Omega 3/DHA

May 30, 2003

I went to my 16 week pregnancy doctor appt earlier this week. My Dr. was

looking over my history and noticed I had had high cholesterol but had

brought it down significantly. I mentioned that my Dh and I had been trying

to go vegan and he was doing very well, however, since I became pregnant my

cheese cravings have been overwhelming. She was glad I was eating cheese and

getting my B12 and calcium. (I have been taking the vegan essentials

prenatal vitamins to make sure anyway.) However, she was concerned about my

Omega 3's, especially DHA which is only available from fish apparently. She

tried to talk me into eating fish and if nothing else taking a fish oil

supplement. I refused and told her I would look into alternatives. She is

concerned about brain development.

Does anyone know any veggie sources of DHA? Of course, I don't want to do

anything purposefully to harm the development of my baby. But I have

suffered from nausea throughout this pregnancy and just the thought of

eating fish makes me gag. There is just no way I could do it. I also wonder

how many people eat fish regularly? I grew up in the Midwest so we maybe had

fish once or twice year. I imagine people on the coasts may eat it more

often. I guess I just don't think this is as big a deal as my Dr has made it

out to be.

You all have been good with advice in the past. Thanks!

Michele

May 30, 2003

Hi,

Omega 3 can be found in flax seed -- best if you buy the seed and grind it

right before using -- canola oil, and some nuts. I also believe that the

fatty acids should be kept in balance, and using flax alone can lead to a

shortage of omega 6 fats.

I just did a search on the internet and found this site:

http://www.omega-3info.com/home.htm

Here's an extract (although it's an interesting site and worth the visit!):

Vegetarians and Vegans

For people who cannot contemplate eating fish, the omega-3s must come from

alpha-linolenic acid (ALAThis can be achieved by increasing intake of

omega-3 rich foodssuch as flaxseed (linseed) oil, rapeseed (canola) oil,

chia seeds, walnuts and walnut oil, and dark green leafy vegetables; it is

vital that the intake of omega-6 fatty acids is kept in balance by closely

monitoring vegetable oils and yellow fats (vegetable margarines made from

sunflower/safflower oils) in the diet.

Vegetarian omega-3 ALA supplements are available, usually as flaxseed

(linseed) oil.

Karen L. Thurston

www.ThePrismSolutions.com

Voice/FAX: 603 465-2867

Cell Phone: 603 571-2863

May 30, 2003

Hi,

I have 2 daughters aged 15 & 10,both healthy

babies ,just under 4kg at birth,nothing wrong

with their brain development!!!My diet was/is

vegetarian-almost vegan.Don't worry,there are

plenty of healthy vegetarian babies/children in

the world. Su ott & Michele <slamm12

wrote:

> I went to my 16 week pregnancy doctor appt

> earlier this week. My Dr. was

> looking over my history and noticed I had had

> high cholesterol but had

> brought it down significantly. I mentioned that

> my Dh and I had been trying

> to go vegan and he was doing very well,

> however, since I became pregnant my

> cheese cravings have been overwhelming. She was

> glad I was eating cheese and

> getting my B12 and calcium. (I have been taking

> the vegan essentials

> prenatal vitamins to make sure anyway.)

> However, she was concerned about my

> Omega 3's, especially DHA which is only

> available from fish apparently. She

> tried to talk me into eating fish and if

> nothing else taking a fish oil

> supplement. I refused and told her I would look

> into alternatives. She is

> concerned about brain development.

>

> Does anyone know any veggie sources of DHA? Of

> course, I don't want to do

> anything purposefully to harm the development

> of my baby. But I have

> suffered from nausea throughout this pregnancy

> and just the thought of

> eating fish makes me gag. There is just no way

> I could do it. I also wonder

> how many people eat fish regularly? I grew up

> in the Midwest so we maybe had

> fish once or twice year. I imagine people on

> the coasts may eat it more

> often. I guess I just don't think this is as

> big a deal as my Dr has made it

> out to be.

>

> You all have been good with advice in the past.

> Thanks!

> Michele

>

Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook.

http://calendar.

May 30, 2003

> Does anyone know any veggie sources of DHA?

