Tom commented on my earlier post on this topic:
I imagine that the lady you met must have been newly diagnosed. I have had ulcerative colitis since 1996. Most of the people that I know with u.c. take omega-3, though perhaps more commonly as fish oil. All of my gastroenterologists have agreed that it can be a useful adjunct to other therapies. In fact, one of the drug companies is developing a supplement drink that combines omega-3’s with the soft fiber found in bananas, vitamin D and some other foods that are very beneficial to u.c., but hard to get in the right propotions. In general though, doctors seem reluctant to recommend diet-only solutions. I have a relatively mild case, but have had two bad flare ups. Consequently I take two of the drugs listed in addition to fish oil. I am hopeful that one day I will get off the other meds, but for now I just take a very low dose of the drugs thanks largely, based on my self-experimentation, to the omega-3s.
The lady I met (who had ulcerative colitis) had had the problem for 14 years. She had not previously heard of using flaxseed oil. “This is your lucky day,” I told her, not because I told her to try flaxseed oil but because I could tell her a good dose (at least 2 T/day). How much is crucial information.
It is very difficult to do experiments, even self-experiments, that measure the effect of different doses of flaxseed oil on ulcerative colitis. I’m sure they haven’t been done. It was her lucky day because I’m pretty sure I was the only person in the world who could have told her with confidence what dose to take. (Which I could do because of the optimize brain –> optimize body principle.) The gastroenterologists who recommend omega-3 as useful additions — they couldn’t say what the best dose is. The drug company making a supplement drink can’t say what the best dose is.
Until you know the best dose of a drug or nutrient — the one that delivers the largest possible effect — you are very likely to underestimate its effectiveness. If Tom starts using a large-enough dose of flaxseed oil he may no longer need other medications.
” To begin to understand the cause of this disease, you must know that ulcerative colitis is found only in parts of the world where people follow the Western diet, high in meat and dairy foods. This is an autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks the body (in this case, the bowel primarily).
The course of ulcerative colitis is characterized by frequent exacerbations (relapses). Previous studies have found a high intake of dairy products, and a low intake of dietary fiber, are associated with relapses. Patients with ulcerative colitis also have higher concentrations of sulfur in their intestines and the course of the disease correlates with that amount.2 Sulfur appears to be toxic to the intestine. So, where does all this sulfur come from?
The amount of sulfur in the intestine is increased by consuming animal products, which are inherently high in sulfur-containing amino acids, like methionine and cysteine.” https://www.nealhendrickson.com/mcdougall/2004nl/041100pufavorite5.htm
Thanks, Dennis. In authoritative discussions of what causes gingivitis, you won’t find any mention of over-reactive immune system, just as it isn’t mentioned in what you quote. Here’s an example from the National Library of Medicine:
“Gingivitis is due to the long-term effects of plaque deposits. Plaque is a sticky material made of bacteria, mucus, and food debris that develops on the exposed parts of the teeth. It is a major cause of tooth decay. If you do not remove plaque, it turns into a hard deposit called tartar that becomes trapped at the base of the tooth. Plaque and tartar irritate and inflame the gums. Bacteria and the toxins they produce cause the gums to become infected, swollen, and tender.”
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001056.htm#Causes,%20incidence,%20and%20risk%20factors
Nothing in that description would lead one to suspect that enough flaxseed oil would eliminate gingivitis. But it does.
How many milligrams to you estimate equates to 2 tablespoons?
Two tablespoons equals 30 millilitres, so if flax oil were the same density as water, that’d be 30 grams, or 30,000 milligrams. Since oil’s lighter than water, say 20,000 – 25,000. That means about 11,000 to 14,000 mg of omega-3.
is ground flaxseed a workable substitute for Flaxseed oil (I like to mix it in smoothies and other dishes)?
How many T ground flaxseed would give the equivalent of 2 T flaxseed oil? thanks.
Caleb, I don’t have UC (although a friend does), but I’m vegan and eat ground flaxseed every day for its fiber and omega 3s.
My bag says that a serving size is 3 Tablespoons, so I generally grind 2-3 Tablespoons of flaxseeds every morning and mix them with my cereal.
For those of you who have never used ground flaxseeds, just buy a bag of whole flaxseeds and grind them as you need them in a coffeegrinder. Whole flaxseeds do not need to be refrigerated, but ground flaxseed does. (Which is why I only grind what I’m going to eat that morning.)
Tracy
Caleb, 1 cup of ground flax has about 600 calories; about 75% of those calories are from fat. That gives about 450 calories of oil. Flaxseed oil has about 120 calories/tablespoon. To get about 240 calories of oil, then you need about half a cup (8 tablespoons) of ground flax.