Originally published March 7 2012
Why flax seeds may be the best source of omega-3
by Paul Fassa
(NaturalNews) The standard American diet (SAD) is high in omega-6 from usually processed hydrogenated oils like soy, cotton, and canola oils. These oils are used in a multitude of processed and packaged foods, even those sold in health food stores and restaurants of all stripes.
Poor quality hydrogenated trans fatty oils cause health problems, and they are heavy with omega-6 fatty acids. Without being balanced by omega-3, omega-6 causes tissue inflammation.
Tissue inflammation is considered the source of virtually all disease. A ratio of 3:1 or less with omega-6 to omega-3 is recommended.
There are many sources of omega-6 fatty acids. Some recommend cutting back on even cold pressed olive oils (good oils) to lower omega-6 inflammations, but increasing omega-3 consumption also supports the brain and nervous system. Increasing omega-3 sources seems better.
A little about seafood sources of omega-3
Many health experts promote fish oils or fish foods such as salmon, tuna, and sardines, but ocean and freshwater pollution have become rampant over the past couple of decades.
Mercury is in many ocean waters and PCBs in fresh waterways make their way into ocean waters. Fish farms have proven to be sources of inbred contamination and lower nutrition, similar to the meats from animal factory farming.
More recently, seafood sources have become contaminated with BP oil and toxic oil dispersant agents in the Gulf of Mexico. Add Fukushima radioactive matter dumped into the Pacific Ocean to complete the seafood quandary.
Both the Gulf and Pacific situations have been down played by health officials, governments and the mainstream media.
Choosing seafood resembles playing Russian roulette, unless you're willing to do extensive research and pay a higher price for premium seafood harvested from sources that are proven to be uncontaminated.
Though some still consider animal sources of omega-3 superior to plant sources, organically produced plant sources are effective, inexpensive, and safer sources of omega-3.
Flax seed oil and flax seeds
German scientist Johanna Budwig is known in alternative cancer therapy circles as the creator of the Budwig diet for curing cancer, which has proven to be among the most effective approaches for curing cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/027452_cancer_fat_diet.html).
The bedrock of her diet is flax and cottage cheese or quark. Not as well known as her cancer therapy is her research on fats and fatty acids in the 1950s. Then she discovered and categorized the various aspects of fats and fatty acids known today (http://www.naturalnews.com/027539_cancer_diet_cure.html).
Budwig's oil of choice was pure cold pressed organic flax seed oil. Some of her snack recipes include ground flax seeds. Cold pressed flax seed oil is pricey and turns rancid easily. While very appropriate for the Budwig cancer diet, it's limited in its application.
Flax seeds, purchased in health food store bulk sections, are very inexpensive. They store easily for long periods until ground. They have to be ground for consumption. A coffee grinder works, and they should be consumed shortly after grinding, within an hour or so.
The ground seeds can be eaten by the spoonful or added to cereals and smoothies. It's recommended to have at least two tablespoons per day. But more is better, especially since Fukushima.
Flax seeds also protect against radiation as well as give us all the omega-3 fatty acids we want to balance out that omega-6 imbalance.
Sources for this article include
Flax seeds for radiation http://www.naturalnews.com/033657_flax_seeds_health_benefits.html
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com
http://www.rpi.edu/dept/environ/orgs/Clearwater/dredging.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070321181643.htm
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About the author:
Paul Fassa is dedicated to warning others about the current corruption of food and medicine and guiding them towards direction for better health with no restrictions on health freedom.
You can check out his many non-compromising cutting edge, non-fluff articles here http://www.naturalnews.com/Author712.html
And you can visit his blog at http://healthmaven.blogspot.com
Paul Fassa is dedicated to warning others about the current corruption of food and medicine and guiding them towards direction for better health with no restrictions on health freedom.
You can check out his many non-compromising cutting edge, non-fluff articles here http://www.naturalnews.com/Author712.html
And you can visit his blog at http://healthmaven.blogspot.com
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