Fish oil and flax question.......... - Diet & Nutrition Message Board

Jess75 · 10-13-2004, 09:25 AM

I take a tsp of fish oil that contains 850mg of epa and 560mg of dha, a total of : 1.5 grams of omega 3 fatty acids.

And 2 tablespoons of flaxseeds a day.

Do you think I really need 2 tablespoons of flax to get the recommended daily requirement? Could I get away with one. What is your opinion?

zip2play · 10-13-2004, 10:56 AM

I don't think you need the flaxseed...
The fish oil is enough (and more assimilable.) Flax, as flax seed, can pass through as fiber carrying much of its oil with it.

Rickhard · 10-13-2004, 11:52 AM

i liked ground flax seed a lot better than fish oil. there's nothing wrong with doing both. the fiber in flax will not make the oil harder to absorb or carry it out of your system. i tried both fish oil and flax. flax has a lot more nutrition than just omega 3s. plus it's cheaper. i'm up to 5 tbsp of flaxmeal a day. i've never felt better. i'm 48 yo male. i cook it with oats. i'm off my antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, flonase and flovent. i exercise a lot. i tolerate cold better. i sleep with windows open even at 48 f degrees. that's cool. try it sometime. please learmn more about both. i'm not knocking fish oil.

Jess75 · 10-13-2004, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickhard

i liked ground flax seed a lot better than fish oil. there's nothing wrong with doing both. the fiber in flax will not make the oil harder to absorb or carry it out of your system. i tried both fish oil and flax. flax has a lot more nutrition than just omega 3s. plus it's cheaper. i'm up to 5 tbsp of flaxmeal a day. i've never felt better. i'm 48 yo male. i cook it with oats. i'm off my antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, flonase and flovent. i exercise a lot. i tolerate cold better. i sleep with windows open even at 48 f degrees. that's cool. try it sometime. please learmn more about both. i'm not knocking fish oil.

Believe my Rick, I'm not giving up my flaxseeds!

But do you think I can get away with one tbs instead of two for maximum results in addition to my fish oil. Or is two teaspoons recommended? Thanks

arkie6 · 10-13-2004, 08:18 PM

Fish oil, or better yet, cod liver oil, is far superior to flax seed oil if you are interested in Omega 3 essential fatty acids. Flax seed oil contains the omega 3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), but your body needs eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Your body can convert ALA into EPA/DHA, but it is about a 10 to 1 conversion (10 parts ALA to make 1 part EPA/DHA), and that is if you are healthy and eating a good diet. To convert ALA into EPA/DHA, your body uses the Delta 6 Desaturase (D6D) enzyme, which is often depleted in those that eat a poor diet high in processed foods containing trans fatty acids from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and omega 6 fat acids like those found in commercial vegetable oils. This is why it is better to get your omega 3's from a high quality fish or cod liver oil or wild cold water fish.

Reference: "The Role of Fats in Human Nutrition", 1989, R.R. Brenner, Ph.D.