Discussion Board

I've read from several sources that men over 50, especially with diabetes, convert virtually none of the ALA in plants and flax to the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA. Some sources I remember were Whole Foods, Dr Andrew Weil, http://www.v-pure.com, VeganOutreach.org, and our Dr Greger (http://www.nutritionfacts.org), who has a recent video recommending vegans take an algae derived DHA/EPA supplement). Deva makes a new Omega-3 DHA-EPA supplement.

Yes, mother nature loves pregnant women, as apparently they do have much more capacity to convert ALA to the long-chain DHA and EPA. But please check with your Doctor if you are pregnant. These essential fatty acids are necessary for developing healthy brains and nervous systems....thanks....Mike

I believe these are the links to Dr Greger's video:

Algae-Based DHA vs. Flax | NutritionFacts.org

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wasZ7u7p ... r_embedded

...Mike

Your first link is simply an ad for a supplement. Your link to the youtube video doesn't work. The Dr. Greger video seems to abruptly end when he gets into the conversion issue.

For those wishing to explore the DHA/EPA issue Our own Jeff Novick has a thread where he delves into this issue in greater depth. Here is the link:
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=19443&p=181741

f1jim

From Dr Greger:

Optimum Nutrition Recommendations

In today’s NutritionFacts.org video-of-the-dayGolden glow, and tomorrow’s,
Produce, not pills to increase physical attractiveness, I review the new
research suggesting the consumption of dark green leafy vegetables improves the
healthy appearance of Caucasians* due to carotenoid deposition in the skin.
Taking those same phytonutrients in pill form, though, doesn’t work. We should
strive to get most of our nutrients from plants, not pills.

The balance of scientific evidence suggests that the healthiest way to eat is a
vitamin B12-fortified diet of whole plant foods. For optimum nutrition, we
should be sure to include in our daily diet not only an array of whole grains,
beans, nuts, seeds, fruit, and as many vegetables as we can eat, but also
specifically dark green leafy vegetables, berries, and white (or green) tea.

Attention should also be paid to these nutrients:

Vitamin B12
At least 2,500 mcg (µg) cyanocobalamin once each week, ideally as a chewable,
sublingual, or liquid supplement or at least 250 mcg daily of supplemental
cyanocobalamin (you needn’t worry about taking too much)
or servings of B12-fortified foods three times a day, each containing at
least 25% U.S. “Daily Value” on its label

Tip: If experiencing deficiency symptoms, the best test is a urine MMA level
(not serum B12 level)

Omega-3 Fatty Acids
250 to 500 mg daily of yeast- or algae-derived DHA and/or EPA

Vitamin D (daily recommendations for those in the Northern Hemisphere)
Below approximately 30°latitude (south of Los Angeles/Dallas/Atlanta/Cairo)
15-30 minutes of midday sun (15 for those with lighter skin; 30 for those
with darker skin)
or 2,000 IU supplemental vitamin D

Between 30° latitude (sample cities above) & 40°latitude
(Portland/Chicago/Boston/Rome/Beijing) From February through November
15-30 minutes of midday sun (15 for those with lighter skin; 30 for those
with darker skin)
or 2,000 IU supplemental vitamin D

From December through January 2,000 IU supplemental vitamin D


Between 40° latitude (sample cities above) & 50°latitude
(Edmonton/London/Berlin/Moscow) From March through October 15-30 minutes
of midday sun (15 for those with lighter skin; 30 for those with darker
skin)
or 2,000 IU supplemental vitamin D

From November through February 2,000 IU supplemental vitamin D


Above approximately 50°latitude (north of Edmonton/London/Berlin/Moscow)
From April through September (or even briefer above 60°latitude
(Anchorage/Stockholm)) 15-30 minutes of midday sun (15 for those with
lighter skin; 30 for those with darker skin)
or 2,000 IU supplemental vitamin D

From October through March (or even longer above 60°latitude
(Anchorage/Stockholm)) 2,000 IU supplemental vitamin D



Calcium
At least 600 mg daily via calcium-rich plant foods—preferably low-oxalate
dark green leafy vegetables, which includes all greens except spinach, chard,
and beet greens (all very healthy foods, but not good calcium sources due to
their oxalate content).

Iodine
For those who don’t eat seaweed or use iodized salt, a 150 mcg daily
supplement The sea vegetable hijiki (hiziki) should not be eaten due to high
arsenic levels
Kelp should be avoided as it tends to have too much iodine


Iron
All menstruating women should increase their absorption by combining foods
rich in iron and vitamin C at meals and should get checked for iron-deficiency
anemia every few years
Men should be checked for an iron overload disease before any attempt to
increase intake

Selenium
Northern Europeans may need to take a supplement or eat a daily Brazil nut

-Michael Greger, M.D.

* Due to the pervasive under-representation of traditionally marginalized groups
in clinical research, comparable science across the skin color spectrum is not
yet available.

f1jim: I send a post of Dr Greger's optimum nutritional recommendations. It seems he agrees with Dr M and Jeff Novick on 99% of issues - says a whole food, plant based diet is the way to go, and to strive to get most of our nutrition from plants, not pills. Does recommend 250-500 mg daily of omega 3 fatty acids from yeast or algae derived DHA/EPA.

I hope the formatting is correct. I'm trying to learn how to copy, save, and send links to this and other forums. Sorry for any past problems. I noticed that you're listed as a computer consultant. Any suggestions you or others have would be welcome...thanks...Mike

The doctors do tend to vary on things like supplementation. But since this is the Dr. McDougall website we focus on Dr. McDougalls recommendations, not those of the other doctors. It never hurts to look at other doctors ideas as well but when giving out recommendations we suggest those that Dr. McDougall recommends here on these boards.
Thanks for the information.
f1jim

jim...its understandable that Dr. McDougall greatly simplifies information. I read Jeffs links then found this book on fats (and wow) I was happy to learn some of the details about history of fats (discoveries, etc.) but I found so much of the book questionable. For example, she stated that breast milk and cows milk are 50% fat which I KNEW was wrong. I looked it up and found that the only site that stated breast milk that high in fat was one that is questionable scientifically. I think I read at least 6 other things that I knew she presented in her book without science behind the statements.

Sometimes being able to trust the person, Dr. McDougall in this case, is the most important thing. I'm lucky I got to the information he presents when I have. The health, great tastes, and over-all fun in eating starch, etc is something I greatly appreciate.