According to " Eat to Live " by Joel Fuhrman, M.D. : " One of the problems

with fish oils is that much of the fat has already turned rancid. If you

have ever cut open a capsule of fish oil and tasted it, you will find it

tastes like gasoline. "

" Large amounts of fish oils inhibit immune function. "

" ...not only vegetarians but most others eating diets with adequate plant

material get most of their long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from non-fish

sources. In fact, the reason the fish-derived fats, EPA and DHA, are not

considered essential fats is that almost all people have enzymes to convert

the plant-derived omega-3 fat rapidly into EPA and DHA. Fish is a

double-edged sword, especially because fish has been shown to increase heart

attack risk if it is polluted with mercury....Fish is one of the most

polluted foods we eat. "

" Most Americans would improve their health if they consumed more omega-3

fats... I recommend that both vegetarians and nonvegetarians make an effort

to consume one to two grams of omega-3 fat daily. " Veg sources include:

Flaxseed, 1 Tablespoon = 1.7 grams

Flax oil, 1 teaspoon = 2.2 grams

Walnuts, English, 12 walnut halves = 2 grams

Soybeans (green, frozen, or raw) 1.5 cups = 2 grams

Tofu, 1.5 cups = 2 grams

If you would like to read more or see Mr. Fuhrmans sources, you can find his

book in all major book stores.

~Marvelyn

May 30, 2003

> Does anyone know any veggie sources of DHA?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Look into Borage oil, Flax seed oil, Sea Buckthorn seed oil and

Evening Primrose oil. I have recently read a lot on the Sea

Buckthorn (seed or berry), I'll see if I can find something and e-

mail you privately. OK?

Tracey =^..^=

May 30, 2003

i believe Flax Seeds are a great way to get your Omega

3s!

cherrie

--- Scott & Michele <slamm12 wrote:

> I went to my 16 week pregnancy doctor appt earlier

> this week. My Dr. was

> looking over my history and noticed I had had high

> cholesterol but had

> brought it down significantly. I mentioned that my

> Dh and I had been trying

> to go vegan and he was doing very well, however,

> since I became pregnant my

> cheese cravings have been overwhelming. She was glad

> I was eating cheese and

> getting my B12 and calcium. (I have been taking the

> vegan essentials

> prenatal vitamins to make sure anyway.) However, she

> was concerned about my

> Omega 3's, especially DHA which is only available

> from fish apparently. She

> tried to talk me into eating fish and if nothing

> else taking a fish oil

> supplement. I refused and told her I would look into

> alternatives. She is

> concerned about brain development.

>

> Does anyone know any veggie sources of DHA? Of

> course, I don't want to do

> anything purposefully to harm the development of my

> baby. But I have

> suffered from nausea throughout this pregnancy and

> just the thought of

> eating fish makes me gag. There is just no way I

> could do it. I also wonder

> how many people eat fish regularly? I grew up in the

> Midwest so we maybe had

> fish once or twice year. I imagine people on the

> coasts may eat it more

> often. I guess I just don't think this is as big a

> deal as my Dr has made it

> out to be.

>

> You all have been good with advice in the past.

> Thanks!

> Michele

>

=====

http://pages.ivillage.com/opheliabug

http://bloodlinks.org/art/Poetry/Glitterophelia

http://bloodlinks.org/art/Prose/Glitterophelia

http://www.livejournal.com/users/glitterophelia

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.

Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891

Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook.

http://calendar.

May 30, 2003

On Fri, 30 May 2003, Scott & Michele wrote:

> Does anyone know any veggie sources of DHA? Of course, I don't want to do

> anything purposefully to harm the development of my baby. But I have

> suffered from nausea throughout this pregnancy and just the thought of

> eating fish makes me gag. There is just no way I could do it. I also wonder

> how many people eat fish regularly? I grew up in the Midwest so we maybe had

> fish once or twice year. I imagine people on the coasts may eat it more

> often. I guess I just don't think this is as big a deal as my Dr has made it

> out to be.

I get the O-Mega-Zen^3 supplements from Vegan Essentials

<www.veganessentials.com>. They have 300 mg of DHA derived from marine

microalgae suspended in non-GMO soy oil in a vegetarian capsule.

I'm also pregnant (31 weeks) and I take the supplements in part for the

possible benefits to the baby. (I'm also concerned about heart disease,

which runs in my family and which Omega-3s are supposed to help.)

However, I don't know of any research at all that shows women who don't

eat fish and don't take supplements are putting their babies' brains in

danger. Even most omnivorous Americans eat very little fish, and yet we

are not a nation of developmentally stunted individuals. So I'm a bit

skeptical about how truly necessary it really is. Still, I figure the

supplements can't hurt and might help.

