12 replies to this topic

[icyT]

Just to establish... from what I've read, excess Vitamin A can be harmful, so if you're going to supplement, especially if you're not monitoring the level of vitamins in everything you eat, it might be safer to supplement Beta Carotene. Beta Carotene is converted by the body into Vitamin A, but only at the necessary needed levels.

If this is so, I suppose I have to wonder, why do they put vitamin A into multi-vitamins and other things like cereals at all, when beta-carotene is so much safer? Instead of messing you up like excess vitamin A, any excess beta carotene just goes to turn the skin orange or something, which I think is a perfect indicator. I wish all vitamins did something obvious when there was excess just so you knew you were getting enough, because recommended daily allotments are so inaccurate.

[scottl]

Probably because not everyone converts beta carotene effriciently into vit a.


Careful on the hyperbole.

[icyT]

Ahh okay that makes sense. I won't mind it so much as long as the vitamin A is low. Still, when I am rich, I shall cut out all vitamin A and consume beta carotene.

As for efficiency of conversion, that is a big concern I suppose, as I'm not aware how exactly it happens (I will study chemistry and nutrition for this). If it just means you have to consume more beta carotene to get the amount of vA then that's just another cost issue. If there's a lot of waste or something that'd be bad. If it burned calories or something... well I dunno, separate concern.

[sentrysnipe]

If you have thyroid problems or liver problems, u might not have a good chance of converting Beta Carotene to Vitamin A.



Best way to get Beta Carotene is juice fresh ORGANIC carrots.
Mix it WITH healthy fatty acids like coconut oil or olive oil. Udo's Choice prefect oil blend is what i mix it with

If you take it in high doses, balance the other carotenoids, so take equal amounts of tomato juice, sweet greens and spinach.

the only side effect is temporary orange pigmentation.

[ajnast4r]

pre-formed vitamin-A is garbage imo, unless you have a condition which prevents the conversion... which most people do not. stay away from pre-formed imo

its also a good idea to avoid isolated beta-carotene without other carotanoids and pro-A vitamins... any good multi will have beta + mixed

[Pablo M]

pre-formed vitamin-A is garbage imo, unless you have a condition which prevents the conversion... which most people do not. stay away from pre-formed imo

its also a good idea to avoid isolated beta-carotene without other carotanoids and pro-A vitamins... any good multi will have beta + mixed

Agreed. You definitely want something with mixed carotenoids. A good source that isn't too pricey is dunaliena salina (sp?). It has beta carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, etc.

[icyT]

I don't like Udo's choice, as if Udo's so special because he wrote a book

I don't really like to juice, but I do love to eat carrots, so I'll do that. Plus I don't have a juicer, or if I do, it really sucks.

Maybe if I ever try a juice fast because I'm convinced that less digestion actually does help you expel toxins, I'll try it. Sure beats overly acidic lemon juice. Gotta keep that PH level high or my body is conductive to cancer and my teeth will melt.

As for kidney or liver problems... isn't that a good indicator that you should fix them, if you have trouble getting the vitamin a from the beta carotene? Kidney and liver problems need to be fixed. I'm in the prime of my youth, but I've been raised on junk food so I might have problems, you never do know.

[sentrysnipe]

I don't like Udo's choice, as if Udo's so special because he wrote a book

well it's not a qualified argument then. Udo's Oil has a BALANCED RATIO of omega 3, 6, 9 and is 96% certified organic. i know there are flax haters here but there's more in this product than flax; coconut oil, evening primrose, sunflower... http://www.udoerasmus.com must be refrigerated too so flax won't rancid. u can freeze it too

ideal ratio of omega-3 and 6 must be 2:1. but the best is 3:1. 1-2 servings a day (1-2 tbsps) is quite adequate.
so far the cheapest is http://www.shop.com/op/prod-10687744 31$ good for 2 months.

I don't really like to juice, but I do love to eat carrots, so I'll do that. Plus I don't have a juicer, or if I do, it really sucks.

i read somewhere that eating it in solid form only supply you 1/4 of the possible beta carotene that the carrot contains. Anyone please validate this statement. your best option is Beta-Carrot by Y-H international. search for beta carrot in ebay if you're lucky. it's 100% organic. (contains organic maltodextrin)

Maybe if I ever try a juice fast because I'm convinced that less digestion actually does help you expel toxins, I'll try it. Sure beats overly acidic lemon juice. Gotta keep that PH level high or my body is conductive to cancer and my teeth will melt.

i advice an orderly cleanse before you fast. Do an intensive 8-9 day colon cleanse, 1 day liver flush then daily lemon juice kidney cleanse. try Oxy-powder or Blessed Herbs ( http://www.blessedherbs.com ) as you Colon cleanser.

[scottl]

"ideal ratio of omega-3 and 6 must be 2:1."

The ideal ratio is FOR YOUR TOTAL DIET

so this oil only has the idea ratios if you get no other fat in your diet. Getting all your omega 3s from flax....is not recommended by most people these days (except surprise udo since that is his claim to fame)

[Pablo M]

"ideal ratio of omega-3 and 6 must be 2:1."

The ideal ratio is FOR YOUR TOTAL DIET

so this oil only has the idea ratios if you get no other fat in your diet.  Getting all your omega 3s from flax....is not recommended by most people these days (except surprise udo since that is his claim to fame)

Agreed, Scott. Nobody needs to supplement with omega-6-rich oils.

Re your second point, do you mean to say that one must take fish oil in addition to flax?

[scottl]

If you take flax as your source of omega 3s no one can tell you for sure how much of the downstream product (forget if it is EPA or DHA of the top of my head) you are getting. Sooo most people recommend fish oil as the preferred source of omega 3s i.e. fish instead of flax. It is the safest bet.

There is also some disturbing info on ala i.e. flax as being implicated in prostate cancer. This is a tricky one and somewhat controversial. I do take flax in addition to fish oil as I'm presently experimenting. No idea if I will do this long term.

[ajnast4r]

If you take flax as your source of omega 3s no one can tell you for sure how much of the downstream product (forget if it is EPA or DHA of the top of my head) you are getting.  Sooo most people recommend fish oil as the preferred source of omega 3s i.e. fish instead of flax.  It is the safest bet.

There is also some disturbing info on ala i.e. flax as being implicated in prostate cancer.  This is a tricky one and somewhat controversial.  I do take flax in addition to fish oil as I'm presently experimenting.  No idea if I will do this long term.

the parent omega3 in flax converts to DHA at around 15-30%, to EPA anywhere from 0-15% from what ive read... DHA converts to EPA at 10-15% and EPA does not convert to DHA

flax is a fine source of omega3 imo, rumors of lack of conversion are just that... rumors (almost always spread by fishoil diustributors) ive seen NO Studies to back up that ALA doesnt convert to DHA/EPA...

being a vegetarian, i do not use fish oil... but i personally hate the taste of flax, so i use martek algae DHA, 300mg x 2 daily...