Hey guys, I was wondering what I need to consume to get my essential fatty acids? I heard about flax seed oil or something like that, but when I went to GNC, what i saw was OMEGA-3. Could someone help me out here? I need a supplement that gives me the dose i need of EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids) so that instead of deliberatly consuming fats in my diet, I can try to avoid them. Thanks in advance guys!
Sport Easy way to consume EFAs
- Thread starter Oblivion02
- Start date
Sport Fitness
What about ground flaxseed? Is there any reason to forgoe it in favor of the oil?
At the GNC in my town what they have is fish oils and Omega3... Which should I pick up? 
They have every product on discount, plus my 20% for bein a member!
They have every product on discount, plus my 20% for bein a member! I'm pretty sure I've read something about flax being linked to prostate cancer, and it isn't as good of a form anyway, that fish oil was better.
Also, as for fish oil, someone has previously stated that "enteric coated" capsules help to reduce the fishy burps. I've bought that kind and don't really have a problem, but I don't know if I would be bothered by non-coated capsules since I've never tried them.
Also, as for fish oil, someone has previously stated that "enteric coated" capsules help to reduce the fishy burps. I've bought that kind and don't really have a problem, but I don't know if I would be bothered by non-coated capsules since I've never tried them.
Okay so if I buy the fish oil capsules, what do i do then? How many times a week?
1 a day is good.
What about Hemp Seed Oil... I heard its a great source to get my EFAs
Essential fatty acids consist of omega-3 and omega-6. They are called essential not only because our bodies need them, but also because our bodies cannot synthesize them ourselves. Omega-9 is biologically important, but the body can manufacture it, so it's not essential that your diet includes omega-9. BTW, olive oil is largely oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid.
Although omega-6 is an essential fatty acid, we commonly consume too much rather than too little omega-6. Too much omega-6 versus omega-3 is unhealthy. So, it's better to limit, rather than indulge in, omega-6.
Omega-3's have three main varieties: ALA, EPA, and DHA. Plant sources, e.g., flax, walnuts, are almost all ALA. The body needs to convert ALA to EPA and DHA, which is why some may disparage the effectiveness of plant sources in comparison to fish. People can generally convert ALA to EPA and DHA, but some people supposedly lack such ability. Fish omega-3 is EPA and DHA, which fish get from algae they eat. The downside of fish, of course, is possible mercury, PCB, and dioxin contamination. Fortunately, (at least as I understand it), cold water fish such as salmon contain fairly small amount of these contaminants. I'm a believer in eating wild salmon vice farmed salmon.
I'm pretty sure the flax-seed-causes-prostate-cancer is nonsense. Could someone cite the study? Flax seed (before it's grounded) has a protective shell that protects the omega-3 fatty acid, which is quite delicate. Therefore, you want to buy flax seed that's not yet been ground up. However, to make it digestible, you do need to grind it, which can be done with an inexpensive grinder. Just grind only what you are going to consume at that time.
Regardless of how you get your omega-3, remember that omega-3 is a delicate molecule. Time, light, and heat are all enemies of omega-3. Unfortunately, when omega-3 decomposes, it doesn't just cease to be the desirable fatty acid you need, but it becomes a harmful oxidation product. So, consume your omega-3-rich foods while they are still fresh, and be careful how you cook or bake omega-3-rich foods. With fish, you need to kill potential parasites (e.g., worms) while not killing off the omega-3 acids. So, don't cook/bake your fish longer than necessary. (On fairly rare occasions, eating fish raw, e.g., sushi, could result in parasitic worms.)
Although omega-6 is an essential fatty acid, we commonly consume too much rather than too little omega-6. Too much omega-6 versus omega-3 is unhealthy. So, it's better to limit, rather than indulge in, omega-6.
Omega-3's have three main varieties: ALA, EPA, and DHA. Plant sources, e.g., flax, walnuts, are almost all ALA. The body needs to convert ALA to EPA and DHA, which is why some may disparage the effectiveness of plant sources in comparison to fish. People can generally convert ALA to EPA and DHA, but some people supposedly lack such ability. Fish omega-3 is EPA and DHA, which fish get from algae they eat. The downside of fish, of course, is possible mercury, PCB, and dioxin contamination. Fortunately, (at least as I understand it), cold water fish such as salmon contain fairly small amount of these contaminants. I'm a believer in eating wild salmon vice farmed salmon.
I'm pretty sure the flax-seed-causes-prostate-cancer is nonsense. Could someone cite the study? Flax seed (before it's grounded) has a protective shell that protects the omega-3 fatty acid, which is quite delicate. Therefore, you want to buy flax seed that's not yet been ground up. However, to make it digestible, you do need to grind it, which can be done with an inexpensive grinder. Just grind only what you are going to consume at that time.
Regardless of how you get your omega-3, remember that omega-3 is a delicate molecule. Time, light, and heat are all enemies of omega-3. Unfortunately, when omega-3 decomposes, it doesn't just cease to be the desirable fatty acid you need, but it becomes a harmful oxidation product. So, consume your omega-3-rich foods while they are still fresh, and be careful how you cook or bake omega-3-rich foods. With fish, you need to kill potential parasites (e.g., worms) while not killing off the omega-3 acids. So, don't cook/bake your fish longer than necessary. (On fairly rare occasions, eating fish raw, e.g., sushi, could result in parasitic worms.)
subdude, its flaxseed oil which is perportedly supposed to increase cancer risk.
However, the larger issue, is that neither hempseed nor flaxseed contain EPA or DHA...they contain ALA, which the body must convert into EPA and DHA adn a phenomenally bad rate. Furthermore, the older you get, the fewer enzymes you have that can do this conversion, so the efficiency gets worse.
And some people completely lack these enzymes.
Fish oil (either in caps, or from eatin salmon and other 'fatty' fish) contains actual EPA and DHA.
so, 10g worth of fishoil a day seems like a lot, but you'd need something like 10 times more flaxseed oil to get the same amount of DHA and EPA in 10g of fish oil...i.e. 100g of flaxseed oil!
google flaxseed prostate cancer for the few articles that say its true.
honestly there's more studies saying 'no it doesn't cause cancer' so I tend to agree its probably safe...but hardly as effective as fish oil
However, the larger issue, is that neither hempseed nor flaxseed contain EPA or DHA...they contain ALA, which the body must convert into EPA and DHA adn a phenomenally bad rate. Furthermore, the older you get, the fewer enzymes you have that can do this conversion, so the efficiency gets worse.
And some people completely lack these enzymes.
Fish oil (either in caps, or from eatin salmon and other 'fatty' fish) contains actual EPA and DHA.
so, 10g worth of fishoil a day seems like a lot, but you'd need something like 10 times more flaxseed oil to get the same amount of DHA and EPA in 10g of fish oil...i.e. 100g of flaxseed oil!
google flaxseed prostate cancer for the few articles that say its true.
honestly there's more studies saying 'no it doesn't cause cancer' so I tend to agree its probably safe...but hardly as effective as fish oil