expensive than purchasing both separately
In conclusion, the answer appears not to be no fat, but the right fat, as common to organic flax oil and borage seed oil, to achieve optimal health.
Summary:
Past and present scientific research supports the use of essential fatty acid nutrients in promoting optimal health. Flaxseed oil is recognized as nature's richest source of essential and Omega-3 fatty acids. Borage seed oil is recognized as nature's richest source of GLA. These natural plant substances used alone have created a great deal of interest in the treatment of numerous health problems. Evidence exists to suggest the combination of Omega-3 fatty acids with gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) may further complement the therapeutic result of either fatty acid used singularly.
References:
1) The Essential Fatty Acids, Sardesai, V.M., (Nutrition in Clinical Practice, August, 1992)
2) The Metabolic Role of N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Relationship to Human Disease, Kelly, F.J. (Comparative Physiology, 1991)
3) Summary of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Dietary Omega-3 and Omega 6 Fatty Acids, Simopoulos, A.P. (Journal of Nutrition, April 1989)
4) The Effects of Flaxseed Supplementation on Early Risk Markers for Mammary Carcinogenesis, Serraino, M. (Cancer Letter, November 1991)
5) High Alpha-Linolenic Acid Flaxseed, Some Nutritional Properties in Humans, Cunnane, S. C. (British Journal of Nutrition, March 1993)
6) Effect of Flaxseed Supplementation on Arachidonic Acid Metabolism. Bowen, P.E. (University of Illinois at Chicago)
7) The Effects of Dietary Flaxseed on Estrogen Metabolism in Women, Kurzer, M.S. (Proceedings of the Flax Institute)
8) Borage or Primrose Oil Added to Standardized Diets are Equivalent Sources of Gamma-Linolenic Acid in Rats, Raedarstorff, D. (Lipids, December 1992)
9) The Effect of Gamma-Linolenic Acid on Human Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Jamal, G. A. (Diabetic Medicine, May, 1990)
10) Significance and Motivation of the Chemical Use of Essential Fatty Acid Derivatives, Especially GLA (Clinica Terapeutica. March 1990)

[abstrack]

Flaxseed: Nature's Richest Source of Plant Lignans
by Jade Beutler, R.R.T., R.C.P.
Generally, the U.S. Government has little involvement in its citizens diets other than to encourage that they are nutritionally sound. Beginning in the 1980's however, consumers were advised by the Surgeon General of the United States and the National Academy of Sciences that low in saturated fat, high fiber diets could be beneficial to their health. This advice was driven by new health statistics. For example, Healthy People 2000, noted that five of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States, coronary heart disease, some types of cancer, stroke, certain types of diabetes and atherosclerosis, were related to diet. Consequently, the Surgeon General advised consumers to lower their saturated fat and cholesterol intakes, and at the same time increase their consumption of grains, vegetables and fruits. This new information convinced the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to undertake a 20.5 million dollar program to learn more about natural plant chemicals (phytochemicals) in certain food groups that may prevent cancer.
One of the first and most promising foods to be studied was flaxseed. It had been previously discovered that flaxseed contained a phytochemical known as lignan within the cell matrix of its seed. Much of the interest surrounding plant lignans is based on the suspected association between them and the low incidence of breast and colon cancers of those consuming a plant and grain based vegetarian diet. High levels of lignans are present in the blood, urine and feces of these individuals. Flaxseed contains 100 - 800 times more plant lignans than does its closest competitors, wheat bran, rye, buckwheat, millet, soy beans and oats. Once consumed, lignans found in flaxseed are converted by bacterial action in the colon to mammalian lignans. They are then circulated through the intestinal tract and liver where their action is potentiated. Here mammalian lignans bind with estrogen receptors with results suggesting they may induce the production of a special sex hormone binding compound. This compound known as sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) regulates estrogen levels by escorting excess estrogen from the body via its eliminative pathways. It should be noted that lignans are thought to be estrogen modulators, balancing estrogen activity with both weak estrogenic and antiestrogenic abilities. These and other positive findings were presented by both the FDA and the NCI as well as several research institutions at the annual convention on Experimental Biology held in New Orleans, LA.
In summary, flaxseed containing the phytochemical lignan, has been proven scientifically to exhibit estrogenic activity which may hold implications in estrogen related mammary and colon problems. Flaxseed and flaxseed oil can be purchased in health food stores nationwide. A new high in lignan organic flaxseed oil product is now available which possesses all of the qualities of flaxseed oil with the extra benefit of additional lignans.