With my first pregnancy two years ago, I ate a vegan diet and took

prenatal vitamins but I did not take an Omega-3 supplement. I tried to

add flax seed oil to my food for Omega-3s, but honestly I rarely

remembered to do so. My son is doing just fine and his brain doesn't seem

to have been the least bit harmed by my diet. So I wouldn't worry about

it too much.

----

Patricia Bullington-McGuire <patricia

The brilliant Cerebron, attacking the problem analytically, discovered

three distinct kinds of dragon: the mythical, the chimerical, and the

purely hypothetical. They were all, one might say, nonexistent, but each

nonexisted in an entirely different way ...

-- Stanislaw Lem, " Cyberiad "

May 30, 2003

Flax seeds and flaxseed oil contain Omega-3 fatty acids, as well, and are

vegan. Not that I represent the world , but I also did want to mention that I

was vegan throughout both of my pregnancies & had been for 10yrs before

becoming pregnant, & never took any special supplements other prenatal vitamins.

Both of my girls were born healthy, weighing over 8lbs each, & have developed

perfectly normally on a vegetarian diet and vegan breastmilk. Neither one has

any brain development problems - in fact my 4 1/2 yr old is reading quite well,

and is pretty advanced in quite a few areas. Just so you get one positive

story...

Christa

May 30, 2003

First - yes there is a vegetarian source of DHA. Fish are a good

source of DHA only because they eat microalgae. The microalgae

itself is the source of vegetarian DHA, of which you can get

supplements from. But, I am not sure if the capsulse are vegetarian

or if they contain gelatin. You could check with your local HFS or

check on the internet to see where to buy these supplements.

Second - I have heard that although flax does not contain DHA, that

it can be converted into it by your body. You just need to consume

enough of it - I think it is a 10:1 on the conversion, but that is

from memory - maybe someone else knows if this is correct?

Rachael

, " Scott & Michele " <slamm12@a...>

wrote:

> However, she was concerned about my

> Omega 3's, especially DHA which is only available from fish

apparently. She

> tried to talk me into eating fish and if nothing else taking a fish

oil

> supplement. I refused and told her I would look into alternatives.

May 30, 2003

Try neuromins DNA which comes from Alage. I take it on the advice

from my midwife.

Take Care,

Terri

, " Scott & Michele " <slamm12@a...>

wrote:

> I went to my 16 week pregnancy doctor appt earlier this week. My

Dr. was

> looking over my history and noticed I had had high cholesterol but

had

> brought it down significantly. I mentioned that my Dh and I had

been trying

> to go vegan and he was doing very well, however, since I became

pregnant my

> cheese cravings have been overwhelming. She was glad I was eating

cheese and

> getting my B12 and calcium. (I have been taking the vegan essentials

> prenatal vitamins to make sure anyway.) However, she was concerned

about my

> Omega 3's, especially DHA which is only available from fish

apparently. She

> tried to talk me into eating fish and if nothing else taking a fish

oil

> supplement. I refused and told her I would look into alternatives.

She is

> concerned about brain development.

>

> Does anyone know any veggie sources of DHA? Of course, I don't want

to do

> anything purposefully to harm the development of my baby. But I have

> suffered from nausea throughout this pregnancy and just the thought

of

> eating fish makes me gag. There is just no way I could do it. I

also wonder

> how many people eat fish regularly? I grew up in the Midwest so we

maybe had

> fish once or twice year. I imagine people on the coasts may eat it

more

> often. I guess I just don't think this is as big a deal as my Dr

has made it

> out to be.

>

> You all have been good with advice in the past. Thanks!

> Michele

May 31, 2003

--- Scott & Michele <slamm12 wrote:

However, she

> was concerned about my

> Omega 3's, especially DHA which is only available

> from fish apparently. She

> tried to talk me into eating fish and if nothing

> else taking a fish oil

> supplement.

Walnuts and flax I do believe!! Recently there was an

article out about the dangers of fish during

pregnancy. I was just pregnant and I remember reading

it during my pregnancy. So, maybe you could do a

google search and share that with your doctor.

Heather

Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook.

http://calendar.

May 31, 2003

> " Scott & Michele " <slamm12

> Omega 3/DHA

> However, she was concerned about my

> Omega 3's, especially DHA which is only available from fish apparently. She

> tried to talk me into eating fish and if nothing else taking a fish oil

> supplement. ...

>

> Does anyone know any veggie sources of DHA?

