The GI News for February features a great article on Salba (the trade name of a variety of white chia seeds ).
I was particularly interested in a cautionary word from Dr Vladimir Vuksan
"Simple addition of Salba to one's diet not only helps patients reach their target treatment goal but also allows patients to take their health into their own hands to improve their diet and health outcomes.' While the study found no ill effects, Vuksan cautions that, because of Salba's ability to thin blood, anyone on anticoagulants, blood thinners other blood pressure medications should consult with their doctors before taking it"
Omega 3 fatty acids are poly-unsaturated fatty acids. Studies show that a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids may help lower triglycerides and increase HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol). Omega 3 fatty acids may also act as an anticoagulant to prevent blood from clotting.
FDA recommends that consumers not exceed more than a total of 3 grams per day , with no more than 2 grams per day from a dietary supplement.
Let's look at the Omega-3 fatty acid content on some foods:
Flax seeds (ground) 1 tbsp 1.0 grams
Salba 1 tbsp. 1.2 grams
Flax Oil 2 tsp. 5.0 grams
Sardine Oil 1 tbsp 3.7 grams
Salmon (canned) 3oz. 3.2 grams
From personal experience , a friend , Type 1 diabetic, on an anticoagulant , eats sardines almost every day, and has flax on his cereal . Frequently he experiences excessive nosebleeds. Hum, now I wonder if it could be the excessive Omega 3? Inquiring minds want to know!
The simple fact is that there is very little consensus among nutritionists about how much omega-3 and omega-6 oils are needed in total for optimum health and about the ideal ratio between the two.
Pioneers in the field of fatty acid nutrition, such as Dr Erasmus, recommend around 9g per day of omega-6 and 6g per day of omega-3 oils for general health. This sits well with recommendations from the US National Cholesterol Education Program Diet and American Heart Association that no more than 30% of total calorie intake should come
from fat, of which polyunsaturates (omega-3 and 6) should constitute 10% - ie around 20g per day in total.
A variety of foods is a good rule to follow as sometimes there can be too much of a good thing especially if you take an anticoagulant
I would not overdo it on the Omega-3's if you have regular
nose bleeds. You could be worsening a condition, that probably
more people have, than they realize. Namely- naturally thin blood
and borderline platelets. I have this and have to be on the look out
to limit ANY blood-thining agents (aspirin, omega-3 etc..) to avoid
too-often bleeding. In fact I eat a lot of Veggies with Vitamin K
and take iron (I also have low iron) to thicken blood and keep any
bleeding to a minimum.
Regards,
Joe