The contrast between the healthy fatty acids and benefits found in chia seeds vs flax seeds is significant. Here are excerpts from articles concerning this topic:
The restrictions on the use of flaxseed in humans is due mainly to the presence of toxic cianoglicosides (linamarin) and vitamin B6 antagonic factors (Vetter, 2000; Center for Alternative Plant and Animal Products, 1995; Stitt, 1989; Butler et al., 1965). All flax varieties have these anti-nutritional factors, even the new genetically modified varieties such as FP967, which has a concentration of total cyanogenic compounds (total linamarin, linustatin, and neolinustatin) very similar to the traditional varieties (Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 1998). Human consumption of flaxseed is banned in France and used with limitations in Germany, Switzerland and Belgium (Le Conseil d'Etat, 1973). In the USA, although human consumption is not prohibited, it does not have FDA approval. This means that should a company decide to include flax in a food product, it shall be liable for the safety of that product (Vanderveen, 1986). Recent research with animals has shown the negative action that flax has on pregnancy and reproductive development. These effects have been attributed to the action of the compound known as diclycoside ecoisolariciresinol (SDG), which through microbial action acts as estrogenic depressor or potentiator in mammals. Flax is known as the richest source of SDG and therefore special caution is recommended if consumed during pregnancy and lactation (Toug et al., 1998; Rickard and Thompson, 1998). Chia seed contains a number of compounds with potent antioxidant activity: myricetin, quercetin, kaemperol, and caffeic acid. These compounds are both primary and synergistic antioxidants and contribute in a major way to the strong antioxidant activity of chia (Castro-Martinez et al., 1986; Taga et al., 1984). Owing to the availability of flax (as industrial oil) and to its relatively low price, there have been many attempts to use it as an ω-3 fatty acid source in animal production, though not very successfully. Numerous scientific publications have shown the negative effects that the antinutritional factors of flax have on the development of layers, broilers, pigs, laboratory animals, etc. (Treviño et al., 2000; Toug et al., 1999. Thus, in order to use flax in poultry diets, the seeds have to be detoxified. The most efficient processes require the use of solvents, and even then the seeds cannot be completely detoxified (Mazza and Oomah, 1995; Madhusudhan et al., 1986). None of the toxic factors found in flax have been found in either chia seeds or chia oil (Ayerza and Coates, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 and 1997; Lin et al., 1994; Weber et al., 1991; Ting et al., 1990, Bushway et al., 1984) Eggs from hens fed chia have a relationship between α-linolenic fatty acid and its metabolite DHA, similar to that one found in human milk in Germany, France, Nigeria, Japan and China. Also the DHA:α-linolenic ratios of the eggs produced by hens fed 7% chia diets are similar to the eggs from hens fed under free range conditions, that is hens consuming green leafy vegetables, fresh and dried fruits, insects and occasional worms (Simopoulos and Salem, 1992). [End of quotes] Chia seeds completely dissolve in liquid. They stabilize blood sugar and supply much higher levels of essential fatty acids than does flax. I put 3 tbsn chia seeds in a smoothy and can go all day on it. Here are the urls for the above quotes. http://www.newtimes.org/issue/0202/chia.htm http://www.calcompnutrition.com/aztec-white.html http://www.eatchia.com/nutrition.htm Terry Chamberlin __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com -- The Silver List is a moderated forum for discussing Colloidal Silver. Instructions for unsubscribing are posted at: http://silverlist.org To post, address your message to: silver-list@eskimo.com Address Off-Topic messages to: silver-off-topic-l...@eskimo.com The Silver List and Off Topic List archives are currently down... List maintainer: Mike Devour <mdev...@eskimo.com>