DHA is found in high concentration in Flaxseed Oil, and in lesser amounts in

Walnut Oil. I'm surprised your doc didn't know/mention this, is fairly

common knowledge. Many pregnant women take flaxseed oil during pregnancy

specifically for brain/eye development.

Omega 3 is synthesized from DHA. Fish also has ALA, another essential fatty

acid, but your body can probably break up the DHA chain to make ALA if it

needs to.

Go to www.pcrm.org for more info. And remember, your dr. is not a

nutritionist (and it shows!).

HTH,

~Doh

----------

All beings tremble before violence. All fear death, all love life. See

yourself in others. Then whom can you hurt? What harm can you do? ~ Buddha

May 31, 2003

Hi I was thinking that you could get what you needed from Flax

Seed Oil? I'm not sure...seems like I read that someplace. I craved

fish REALLY badly when I was pregnant and I almost broke down and ate

some tuna (that's what I craved the most), but I couldn't do it (my

conscience would never let me). It turns out that a good friend of

mine was craving the fish with me and she ate it every day. Oh well,

what can you do? Anyway, my baby is as smart as she can be and

actually rates up to 13 months old on the questionnaire that the ped

always has us fill out (she is 9.5 mo). I don't think there is

anything at all wrong with her brain development. I think you might

be right about your doctor making a big deal out of it. I just can't

help wondering what people native to areas where fish was totally

unavailable did in the past, and some people don't ever eat fish

anyway because they hate it, ya know? lol

Congratulations on your pregnancy!! I hope that you enjoy it and that

you and your baby keep perfect health and happiness

Take care,

Michelle

, " Scott & Michele " <slamm12@a...>

wrote:

> I went to my 16 week pregnancy doctor appt earlier this week. My

Dr. was

> looking over my history and noticed I had had high cholesterol but

had

> brought it down significantly. I mentioned that my Dh and I had

been trying

> to go vegan and he was doing very well, however, since I became

pregnant my

> cheese cravings have been overwhelming. She was glad I was eating

cheese and

> getting my B12 and calcium. (I have been taking the vegan essentials

> prenatal vitamins to make sure anyway.) However, she was concerned

about my

> Omega 3's, especially DHA which is only available from fish

apparently. She

> tried to talk me into eating fish and if nothing else taking a fish

oil

> supplement. I refused and told her I would look into alternatives.

She is

> concerned about brain development.

>

> Does anyone know any veggie sources of DHA? Of course, I don't want

to do

> anything purposefully to harm the development of my baby. But I have

> suffered from nausea throughout this pregnancy and just the thought

of

> eating fish makes me gag. There is just no way I could do it. I

also wonder

> how many people eat fish regularly? I grew up in the Midwest so we

maybe had

> fish once or twice year. I imagine people on the coasts may eat it

more

> often. I guess I just don't think this is as big a deal as my Dr

has made it

> out to be.

>

> You all have been good with advice in the past. Thanks!

> Michele

May 31, 2003

I am learning a lot by reading the emails of this group. Sorry I don't

contribute more. There is a vegetarian source of DHA, they derive it from

microalgae. If you go to google and put the words vegetarian DHA you will

find them. I think one is called Omega-Zen-3, one is called IQ, and one is

DHA Gold which they used in this study

http://www.lef.org/newsarchive/nutrition/2001/05/03/pr/0000-1085-co-omegatech-dh\

a-gold.html

to see if it prevent premature delivery. You might even just go to your

local health food store and ask if they have a vegetarian DHA supplement.

DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), an omega-3 fatty acid, is an important building

block of brain tissue. The brain is 60% fat, and DHA is the most abundant

fatty acid in both the brain and the retina of the eye. It is absolutely

essential for healthy brain and eye function.

Today the average American's diet is estimated to be 100 mg lower in DHA

than it was 50 years ago. In fact, our nation has one of the lowest DHA

levels in the world. Low levels of DHA have been correlated with changes in

disposition, memory loss and visual and other neurological conditions. This

decline in DHA consumption has also led to an unhealthy imbalance between

omega-3 fatty acids and the more plentiful omega-6 fatty acids.

The importance of DHA can be seen clearly in the composition of human breast

milk. DHA is the most abundant fatty acid in breast milk because it is

essential for proper development of the baby's brain, eyes and nervous

system. Unfortunately, DHA levels in the breast milk of U.S. women are among

the lowest in the world.

----Original Message Follows----

" Scott & Michele " <slamm12

Omega 3/DHA

Fri, 30 May 2003 02:02:02 -0600

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