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On Tue, 30 May 2006 16:59:37 -0400, Jenny <lottadata@hotmail.com>
wrote:

G'day G'day Jenny,

Your significant other might say that but of course it isn't true.
Repeating such claims is an unintentional calumny.

There are very important health regulation reasons why flaxseed oil
for culinary purposes isn't labeled linseed oil.  Linseed oil is
prepared by boiling the oil taken from crushed linseed. This produces
a highly toxic substance which must never, never be eaten.  When
linseed is used for the production of flaxseed oil, the conditions are
utterly different. The temperature is carefully controlled.  The
atmosphere is inert. Light is excluded. The oil is packaged in light
proof containers and should be kept in a refrigerator. Put simply,
linseed oil used to paint walls is a vastly different substance from
flaxseed oil used nutritionally.

Best wishes,

The linseed oil used as a drying agent has had metal salts added to it
to speed the oxidation process.  That's why oily rags with linseed oil
are a fire hazard, but a napkin soaked with Barlean's Flax Oil isn't a
danger.

DRT.

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On Tue, 30 May 2006 17:19:37 -0400, "Elizabeth Blake"
<poodlebone@NOSPAMearthlink.net> wrote:

G'day G'day Liz,

 There isn't a recommended intake.  No one has to eat flax seed or
defatted flax fibre or flax oil.  There is however a GRAS, Generally
Recommended As Safe level.  It takes a bit of looking up on the net.

The FDA has indicated that it has no objection to its use in foods up
to 12% flax.  In trials men have been given 50 grams/day in muffins
without ill effects.

One wouldn't expect you to at this low level.

The best results are probably obtained with whole flaxseed that has
been crush or ground to give defatted flaxseed fibre.

Best wishes,

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On 30 May 2006 18:47:42 -0700, "italiangm" <italiangm@yahoo.com>
wrote:

G'day G'day Italiangm,

 You may notice that I don't advocate flaxseed oil though I sometimes
give defatted flaxseed fibre a favourable mention for its protein,
blend of soluble and insoluble fibre etc.  

The research you point to is the major reason why I don't advocate
flaxseed oil. To me flaxseed oil is risky like most overly refined
products.  The refining creates an imbalance and the imbalance creates
a risk.

However like many stories, the connection between flax and prostate
cancer is not a simple one. When men eat whole flaxseed freshly ground
or defatted flaxseed fibre it appears they benefit.  Their rate of
prostate cancer decreases.  In those countries where men get
phytolignans from their food eg seaweed there are lower rates of
prostate cancer or the cancer progresses so slowly that they grow old
and die from other causes before the prostate cancer strikes.  Far
from worrying about husbands and significant other males singing with
high pitched voices, it would make more sense to worry whether they
are getting sufficient phytolignans to avoid prostate cancer.  There
are other sources of phytolignans eg pumpkin seed, besides whole
crushed flaxseed but they are not nearly as concentrated.

Vastly more money is spent on breast cancer research for women than is
spent on prostate cancer for men although they have similar morbidity
rates.

The writer of the following may be a bit optimistic as people tend to
be when they think they are on to something new, never the less it
does present a different point of view.

http://www.youngagain2000.com/flaxhulls.html

The serious researchers in the field are very cautious with publishing
their findings. They know how quickly finding can be taken out of
context,and published before a case is proven. As best I can gather
the safe bet is whole crushed flaxseed at rates less than the GRAS
level.

Best wishes,