On Sun, 18 Aug 2002 11:30:52 -0400, Richard Geller <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> I don't think that flaxseed capsules are *ever* a good idea. Bit
>into one or cut it open and taste. Chances are excellent that it will taste
>bitter.
>... yet I *often* get a bad batch of oil. I throw it
>away. But with the capsules you can't tell how rancid they are.

Yes.
And rancid oils have disastrous effects on fat metabolism.
Peter, you said you've got 1 kg of flax oil, that's way too much to keep
anyway. Unless it's not frozen.

I only buy 1/4th of it and it keeps only some months. In the fridge.

Even if the LNA is fresh:

Too much of LNA may also be possible, with flax oil.
At last we need (good and some "bad") prostaglandins.
This *may* be the explanation for your headaches
No more DGLA from LA - so only dietary AA (from meats)
is left and only bad prostaglandins are beeing made).

As LNA outcompetes LA with a priority of 4:1, small percentages of LA can
easily be totally outcompeted, inactive. That's also not what we want.
And in nature (paleo) hardly ever possible.
Fat compositions found in nature, apart from most nuts, are estimated at a
ratio of about 4 parts LA to 1 part LNA. If LA is much lower than 1:1 I
think you will get a LA deficiency.

Flax oil is just so valuable because it can cure
1. a long term LNA deficiency in the bidy lipids
2. the misbalance towards LA in nearly all buyable food items
   (grains are high LA foods, animals are grain fed, LNA containing items
    are not included in supermarket items because it spoils to rapidly
    and that shortens shelf life)

My idea would be:
Cut down LNA intake to 10%-20% of all fat and increase
LA intake to 10-20% of all fat. LA/LNA 1:1 and 25-35% EFA of all fat.
And make shure to get enough of vitamin E to protect these EFAs.
To eat almonds is a good way to eat LA and simultaneously get vitamin E.
A handfull of almonds and a spoonfull of flax for example.

regards

Amadeus