EFA Supps

[mulder]

So I already take 1 gram of Fish Oil, plenty ground flax seed, use olive and grape seed in cooking all the time.

Is there any reason for me to take borage oil supps on top of this?

Any advice guys?

 

[The Gardener]

The fish oil is a source of Omega 3s. The Borage oil is a source for a different substance, Omega 6, or GLA, which many believe to be a cellular anti-inflammatory.

Check your fish oil container and make sure it says that its been distilled or had impurities removed. Distillation removes any potential mercury content.

Olive oil is a minor source of Omega 6, but is best ingested for its polyphenol content, which is good for your cardiovascular system. Extra virgin types of olive oil are the richest in these polyphenols. Olive oil ingestion is also beneficial in maintaining a good HDL/LDL balance.

I have heard, but can't personally claim, that subjecting the olive oil to high temperature negates some of the health benefits of using it, and many make a habit of ingesting a portion of olive oil in raw form (or on a salad, etc) each day.

 

[CCS]

So I already take 1 gram of Fish Oil, plenty ground flax seed, use olive and grape seed in cooking all the time.

Is there any reason for me to take borage oil supps on top of this?

Any advice guys?

Use olive or grapeseed oil on your salad. Do not fry with it. Cook with coconut oil or butter, preferably coconut.

yes, you need borageseed oil. It is the only significant source of GLA. Get it in bulk at http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/oils/herbal.html. The 16oz one will probably do you best. Store it in the freezer. Take 1-3 tea spoons per day depending on your age.

 

[mulder]

Hmm, I think I might hold off on the GLA for now...or if I do take a supp. only take it EOD or so.

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/gamma-linolenic-000305.htm

 

[Guest]

yes, you need borageseed oil. It is the only significant source of GLA. Get it in bulk at:

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/oils/herbal.html.

The 16oz one will probably do you best. Store it in the freezer. Take 1-3 tea spoons per day depending on your age.

Hi,

I'm new here, and have been reading many of the posts with great interest. I saw this thread, and have been reading about oils for quite some time, so I hope you'll forgive my interruption.

As you mentioned, Borage Seed Oil does have the highest concentration of GLA. However, from what I've read, it lacks significant concentrations of other EFA's, undermining it's value when compared to other Seed Oils.

For example, Nutiva Hempseed Oil has 500 mg of GLA per Tbsp:

http://www.amazon.com/Nutiva-Organic-He ... 03-8290316

And it's only about $10 for a 24 oz. bottle on this site:

http://www.vitacost.com/Nutiva-Organic-Hemp-Oil

Comparing the cost per mg of GLA of Borage Seed Oil versus Hemp Seed Oil, we have:

For Borage Seed Oil:

3 Teaspoons of Borage = 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp)

There are 34 Tbsp per 16 oz bottle

1 Tbsp = 14 g @ 20.7% GLA = 2.9 g GLA/Tbsp

2.9 g GLA/Tbsp x 34 Tbsp = 98.53 g GLA per Bottle

$36/98.53 g = 36.5 cents / gram of GLA in Borage
****************************************
For Hempseed Oil:

There are 51 Tbsp in one 24 oz bottle

1 Tbsp = 14 g @ 3.57% GLA = .5 g GLA/Tbsp

.5 g GLA/Tbsp x 51 Tbsp = 25.5 g GLA per Bottle

$9.76/25.5 g = 38.3 cents / gram of GLA in Hemp
****************************************

So, the GLA from Hemp Oil is 38.3 cents per gram, while the GLA from Borage Oil is 36.5 cents per gram, making Hemp Oil 1.8 cents more expensive per gram of GLA than Borage.

However, according to these sites:

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/ ... borage.php

http://www.innvista.com/HEALTH/nutritio ... /intro.htm

Hemp Oil is 20% Omega 3 Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA), but

Borage Oil does not appear to have any ALA.

Hemp Oil is 50% Omega 6 Lineolic Acid, but

Borage Oil is only 36.8% Omega 6 Lineolic Acid.

Hemp Oil has 250 mg Omega 6 SDA (stearidonic acid, necessary to increase EPA concentrations), but

Borage Oil does not appear to have any SDA.

