Announcement

**not2late** · December 5, 2005, 07:53 AM

Re: Garlic Flax Crackers and Cilantro Cream Cheese w/ Pic

Oh yeah, those microwave flax crackers I developed are very versatile. You can give them a savory flavor or you can give them a sweet flavor, depending on what herbs and spices you use.

Just remember there is a limit to the flax you can have during Induction and during OWL. Not to mention your stomach might self-limit your flax consumption. Also be aware that while flax is a nutritious food, you shouldn't overdo it. Lilian Thompson, PhD. is regarded as a leading Flax expert recommends 1 tablespoon daily, provided you are not a breast cancer survivor, pregnant or a child.

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/62/71770

**MotherOfGizmo** · December 5, 2005, 09:27 AM

Re: Garlic Flax Crackers and Cilantro Cream Cheese w/ Pic

Looks yummy. I like to mix in parmesean and fennel seeds with the flax, its yummy too.

**2big4mysize** · December 5, 2005, 10:37 AM

Re: Garlic Flax Crackers and Cilantro Cream Cheese w/ Pic

yep they are great

Megs I read the whole link and she never points out any research just saysd the infamous "they" further on she states "they" say 3-5T a day is high. I know in the raw it has a compound that acts like cyanide in our system but cooking breaks that down so it is elinminated as a concern for everybody other then breast cancer folk and that is being tested more as they discover more about exactly what sites it reacts with in the body.

**not2late** · December 5, 2005, 10:53 AM

Re: Garlic Flax Crackers and Cilantro Cream Cheese w/ Pic

True there is no data quoted, but Lilian Thompson is the expert on Flax: I take her word for it. Just like I would take Dr. Atkins' word for it that on his diet you can't have X, Y, Z because he was the expert on the Atkins Diet.

To cook the cyanide out you have to cook it at 400 degrees F for at least 15 minutes. Those microwave crackers are more dehydrated than "cooked".
http://www.flaxcouncil.ca/Vegetarian/Prudent%20Use.htm

**2big4mysize** · December 5, 2005, 11:10 AM

Re: Garlic Flax Crackers and Cilantro Cream Cheese w/ Pic

Megs that link says even more is safe and adds almonds to that cyanide compound list YIKES!

the one tablespoon does is becuase that will supply the minimum amount of ALA folk need a day

**not2late** · December 5, 2005, 11:37 AM

Re: Garlic Flax Crackers and Cilantro Cream Cheese w/ Pic

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one 2Big. I don't believe eating any food in what the expert considers to be excessive amounts is good for our bodies. The jury, imo, is still out on Flax because there needs to be more documentation on it and its effect on our bodies, even Dr. Thompson agree with that. Better safe than sorry, imo.
http://www.aicr.org/publications/new...sso?index=1457

If the objective is to get enough dietary ALA, then that can be done eating canola oil, soybeans and soybean oil, pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil, walnuts and walnut seed oil as well as leafy green veggies like purslane, spinach, collards. But your body will only convert ALA to EPA and DHA and you can easily get those from fish. Flax is good, but it ain't the be all to end all.....

**2big4mysize** · December 5, 2005, 12:16 PM

Re: Garlic Flax Crackers and Cilantro Cream Cheese w/ Pic

Megs she was paid by the flax council of Canada to research flax and the effect on breast cancer for 1 yr, and now she is more of a flax "expert" then the many other folk they have given grants to to do more studies longer term then her.

**not2late** · December 5, 2005, 12:42 PM

Re: Garlic Flax Crackers and Cilantro Cream Cheese w/ Pic

2Big, l believe in putting the information out there and letting the folks here read it so they can decide for themselves how to treat Flax or any other "miracle" food promoted these days.

Thompson has done research on flax. Here's her bio from the University of Toronto with a list of selected publications.
http://www.utoronto.ca/nutrisci/faculty/Thompson/

But here's a non-Thompson source for flax limits

Flaxseed is increasingly being used in some food products because of its high content of alpha-linolenic acid and dietary fibre. However, flaxseed contains cyanogenic glycosides, which release toxic hydrogen cyanide in the presence of water (autohydrolysis). (Chadha R, et al (Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), Food Addit Contam, 12: 527, 1995) Cyanogenic glycosides (linamarin, linustatin, neolinustatin) were highest in extracted flaxseed mucilage. We conclude that up to 50 g high-alpha-linolenic acid flaxseed is palatable, safe and may be nutritionally beneficial in humans by raising n-3 fatty acids in plasma and erythrocytes and by decreasing post-prandial glucose responses. Cunnane S, et al, (University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada) Br J Nutr, 69:443, 1993)

http://www.gaiaresearch.co.za/flaxse...c%20Glycosides

We've both read up on flax---the negative and positive aspects of the food. And we've both formed an opinion of it. Let's let the folks here do the same thing.

