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DHA / EPA - Essential Fats for HEALTH


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#1 calmcookie

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Posted 17 September 2005 - 07:42 AM

Re: question about how to obtain sufficient DHA / EPA ... and comment about
fruit juices (was on other thread):

I think there are several good ways to obtain sufficient amounts of DHA / EPA.
I know that the term "Cod liver oil" may conjure up unpleasant images, but
most of today's brands are highly purified and either almost TASTELESS or
have slight, natural flavorings added, such as lemon or mint.

I use Carlson's brand, but Twinlab "Norwegian" also sells what I
believe to be a quality product. Use about 1 tsp per 50 pounds of body weight
per day. Once in the morning, or better still, if you can remember ... split the dose between morning and afternoon.

In addition, I think that any product made
by "The Zone" group will be good quality ... as PhD biochemist Barry Sears
overseas (or at least did, initially), most of their production methods.

He's the author of "The Zone" and I went to hear him lecture in Toronto once
... wonderful man, very sincere, knowledgeable and his specialty is how lipids
(fats) function in the body ... he also lectures on eicosanoids (fascinating hormones that have a great deal to do with diabetes). Dr. Sears was introduced to me by 72 year old Nutrition Professor, Bob Bruce, from the University of Toronto.

REMEMBER, TOO, TO AVOID PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED FATS -
LOOK AT THE LABELS OF ALL THOSE PACKAGED JUNK FOODS.

Lastly ... about the grape juice ... this will not sit well with many of you, but
FRUIT juice is NOT a healthy thing to consume on a regular basis (sure, have it occasionally, IF YOU MUST). Fruit juice is simply concentrated and fast acting SUGAR (carbohydrate) and has, what we refer to in endocrinology as a very high glycemic index.

Too long to explain here ... but it shoots up your insulin response ... suffice to say,
for now, that it's much better to eat the WHOLE FRUIT (or limited fruit ... more about that later), than to drink any kind of fruit juice.

I will risk alienating some of you, I suppose, but what I say is my sincere
opinion, based on very good evidence / experience.

Best to all,

C.C.

Edited by calmcookie, 17 September 2005 - 07:49 AM.


#2 bobalou

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Posted 17 September 2005 - 09:10 AM

I use borage oil (gla 240 mg.) w/ epa (3 x 180 mg. and dha(3 x 120 mg.) per day to help w/ back pain.hope it helps you...

#3 hiker

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Posted 17 September 2005 - 10:27 AM

The Glycemic Index refers to how fast an individual food gets its sugar (glucose) into the blood stream.

An article by a recognized authority on the Glycemic Index is found in the link below. This artilcle also contains a link to the index itself showing the numerical glycemic values for various foods:

http://www.elsonhaas...article_09.html

excerpt from article above:

Check out the Glycemic Index. Any food below 55 tends to conserve insulin and hormones. When your body puts out less insulin, this creates less stress on your pancreas and other glands, and may decrease your risk of diabetes and obesity later in life. Overeating usually isn't as much of a problem when you eat low on the Index. It's the blast of insulin from high glycemic foods that drives hunger cravings.

Edited by hiker, 17 September 2005 - 10:31 AM.


#4 calmcookie

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Posted 17 September 2005 - 10:47 AM

I use borage oil (gla  240 mg.) w/ epa (3 x 180 mg. and dha(3 x 120 mg.) per day to help w/ back pain.hope it helps you...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>



Babalou,

Thanks for your comment. Borage is interesting. It's been mentioned in literature since the 12th century and is today used primarily as a decorative herb in Great Britain.

GLA (Gamma linolenic acid) is produced in Borage plants as a response to low temperatures (a little like a botanical anti-freeze). This herb grows best in New Zealand and Saskatchewan, Canada. Dr. Barry Sears has a very funny story about how he and his brother once attempted to corner the market on Borage seeds (apparently all the seeds in the world will fit into the trunk of one car). He initially believe it was the answer to eicosanoid modulation. Mind was changed for a number of reasons. Long story short .... borage is a good source of GLA, but a much less costly source is simple, slow cook (not instant) oatmeal.

Fish oil is a better and lower priced source for EPA / DHA and if you want to be VERY picky about getting rid of ALL contamination, you can buy molecularly distilled fish oil that will remove every last PCB's and heavy metal. I'm not that obsessive, but each to their own.

My question for you is: Why do you have back pain?

Best, C.C.

Edited by calmcookie, 17 September 2005 - 10:49 AM.


#5 OEXCHAOS

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Posted 18 September 2005 - 11:06 AM

REMEMBER, TOO, TO AVOID PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED FATS -
LOOK AT THE LABELS OF ALL THOSE PACKAGED JUNK FOODS.


Yes, yes, yes!

Our "health" industry had folks eating margarine instead of Butter to improve their cholesterol and "heart health". Cripes they were doing MORE damage that just eating butter.

I'll add that I'm beginning to believe that highest quality fresh bulk butter may be much less bad for folks than we're told. I'm not saying really GOOD, but perhaps a pleasure occasionally that should be enjoyed.

Oxidized oils are bad. If you listen to your body and read your lables, you ought to be able to tell immediately that they are not good for you.


Lastly ... about the grape juice ... this will not sit well with many of you, but FRUIT juice is NOT a healthy thing to consume on a regular basis (sure, have it occasionally, IF YOU MUST). Fruit juice is simply concentrated and fast acting SUGAR (carbohydrate) and has, what we refer to in endocrinology as a very high glycemic index.

Too long to explain here ... but it shoots up your insulin response ... suffice to say,
for now, that it's much better to eat the WHOLE FRUIT (or limited fruit ... more about that later), than to drink any kind of fruit juice.


Anecdotal...ever since I've been trying to limit my carbohydrates I stopped with the juice, especially OJ. I took one look at the lable and noted the sugar/carbs and decided that I'd get way ahead of the game by skipping them entirely. As such, I think I've had 1 glass of juice in the past year.

Yesterday, as a treat I had a frozen OJ Ice that my wife made for me. Don't know why, just sounded good on a warm afternoon. Within MINUTES I was feeling funky and bonking. I felt off for about an hour or so afterward.

Folks, if you want to mess with your insulin levels go ahead, drink the juice, but if you want to control your carbs and weight, pass on the OJ and other fruit juices.


I will risk alienating some of you, I suppose, but what I say is my sincere
opinion, based on very good evidence / experience.


At the very least, folks should understand that you don't walk on water, but your intentions are good. Ideally, folks will understand you to be a good resource of critical filtering of growing and dynamic information base. You may be wrong on some thing, but so is the establishment, except that they don't necessarily have your best interests at heart.

I think it's great. Thanks.

Mark

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#6 bobalou

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Posted 18 September 2005 - 01:55 PM

cookie ,,scar tissue and bone spurs