flax

[MuonOne]

flax is regarded as neuron healthy and heart healthy because of fatty acid content . . . do you know of scientific or other studies that support these claims, which are also said to be true of olives and fish. Of course there are numerous sources for claims that fish is brain food; yet what evidence of this is there?

[Corky]

all I can input is that my primary care physician suggested oatmeal, wheat germ, and flax seeds to help lower my cholesterol that the meds along weren't doing. What do I have to prove that it works, nothing yet..just started this kinda eating a couple months ago. Ask me again in December when I go back for follow up bloodwork, will know then if all this has helped.

[brainandspinalcord]

I just made a post about this, the link to the article is here:
http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/blog/2008/07/give-your-brain-a-nutritional-advantage/

[markpilnick]

Regarding diet and cholesterol, I was on PubMed today, doing research related to my bipolar illness and I read an abstract of a study that compared magnesium supplementation to statin drugs and the results concluded that magnesium(probably in citrate or chloride form) was as effectivre as the statins. I take mag citrate for mood stabilization, since it has properties similar to lithium, which made me quite ill.

[Lavandula Canadensis]

good morning everyone in the room,

:) please be patient, as it may take a few days for someone to do some serious search in order to answer you intelligently... and give you good links... for specific nutrients or specific foods...

:) in alternative medicines, as well as in traditional medicine, there are lots of contradictory information available on the internet and in books...

:) some years ago, my homeopath was giving me someting for mood swings, which was also treating other related conditions treated w the same homeo. med. (asthma and migraines before and during t-storms)... it was phosphorus... but i don't recommend that you try anything on your own without seeing an homeopath or a naturopatic doctor, as different dosages as well as frequency will act at a different level... and the appropriate homeo. med. for your own condition may be another one... according to homeopathy, as well as to chinese medicine and other ancient traditional medicines... if you treat the basic disorder, related disorders will disappear... then, you can work at a different level of symptoms... like when you strip antique furniture... which makes sense...

:) and like for any pharm. meds., natural meds. will serve you well for a while, then you have to try something else, as your condition has changed (sometimes for best, sometimes for worst)

p.s. i don't have an official dx of bipolar disorder as i haven't seen the same dr long enough for him to dx me... and i react very badly to all pharm. meds., to all chemicals and to lots of foods, incl. all what's serves as a base for dry and liquid meds.

:) good luck w your search... and i will follow up on this thread and BT food court... as i'm very interested in omega-3 foods... i realize that i'm learning so much since i joined BT in april

[brainandspinalcord]

:) please be patient, as it may take a few days for someone to do some serious search in order to answer you intelligently... and give you good links... for specific nutrients or specific foods...


the link I referred to actually has information on a study regarding neuron health and fatty acids, and lists specific foods, which was my view of what the OP was looking for.. Worth it to at least check it out, here's an excerpt:

"[researcher in charge of study] found that omega-3 fatty acids helped to improve memory, learning and protected against depression, mood disorders and even dementia. While you can find omega-3 in pill form, the scientists state that you will receive more benefits from actual food that contains this valuable nutrient. Some of these foods include flax seed, salmon, walnuts and squash."

[Lavandula Canadensis]

another good link to search for anything... in many languages you may wish, is Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-3_fatty_acid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flax
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walnuts

don't you find that the walnut shell looks like a little brain... ;)

i love walnuts... i'l go nuts for a handful of walnuts... by learning that they contain more omega-3 than almonds and hazelnuts, which i love too, and which i eat everyday... i will manage to eat a little more walnuts now :D

i like to eat flax seed oil in home made dressings, on raw cold salads, on steamed veggies, on soup, on stews, on everything... this oil should NEVER be heated... pour it over your meal when it is at a confortable temperature to eat it... you'll find it in health food groceries and in some reg. groceries, in the refrigerator and it should be kept refrigerated at home too :)

Bon appétit!!!