**Rubysugar** · December 5, 2005, 01:37 PM

Re: Garlic Flax Crackers and Cilantro Cream Cheese w/ Pic

I made Garlic Flax Crackers of Death!!!

I only ate a few pieces and I am still kicking so far. I will keep an eye on the amount I am eating.

If all else fails I can use it as particle board in my Barbie "Home Improvement" Kit. She can always use another cabinet for more shoes.

**Laurenfra** · December 6, 2005, 06:08 AM

Re: Garlic Flax Crackers and Cilantro Cream Cheese w/ Pic

When I was pregnant, I searched high and low for info on the safety of flax in prgnancy. I read no less 50 peices of information; web sites, pregnancy books, etc. About 45% said it was safe about 45% said it was dangerous, the 10 % said it depends how much you ate. (If I remember correct our own Dawn said it was not safe for pregnancy but yet ended up adding it late in hers) My midwife said it is safe and good for you, my MD said a big NO it was dangerous to the baby.

Then end result becomes you have to decided for yourself. I just find it ironic the experts can not agree. It is now a necessary staple in my life but I am not sure I would eat it if I ever got pregnant again.

**not2late** · December 6, 2005, 07:32 AM

Re: Garlic Flax Crackers and Cilantro Cream Cheese w/ Pic

Lauren, that's a good example why we should supply info and let people decide for themselves. I eat flax maybe once every couple of weeks because I can get my fiber and Omega 3 sources from other foods. I was very, very happy when I learned that purslane was one of the highest plant foods containing Omega 3s. I grow the stuff in my garden and it gave me an alternative ALA source.(http://2bnthewild.com/plants/H186.htm http://texasgrassfedbeef.com/omega_3_fatty_acids.htm)

I take food warnings very seriously because my ultimate goal on this WOE is good health. It's just like the canned tuna warnings---I eat tuna, but I don't eat it everyday and I certainly don't eat more than 3 ounces of it at any one time. Again, tuna is healthy, but there are some health risks (mercury) associated with it. Granted you'd have to eat alot of tuna on a daily basis to get mercury poisoning, it doesn't figure into my picture of "good health".

I also take what experts say into consideration no matter who funded their research--afterall, if I were to use funding as the major criterion for the value/integrity of study or researcher, I would have to throw out the Duke University studies on Atkins, since Dr. A. helped to fund them or any other study on the Atkins WOE funded by the Atkins Foundation. (http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read,1026,4157.html)

Here's a snippet from Dr. Atkins VitaNutrient Solution about flax:

Ch 8: Digestive Aids
"The various fibers and fatty acids in freshly ground flaxmeal are extremely effective in relieving constipation and inflammatory bowel problems. Even better, these pulverized seeds contain lignans, compounds that help promote female hormone balance and reduce the risk of female hormone-related cancers. This dual action makes flax my fiber of choice for management of such cancers, as well as PMS, fibroids, endometriosis, menopausal symptoms, and a range of other problems reltated to female hormonal balance."

"I usually recommend 1-3 tablespoons per day dissolved in water or mixed with semisolid food such as sour cream."

From ATkins Diabetes Revolution:

Ch 15. Fiber Facts
"To increase dietary fiber, try a dose of crushed flaxseeds or unprocessed bran. Both these excellent natural remedies for constipation are available at any health food store. Stir 2 teaspoons of flaxseeds into a glass of water and drink it down in the evening, or sprinkle them on your salad at dinner--you'll probably get results the next morning."

So, 2 flax limits from Dr. Atkins: not 1/4 cup daily, not 1/2 cup daily, not 2 ounces daily----1-3 tablespoons flaxmeal daily or 2 teaspoons flaxseeds daily.

Again, I hope this info and this discussion will help the folks here make an informed decision about the foods they choose to eat.

**loser4life** · December 6, 2005, 09:10 AM

Re: Garlic Flax Crackers and Cilantro Cream Cheese w/ Pic

I have been reading through these threads, however, I have not read the articles in the links yet... I had posted in the main forum asking for input on eating 3tbs flaxmeal daily. I have been eating flax muffin sandwiched(only twice) but I thought it may be something to do for luncha few days a week... now I guess I will have to read and decide!

