This article was taken from Muscle Media magazine - May 2001.
Lie #5
Flax seed oil is the Crème de la crème of all fats -
The average Muscle Media reader may still be bothered by another lie about fat intake: that is, flax seed oil is the crème de la crème of all the fats and can be used exclusively as an excellent source of essential fatty acids. Well, I'm here to tell you that's just not true - at least as far as long-term health benefits go.
A lot of bodybuilders use flax oil exclusively (especially in preparation for a show or photo shoot) because it's the richest source of omega-3s known - and omega-3s can increase the metabolic rate, and hence fat burning. Unfortunately, however, flax oil is a relatively poor source of omega-6 fatty acids, which, in the long term, can lead to problems.
"I was the one who introduced flax seed oil for human consumption," says Dr. Erasmus. "That was my first oil, but I've since moved away from it because of the poor balance of omega-3s to omega-6s (about four times as much omega-3s as omega-6s). It's too rich in omega-3s, and people become omega-6 deficient if they use it exclusively for too long."
Dr. Erasmus says and omega-6 deficiency can develop in as short a time as 10 to 16 months of exclusive use of flax oil, with symptoms ranging from eczema-like skin eruptions, loss of hair, drying up of glands and susceptibility to infections - not pretty.
The true claimant to the title of crème de la crème of EFAs, according to Dr. Erasmus may be hemp seed oil. Now, before you get any illicit ideas, that's hemp oil, not marijuana. Hemp oil produces no "high" in humans and is legal. More important for us, hemp oil appears to be nature's most perfectly balanced EFA oil.
Unlike flax, hem seed oil can be used over the long term to maintain a healthy EFA balance without leading to either EFA deficiency or imbalance. "This is because it contains omega -6 and omega-3 EFAs in a better long-term balance: 3 to 1," says Dr. Erasmus. "In addition, it contains almost 2 percent GLA, the omega-6 derivative that is the key active ingredient in evening primrose and borage oils.: (For more information on GLA, check out the sidebar "Fat-Fighting Fats.") Another plus: Hemp seed oil tastes like sunflower oil. "Most people who sampled hemp oil preferred its taste over the taste of flax oil." says Dr. Erasmus.
Bottom line? If short-term, fast fat loss is your goal (say you have a photo shoot coming up), then stick with flax oil. It's definitely the best fat for getting ride of subcutaneous fat, fast. But for the long term, hemp oil is the way to go.
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