Sunflower Seeds: The Latest Energy Food Debacle

re: Sunflower Seeds: The Latest Energy Food Debacle

Stacy_203 — Sun, 06 May 2007 01:07:20 GMT

As far as Omega-3 supplementation goes, have a look at xtend-life. It's the only one that can compete with the effectiveness of Krill oil. DHA levels are off the charts and the company's production process is excellent.

Their sales/support folks are great too. I've dealt with the same person for a couple years now.

Cheers,
Stace

re: Sunflower Seeds: The Latest Energy Food Debacle

Bob2_203 — Fri, 04 May 2007 20:21:21 GMT

A snack probably “designed” by committee. Slap in a few cents worth of “buzzword ingredients” and jack the price 30, 50, 100%.

For those interested, we read a lot about the omega 3/6 ratio, but perhaps as important, or even more so, is the total quantity of omega fat consumed. The best evidence seems to indicate a dietary need of no more than 1.5% daily caloric intake of omega 3 and 2.5% omega 6. That’s a total of only 4%. Any excess just adds calories and goes rancid inside the body, especially if there are few antioxidants present in the diet. The vast majority of fats in the diet should be saturated (from clean meat sources, raw milk cheese, coconut oil, butter) or monounsaturated, the best source being virgin olive oil.

For most people, thanks to profiteers and their media accomplices, these numbers are completely upside, much to the detriment of the public health. The vast majority of dietary fat for many individuals is now hydrogenated omega 6 polyunsaturated oils, with very little saturated and monounsaturated fat anymore. Note that hydrogenated omega 6 (i.e., trans-fat) was for years labeled "saturated".

So, what upsets the 3/6 balance is the huge amounts of omega 6. The solution is NOT to gorge on large amounts of omega 3, as this just further floods the tissues with unstable polyunsaturated oils, creating a host of health problems. The correct approach is to greatly reduce omega 6 consumption (which is increasingly difficult to do if one consumes ANY amount of processed foods), and to simply eat a mercury–free serving of fish, a teaspoon of cod/fish oil, or a few tablespoons of flaxseed daily.

Concerning nuts/seeds, seeds in general, including sun seeds, are a poor choice. Better choices are almonds, hazelnuts, macadamias, and pistachios, which are all mostly monounsaturated. That said, there are positives to occasional consumption of most raw nut/seeds, just don’t make them a dietary staple.

re: Sunflower Seeds: The Latest Energy Food Debacle

seaweed — Fri, 04 May 2007 17:07:35 GMT

Sunflower seeds is one of the food i believe is ok to eat on occassion. Yes it has polyunsaturated fat but it also has many essential nutrient such as vitamin e, fiber, protein, magnesium and selenium. In addition it has phytosterols, which has been shown to lower cholesterol. I usually sprinkle a table spoon of sunflower seeds on my salad or add some to my home made trail mix. Sunflower seeds consumed on occasion is fine but i wouldn't group it with the food to avoid at all cost category.

re: Sunflower Seeds: The Latest Energy Food Debacle

karrus — Fri, 04 May 2007 16:48:53 GMT

Bummer! I enjoyed eating sesame and pumpkin seeds everyday. Had no idea. Thanks Dr. Mercola for teaching me another lesson in nutrition. Guess I will just have to find another nut to eat.

re: Sunflower Seeds: The Latest Energy Food Debacle

Russ Bianchi — Fri, 04 May 2007 15:46:37 GMT

300 milligrams or more per day (a third of 1 gram) which is LESS than one 28th of one ounce, IS enough caffeine to trigger a cardiac arrest, even in a HEALTHY person.

Whether anti-sleep aids, drinks or beverages, harmful dieting products, false energy claim brands, false labeling hiding the fact it's a dangerous neuro stimulant like Guarana (NOT GRAS), or a synthetically engineered food, like this seed FRANKENFOOD, all ingestees are at GREATER RISK OF DEATH with such consumption.

This seed product is a gray area attempt to thwart DRUG law. It is not a food, it is not a dietary supplement, It's a DRUG...just like the recently bust COCAINE energy drink.

Such products are UNSAFE AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSUMED!!!

re: Sunflower Seeds: The Latest Energy Food Debacle

Josh Rubin — Fri, 04 May 2007 15:08:29 GMT

Most americans Omega 6 to 3 ratios are 20:1, in which they should be around 2:1. Most people eat lots of nuts, breads, oils, and conventional meats (fed with grains which are high in Omega 6). When you take in too many Omega 6's in relation to Omega 3's, you over produce what is called Arachodonic Acid. This basically causes widespread inflammation in the body, which can and does lead to:

1. Arthritic like pains
2. Increased cholesterol
3. Adrenal stress
4. Altered hormone levels

My rec, reduce the amount of Omega 6's you are taking in. While at the same time take around 6000mg if Cod Liver oil for one month, then decrease it to 2000mg for one month. Then go off for 1-2 months and cycle back on. As well as being high in Omega 3's, Cod Liver oil is a great natural anti-inflammatory.

That's my story!