**2big4mysize** · December 6, 2005, 09:42 PM

Re: Garlic Flax Crackers and Cilantro Cream Cheese w/ Pic

again Megs all her articles on falx are related to breasts and the effect of the flax ligans on that not the cyanogenic glycosides.

if you want to scare folk about the cyanogenic glycosides lets have a reply from a plant expert who can put the cyanide fears to rest for Atkinseers with our high protein intakes. As you know if you have done any research on it you know many foods we eat also contain this chemical yet no warnings about them are posted on ADBB anywhere.

From: Robin J. Marles Botany Department at
Brandon Univeristy in Manitoba.
Subject: Re: cyanogenic glycosides in flaxseed (fwd)>

The presence of cyanogenic glycosides in the diet is significant only in
relation to dose and the nutritional status of the consumer. Flax seed
meal contains two cyanogenic glycosides, linustatin and neolinustatin.
Flax stems and leaves contain larger concentrations of two others,
linamarin and lotaustralin, which are the monoglycoside analogues of
linustatin and neolinustatin respectively (the disaccharide gentiobiose is
the latters' sugar). Linamarin and lotaustralin are the same cyanogenic
glycosides that occur in cassava (manioc). Livestock poisoning due to
consumption of green flax straw has been reported (cyanide content drops
dramatically with maturity and drying), but I have never heard of
poisoning due to flax seed consumption, by either humans or animals.

Chronic intake of low amounts of cyanide from cassava consumption, which
is the starchy staple food in many tropical countries, is of concern
either when in high doses or when coupled with protein malnutrition. Many
foods are slightly cyanogenic (e.g. wheat and barley!), probably as an
evolutionary adaptation to discourage herbivory, and our body has a
limited capacity to detoxify low concentrations of cyanide through
addition of sulphur (from amino acids) to form thiocyanate or reaction
with cysteine directly to form beta-cyanoalanine. Thus if the dietary
levels of sulphur-containing amino acids are high the body can resist a
low intake of cyanide, but if the diet is low in protein overall or due to
imbalances in vegetable protein amino acid composition it is low in the
sulphur-containing amino acids, then we see toxicity.

The two most common symptoms of chronic cyanide intoxication are goitre,
probably caused by high levels of thiocyanate formation where dietary
protein levels are adequate and the detoxification mechanism is operating
in high gear but the body can't clear the thiocyanate product quickly
enough, and fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes associated with protein
malnutrition, where toxicity is probably directly due to cyanide because
of the lack of adequate detoxification.

Few of us are likely to have flax seed as our dietary staple, nor are

those people consuming flax seed likely to have protein malnutrition, so I
don't believe the cyanogenic glycoside content of the seeds is important.

Crushing the seeds for oil extraction produces significant quantities of
seed meal which would contain linustatin and neolinustatin, but processing
also liberates the plant enzymes that catalyze the breakdown of these
cyanogenic glycosides into the sugars, ketone, and HCN which is volatile
and soon disappears, so there is no problem with the seed cake as a
protein supplement in animal feed. It is considered excellent for cattle.

In summary, yes, there are cyanogenic glycosides in flax seed, but no,
they are not a cause for concern.

References:

McMillan, D.E. and Geevarghese, P.J. 1979. Dietary Cyanide and Tropical
Malnutrition Diabetes. Diabetes Care 2: 202-208.

Johns, T. 1990. With Bitter Herbs They Shall Eat It: Chemical Ecology and
the Origins of Human Diet and Medicine. U. of Arizona Press, Tucson.

The Flax Council of Canada. 1992. Growing Flax.

Harborne, J.B. and Baxter, H. 1993. Phytochemical Dictionary. Taylor &
Francis, London.

Simpson, B.B., and Ogorzaly, M.C. 1995. Economic Botany: Plants in Our
World, 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill Inc., New York.

__________________________________________________ _______________

**loser4life** · December 6, 2005, 10:15 PM

Re: Garlic Flax Crackers and Cilantro Cream Cheese w/ Pic

Your pic looks absolutely delicious!!!!!!!!! It is making me hungry, but it is bedtime and no more eatin for me tonight! LOL

Announcement

Garlic Flax Crackers and Cilantro Cream Cheese w/ Pic

Garlic Flax Crackers and Cilantro Cream Cheese w/ Pic

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment