Sally-Ann Creed

January 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR!                                  January 2007 General Health Newsletter

I hope this will be your very best year yet.  Starting a new year is exciting – take chances this year!!  John A Shedd said “A ship in the harbour is safe – but that is not what ships are for”. Launch out this coming year into something new and fresh – I’m going to!

 

Please note that although this particular newsletter is free, I also produce another newsletter put out monthly in colour and beautifully designed for printing with pictures and more interesting articles, called the Subscriber E-Magazine.  This is emailed to you individually once a month. (See end of this letter for topics in January's E-Magazine) together with a password to our new Secure Sight, full of "healthy" information - which opens on 15 January!


Although I keep all the 'best' stuff for my subscriber base now, I do hope you enjoy this shorter and entirely different newsletter.  New concerns about flax oil is the main topic plus the ban on trans fats by New York City - both very interesting, topical articles.

 

WHAT'S NEW?

Please read about my new Health e-Nuts & Bolts 'no sweat' Nutrition Course: www.sallyanncreed.co.za.  A quick 6-month on-line course which is already proving hugely popular even before it's begun - starts 1 Feb, registration by 25 January.

 

While we may not be able to control all that happens to us, we can control what happens inside us - Benjamin Franklin

 

FATS & FISH OIL FACT FILE

NEW CONCERNS ABOUT FLAX OIL

This article is a quote from nutrition expert, Jean Carper

"To get the real and potent omega-3 fatty acids your body needs, you can depend on fish oil, but not flaxseed oil. They are not the same. Although flaxseed oil is often touted, even by some doctors, as a substitute for fish oil, new studies show it’s not a reliable alternative.

 
Here’s the problem: It’s true that both provide omega-3 fatty acids, but flaxseed oil has short-chain fatty acids (alpha linolenic acid), that theoretically, the body converts into long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, identical to those preformed in fish. Experts credit EPA and DHA as the active components of fish oil that strengthen hearts and brains at all ages.
 
However, the conversion of flaxseed oil’s short-chain omega-3 to long-chain omega-3 found in fish is unreliable and inefficient, say new tests. This is especially true for the “brain booster” DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), credited with giving baby brains higher IQs and protecting aging brains from memory loss and Alzheimer’s.

 
Some examples:
Taking high daily doses of flaxseed oil (3,000 mg alpha linolenic acid) caused no increase at all of omega-3 DHA in the blood of subjects, finds a new Emory University study. Flaxseed oil did spur the synthesis of EPA eicosapentaenoic acid), fish oil’s other important omega-3 fatty acid.  Similarly, feeding animals alpha-linolenic acid, as found in flaxseed oil, did not increase DHA in their brain cells, according to research at the National Institutes of Health.

 
New British research says high doses of flaxseed oil may even cause a decrease in omega-3 DHA and that flaxseed oil does not adequately nourish fetal brains. University of Southampton researchers concluded that “preformed DHA and EPA in fish oil are essential to maintain optimal tissue function and that flaxseed falls short. It is a “limited source” of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, especially in men, who are less apt than women to convert flaxseed oil to EPA or DHA, they declared.

 
As far as taking flaxseed oil to boost omega-3 for nursing babies, it doesn’t work, say Oregon Health and Science University researchers. Daily doses of 20 grams of flaxseed oil did not increase the amount of DHA in women’s breast milk.

 
At best, only 10% of the flaxseed oil you consume (some studies say less) converts to long-chain EPA and DHA fatty acids, says leading expert Artemis Simopoulos, MD., president of the Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health." (end of quote.  For full article, see http://www.jeancarper.com/newsletters/1696)
 
PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD NOT TAKE FLAX OIL

Another interesting quote - ref at end of article: "Pregnant women are often told to take fish oil capsules but must be careful to get the best quality, instead of cheap, generic stuff. The cheap fish oil may come from fish with contamination and may not be free of pollutants. Women should be careful about the types of fish and fish oil they consume when they are pregnant, nursing, or even when experiencing pregnancy symptoms.

Flaxseed oil does have omega-3 in it and is preferred by some people however some doctors say flaxseed oil should not be taken by pregnant women. The reason is that flax seed, like soy or even more so, seems to have an effect on estrogen and hormones and might interfere with your body during pregnancy. Ask your doctor.  One study on this was: Brooks JD, Ward WE, Lewis JE, et al. Supplementation with flaxseed alters estrogen metabolism in postmenopausal women to a greater extent than does supplementation with an equal amount of soy. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;Feb, 79(2):318-325.

Also, flaxseed oil does not have as high an amount of DHA as fish oil, so fish oil is just better anyway at giving you the DHA you want.  Meanwhile, fish oil has been found in some studies to greatly support pregnancy and healthy baby development, and may even help prevent miscarriage. This is very, very important.  One such study was: Rossi E, Costa M., Fish oil derivatives as a prophylaxis of recurrent miscarriage associated with antiphospholipid antibodies (APL): a pilot study. Lupus 1993;2:319-23."

For years there has been the question (and many say the proof from some studies done) of whether flaxseed oil causes prostate cancer in men, and dozens of medics like Drs Dean Ornish and Barry Sears have warned men NOT to take it for this reason.  Studies done suggest that this is definitely the case - so I would add my voice here - men, do not use flaxseed oil - it's not worth the risk.  See my website for in-depth scientific evidence on this.

Excellent article - to read it all go to : http://www.womens-health-questions.com/omega-3.html

For information on the best fish oil - mercury free and DDT free - see http://www.sallyanncreed.co.za/pharma%20fish%20oil.htm

 

 

(It's so nice to know I've been right on this issue all along - fish oil 'rules'!!)

 

Healthy Website Links

Inspirational – watch www.the-race-movie.com (it's a great site with a few other movies to enjoy!)

New York Passes Trans Fats Ban – read all about it at www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16051436/ - great site with loads of interesting things

 

Fabulous site with a brilliant cartoon, plus Trans Fat Ban in New York info - click this link:  www.time.com/time/cartoons/20061210/5.html

 

 

Health Snippet

Rates of breast cancer drop dramatically as women stop taking HRT

The rate of new breast cancer cases in the USA has suddenly dropped dramatically, and scientists reckon it’s because fewer women are taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Millions of women stopped taking HRT for menopausal symptoms following a series of studies that linked it to a range of serious diseases, including breast cancer. Breast cancer rates fell by 12% in 2003 among women aged between 50 and 69, who were most likely to have HRT.  UK researchers have reported a smaller, but still significant, fall in breast cancer rates among British women of a similar age. (Read the rest of the article on my website – www.sallyanncreed.co.za)

 

Fun Therapy

How to create your own fad diet – and get rich quick!

Basic ingredients you will need to create your own fad diet:

  • A book that lists the nutritional values of every food under the sun
  • A good idea about what foods the grocery store carries
  • A bag of chips (you’ll need to snack while you work)
  • No nutritional knowledge whatsoever
  • A picture of someone who was slim 5 years ago but is now larger
  • The larger person has to own an outfit that is at least 10 years old.
  • Now write about a book about all this and you will be rich!
If you would like to do a fantastic Nutrition Course, do take a look at my website! There are also a number of new articles of interest on my site under Health Articles.
 
 

 

January’s E-Magazine this month for Subscribers includes the following:

Pot Pourri: 7 Foods That Help You Lose Weight; Attack on Panic Attacks; 5 Office De-stressing Tips; the Importance of Water

Nutrition News: New York City Bans Trans Fats

Fast Facts: Five amazing health facts

Healthy Website Links on: Getting Organized; Brain Health; Ritalin Dangers

Quiz: Are You Addicted To Sugar?

Make It Yourself: Non-Toxic Oven Cleaner

Fun Therapy: Brain Teasers & more

Healthy Pets: Summer tips for feeding & caring for cats and dogs

Health Snippets: Probiotics; 5 Minute Time For Me Treat

Q&A: Exercise and loss of Height

Health Café: Healthy Latkes with Caramelized Onions

 

If you wish to subscribe to the E-Magazine (emailed monthly), please click this link: www.sallyanncreed.co.za/e%20nutrition%20magazine.htm. 

 

The past is gone; the future is unknown - but the present is real and your opportunities are now – Dr Maxwell Maltz

 

God bless you all this coming year!

Sally-Ann Creed, Clinical Nutritionist

(Dip Appl Clin Nutr) www.sallyanncreed.co.za

Sally-Ann Creed
 

Postal Address: P.O. Box 540 Constantia 7848 Cape Town South Africa
Tel: +27 21 794 3052 (office hours)  Fax +27 21 794 0635
E-mail: sally@sallyanncreed.co.za  | www.sallyanncreed.co.za