******************************************
So, I think you'd get more bang for your buck by buying Hempseed Oil rather than Borage Seed Oil.

http://www.vitacost.com/Nutiva-Organic-Hemp-Oil

Product Description:

Delicious nutty flavor. Add to your favorite recipes. Rich in Omega-3. USDA organic. A vegetable source closest to fish oil. Omegas per tbsp: 7 g Omega-6 LA, 2.5 g Omega-3 ALA, 0.5 g Omega-6 GLA, 0.25 Omega-3 SDA. Optimal EFA balance. Enjoy our delicious, unrefined, certified organic Canadian hemp oil, rich in Vitamin E as well as Omega-3 - the good fat doctors recommend for optimal health. Hemp oil has nature's ideal 4-1 Omega-6 to -3 ratio. for great nutrition, alternate between hemp and flax oils. Unlike flax, hemp contains valuable Super Omega-3 (SDA) and Super Omega-6 (GLA), which help our bodies metabolize fat - vital combat the effects of stress and aging. Certified organic by QAI. Product of Canada.

An interesting EFA site:

http://www.innvista.com/health/nutrition/fats/omega.htm

 

[The Gardener]

As you mentioned, Borage Seed Oil does have the highest concentration of GLA. However, from what I've read, it lacks significant concentrations of other EFA's, undermining it's value when compared to other Seed Oils.

You take Borage Oil for GLA, not for EFA. To get your EFA, you should take an Omega 3 supplement, usually derived from fish oil.

Hemp Oil is 20% Omega 3 Alpha-Linoleic Acid (ALA)

ALA is a naturally occurring anti-oxidant found in cellular mitochondria and is especially prevalent in red meats. I, personally, just take an ALA supplement.

 

[Guest]

You take Borage Oil for GLA, not for EFA.

Hempseed Oil gives you the same GLA dollar for dollar, and Omega 6 EFA and other EFA derivatives on top of it, making it a better buy.

To get your EFA, you should take an Omega 3 supplement, usually derived from fish oil.

Omega 3 (ALA) and Omega 6 (LA) are EFAs, and the richest source of Omega 3 ALA is Flaxseed Oil.

Omega 3 and Omega 6 derivatives (EPA and DHA) on the other hand, can be supplemented by Fish Oil.

ALA is a naturally occurring anti-oxidant found in cellular mitochondria and is especially prevalent in red meats. I, personally, just take an ALA supplement.

Which one?

The richest source of ALA is Flaxseed Oil.

 

[The Gardener]

I like the Enzymatic Therapy ALA. I get it on vitacost.

 

[Guest]

I like the Enzymatic Therapy ALA. I get it on vitacost.

Both good companies.

BTW, this guy here is probably the foremost expert in the field, if you ever need a good reference book about it:

http://www.amazon.com/Fats-That-Hea...bs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195161375&sr=1-1

 

[The Gardener]

Thanks for that... good stuff...

 

[Guest]

Thanks for that... good stuff...

Anytime bro. I'm glad someone around here appreciates solid info. when they see it.

 

[Bryan]

Re:

I have heard, but can't personally claim, that subjecting the olive oil to high temperature negates some of the health benefits of using it, and many make a habit of ingesting a portion of olive oil in raw form (or on a salad, etc) each day.

You NEVER want to cook with unsaturated oils, because oxidized fats are thrombogenic, mutagenic, atherogenic, and carcinogenic.

 

[Bryan]

Hemp Oil is 20% Omega 3 Alpha-Linoleic Acid (ALA)

ALA is a naturally occurring anti-oxidant found in cellular mitochondria and is especially prevalent in red meats. I, personally, just take an ALA supplement.

Where did you get the idea that ALA is an antioxidant? Actually, it's an unsaturated fatty acid, and a pretty HIGHLY unsaturated one at that, with three carbon double-bonds (oleic acid has only one carbon double-bond, and linoleic acid has only two). The more unsaturated a fatty acid is (the more carbon double-bonds it has), the more susceptible it is to oxidation (far from being an ANTI-oxidant).

BTW, you guys, ALA is alpha-linolenic acid, not alpha-linoleic acid.

 

[Guest]

BTW, you guys, ALA is alpha-linolenic acid, not alpha-linoleic acid.

Good eye. Thanks.

 

[The Gardener]

Where did you get the idea that ALA is an antioxidant?
BTW, you guys, ALA is alpha-linolenic acid, not alpha-linoleic acid.

The ALA I was referring to is Alpha Lipoic Acid.