[abstrack]

Flaxing Your Muscles
by Jade Beutler, R.R.T., R.C.P.
So what's all the hype surrounding flaxseed oil anyway? I'll tell you what all the hype is about, it's about the fact that flaxseed oil has been found to be essential for optimum health and athletic performance. Yeah, "essential" meaning that flaxseed oil contains a special fatty acid (Omega-3) that is required for optimum health and must be ingested directly in the diet. So what's the big deal? The big deal is that most Americans are deficient in these critical nutrients. In fact, upwards to 20% of the population exhibits undetectable blood levels of Omega-3. Athletes and bodybuilders may easily fall into this category due to an increased demand and utilization of nutrients, and a tendency toward fat phobia. Okay, so Omega-3 in flax oil is essential and I may be deficient, why is it so important anyway? The essential Omega-3 fatty acid in flaxseed oil is ultimately converted in the body to hormone-like compounds that dictate literally every biological process including...

* Stimulate steroid production
* Synthesization of hormones
* Mediating immune response
* Directing endocrine hormones to target cells
* Regulating smooth muscle and autonomic reflexes
* Construction of healthy cell walls
* Transportation of oxygen to body cells
* Keeping saturated fats mobile in the blood stream
* Regulation of nerve transmission
* Serving as the primary energy source for the heart muscle
This is to name a few of the over 1,000 biological actions of essential fatty acids.
The fatty acids in flaxseed oil are essential nutrients. They are the starting point, or the mortar and bricks if you will, for manufacturing all other fatty acids and hormone precursors necessary to support and build strong lean muscle, while prolonging stamina required for endurance sports. Beyond providing essential nutrients flaxseed oil provides valuable fuel required by today's high intensity athlete. That's right, flaxseed oil provides 9 calories per gram of energy, compared to only 4 calories per gram with carbohydrate and protein sources. Here's the good news, while the fatty acids in flax oil are defined as fats - they actually act in the body as anti-fats. Instead of adding unsightly and slowing body fat, they actually stoke metabolic processes in the body that speed fat loss. While technically defined as fats because of their molecular structure, they are the antitheses to saturated fats in the body - as black is to white, and as hot is to cold.
What's the word on the street?
Flaxseed oil has received an overwhelming response from the athletic and bodybuilding community. The consensus is that unlike many of the "fad" products on the market, flax oil is here to stay due to it's profound health benefits. An article entitled "Best of the Best", and published in the bodybuilding and health enthusiast magazine Muscle Media 2000, claims flaxseed oil as "the hottest idea in bodybuilding" and "a surprising new category of bodybuilding supplements." Mr. Dan Duchane in his column "Ask the Guru", also writing for Muscle Media 2000, ranked flaxseed oil as the number one bodybuilding supplement compared to all other available products. In an article written by bodybuilding columnist Jay Robb for Exercise for Men, Jay cites the importance of essential fatty acids in flax as primary building blocks of healthy cells, in lowering cholesterol levels, forming nerve and brain tissue, playing a key role in regulating the cardiovascular, immune and digestive systems, promoting healing and in helping to burn calories.
Do you really need this stuff? If you are walking, talking, eating and breathing the answer is yes. In fact, flaxseed oil is as important, if not more important than the prevailing popular products on the market such as creatine, protein powder and chromium in sustaining, maintaining and excelling in athletic performance. Most athletes find it easiest to work flaxseed oil into their daily regimen by simply blending it in with their daily protein drink. The general recommendation is about one-tablespoon per every 100 pounds of body weight. Be aware that not all flax oil products are created equal. Many of the "cheap" brands have been either refined or filtered. The Barlean's brand, ranked #1 by Dan Duchane and Jay Robb, is pressed fresh, unrefined, unfiltered and organic. Flaxseed oil is quickly losing it's status as a "best kept secret" among bodybuilders and athletes as everyone is rushing for a bottle of what has become known as liquid dynamite!