Fatty Acid stuff

Here are a couple of interesting URLs for people into fatty acid supplementation:

http://www.****.ca/english/index.php?p=suppliers1&mp=suppliers#Bioriginal   (a list of Canadian wholesalers/retailers of fatty acid products and concentrates; and Canada is the world's biggest producer of flax and flax seed)

http://www.****.com/products/?type=north_america   (a Canadian company that produces and sells high-rade flax seed products)

By the way, I found a small nutrient lab in Buenos Aires today that produces and markets oil from a Peruvian plant called "chia". It's supposed to be the world's best source of omega-3 fatty acids, especially ALA, better than fish oil and better than flax seed oil. Could be true...

Mike

[meki]

Chia -- as in Chia Pet?

LOL! --- THat would be funny - everyone growing chia pets and eating them.

Just kidding --- I only wanted you to know that the links didn't show.

Meki

[mike716]

What is it with this link-snipping stuff? Sheesh!

Here are the missing words, in the same order:

flaxcouncil

bioriginal

These are pretty worthwhile websites for anyone interested in beefing up their poly-unsaturated fatty acids. Flax seems to be better than fish and almost as good as chia (unfortunately, one of the chia species IS used in those horrendous pet thingies, but the one high in omega-3 fatty acids is apparently another species of chia that grows in Peru). I haven't tested this out yet, but I believe one or more of the Canadian flax dealers at the first URL is selling flax seeds in bulk at low prices. And some of them sell bulk crushed seed and bulk oil as well.

The thing about flax seems to be that it contains around 50% by weight of ALA, an omega-3 fatty acid that the human organism can convert into the other two important fatty acids, EPA and DHA. So theoretically if you get enough ALA from flax seeds (or chia) you don't need to get EPA and DHA from fish oil. Theoretically.

Needless to say I have not tried any of this out and wouldn't know one end of a fatty acid from the other. But I am diligently putting together my sources for Doctor Mike's Fibrosis Recovery Formula (with more than a little help from HR's and gauf's posts).

Mike

[mike716]

I'm posting this to myself to scold me for the factual errors in my previous post. Flax is not the one with 50% ALA. That's the chia oil. But flax is pretty good stuff too, I think.

Anyway, starting tomorrow I'll be making around half my meals from oats, wheat germ, crushed flax seed, almonds, raisins, and honey, - with some chia thrown in if I can get it from a good, cheap source - all mixed together in a nutritious, delicious, liver-friendly goop that reminds me fondly of what I was once served in a San Francisco lock-up when I was busted for vagrancy in the days before I was old enough to have a draft card.

The honey makes it palatable.

M.

[Marcia2202]

Thanks for reminding me what I have in my kitchen cupboard.

I have this stuff called CocoChia made by Living Fuel in Florida. Coconut and chia seeds. You can sprinkle it over your yogurt or cereals and it tastes great.  The seeds are a little glutinous, so they also help with digestion.  I have to order it on the net from the States, but you guys in the US can probably just walk into a health food store and get it.

Coconut and chia seeds are both considered a superfoods. They say: Nearly 1000 yrs ago, chia seeds where used by the Aztecs as a food for energy, endurance, strength and good health. These tiny seeds are one of nature's perfect foods containing essential fatty acids (natures best source of omega 3 alpha linolenic acid), protein, soluble fiber, protective antioxidants, minerals and vitamins.

The seeds are grown in South and Central America, so Mike, you're right at the source. You could just get the seeds and sprinkle them over your food, like flax seeds (you need to crush/grind these to get the best out of them, if not they just pass though your system). You could even try to sprout them on a moist kitchen papertowel .

Marcia

[mike716]

Hi, Marcia. Long time no see :]

The CocoChia sounds good, but I don't think I like the expression "living fuel". You'd think the ad people could come up with something a little less... shall we say... cruel? But Florideans have no cool whatsoever. Too much sun makes them apathetic.

What do you mean "you guys in the States"? I'll probably never see the States again. You're right as far as New York goes, though. There's a vitamin shop on every street corner. I figure that Americans trying to be healthy is an unconscious compensation for all the evil they do in the world. But my cheap psychologizing has never made me a lot of friends.

Why can't this forum be configured to separate paragraphs? It's really rather annoying.

Chia grows all over the place. It's a type of sage, like in "sagebrush". The folks who encapsulate it here told me they get theirs from Peru, but I think they're probably fibbing and that they really grow it in a vacant lot out in the slums of Buenos Aires.

Oh, no. You're not gonna get me trying to sprout chia seeds on paper towels. I'm too old for that kind of jazz. People think I'm a cook as it is, I don't need them seeing a table full of little jars behind me with chia sprouts in them when I open the door. Listen, I've got precious few visitors as it is...

What am I doing up at 3 AM? This forum is sucking me out into cyberspace.

I'm gonna have a steak and fries for breakfast with a glass of Jack Daniels. The devil take life on oatmeal.

M.

[Marcia2202]

I love it!!! Thanks for making me laugh on this precious morning.

'you guys in the States' was destined to those who do live in the States.

BTW, you got a mail from me in your inbox.

I understand what you mean with the sprouting. When people come to our kitchen, they think I'm a crazy nut hippie (including my kids). I have grown wheat grass in huge trays and loads of other sprouts. Have been taking a break, 'cause I had been traveling, but will start up the sprouting again. Not the wheat grass though, as I get nausea from too sweet things now.

Marcia