BlogHer - mercury - Comments

For those of us gluten and dairy-free...

Karina Allrich — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:32:42 -0500

Hemp milk is a fab dairy alternative. I love it!

Unfortunately I'm allergic to flax and eggs (two other possible sources of EFA's). But the good news- for omnivores- is that salmon, sardines, and free range buffalo meat also contains EFA's. Who knew?

k a r i n a

Karina's Kitchen: Recipes from a [Gluten-Free] Goddess

A Painter's Kitchen [art. words. life.]

Something New to try....Omega 3 keeps my body on track! :)

Rhonda-at-RecipeCarousel — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:55:08 -0500

What a great article- I have not yet tried hemp, I am going to the heatlh food store today and will pick some up. I think it sounds like a great addition as salmon; fish in general can be quite expensive.

i usally keep a container of toasted nuts and seeds on hand that I use for snacking thru-out the day; in order to get my daily dose

I find that omega 3's keep my skin and hair especially healthyand my mind clear. Nice article

Thank you Rhonda-at-RecipeCarousel

http://www.recipecarousel.com/blog

Amy, The brand I found at VC

amamasblog — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:46:29 -0500

Amy,

The brand I found at VC which had the most Omega 3's was Nature's Way Efa Gold Flax Oil, with 57% Omega-3. I got the 16 oz. bottle and it was about $9. This brand actually had more g/mg of Omega-3's than the really expensive kinds and the Omega-3's is what my Dr. said was so important.

Yes, you can mix it in with juice, or milk, or any drink really. Ryan actually likes it in his milk. For some reason, the taste doesn't bother me too much- it kind of made me mush my face up at first, but now I guess I am used to it, and just pour it on a teaspoon and down the hatch. :-) My sister, on the other hand couldn't stand the taste, even in her milk, so she switched to capsules.

If you mix it in with something, I doubt you would have a problem with it. :-)

Recommend a certain flaxseed oil brand?

Amy Gates — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:51:02 -0500

Thanks for sharing about flaxseed oil being used to treat PPD. I should probably try taking some myself. I don't think I have PPD, but I have been feeling kind of down lately. It certainly couldn't hurt. Do you have a brand that you recommend that tastes best? Do you mix it in anything?

Thanks! :)

Amy

Crunchy Domestic Goddess
BlogHers Act contributing editor

I'm going to try that!

Kalyn Denny — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:03:26 -0500

I keep reading about them but haven't tried them, and stirring a few into oatmeal sounds like a good way to try them.

Kalyn Denny

Kalyn's Kitchen

Hemp seeds rock

suebob — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:26:22 -0500

I used to turn up my nose at Hempseed, thinking it was kind of a stoner affectation (because everyone I knew who was evangelizing hemp was a stoner)...but then I tasted them and they are delicious - kind of like small pine nuts.

Hempseed is expensive, but I just put a tablespoonful on my oatmeal in the morning.

Omega-3 for Post Partum Depression/Nursing

amamasblog — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:41:15 -0500

When I had post partum depression 3 months after my son was born, my Dr. told me since I was nursing there was no safe meds. for my depression. He encouraged me to to take two teaspoons of pure, organic, flax seed oil a day, along with extra B vitamins. He mentioned that nursing mothers can be very deficient in Omega-3's, since most of it leaves the body in the breastmilk for the baby.

I accidently thought he said to take two Tablespoons a day, and I did. Within two days, I felt like a new person. It was amazing! Accidently taking two Tablespoons instead of teaspoons didn't hurt me, but I did switch to teaspoons. I still take one teaspoon a day. I notice when I forget, I start to feel blue again. (I am still nursing my almost two year old son). Within hours of taking flax seed oil, I feel better.

I think it is so important to let new and nursing mothers know that they need extra Omega-3's, *especially* if they are nursing. Most nursing mothers don't get any nutritional advice other than the basics, like drink extra water.

In my case increasing Omega-3's, and B vitamins cured my post partum depression without drugs. It is an amazing compound.

Heather
A Mama's Blog
www.amamasblog.com

Using Flax Seeds

MealMixer — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:22:00 -0500

I keep a cheap coffee grinder and add my own ground flax to a lot of things, especially cookies and casseroles. We don't eat fish.

I've read that there is no difference between the brown and gold, Cherre.

Another thing to check out is the cooking oil you use, some are higher in Omega-3 than others.

Great post!

Kalyn Denny — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:58:08 -0500

I've also found that flax seed is easy to mix into various things like meatloaf or even bread or egg muffins. Haven't tried hemp seeds in anything, I've seen some recipes using them that sound pretty intriguing.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Flax seed is also good for digestion

Cherre — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:36:04 -0500

I find flax seeds really easy to integrate it into whatever meal I'm making by sprinkling on top of salads or mixing into batters, etc. You can also substitute flax seed for fat or eggs in recipes. Haven't quite figured out the difference between the gold and brown varieties...?
http://doesabodygood.blogspot.com/search/label/flax

Hemp Smoothies

Maria Niles — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:35:30 -0500

Great post, Amy - great options.

This is my favorite smoothie protein powder mix - it's vegan, hemp, high in protein, omega-3's and fiber and best of all, yummy!

Beyond Help

I haven't read it yet, but

Amy Gates — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:36:27 -0500

I haven't read it yet, but it's on my reading list. Will need to see if the library has it. It sounds excellent.

Actually, now that you mention hemp bars, you've jogged my memory that I have had some before myself. My husband gets the Alpsnack hemp bars at work and has brought them home on occasion. They are really tasty, especially the ones with chocolate! ;)

Amy
Crunchy Domestic Goddess
BlogHers Act contributing editor

It would have to come from a plant source...

nelle2nelle — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:46:17 -0500

as I will not eat fish. Or to put it more intelligently, yuch. ;-)

It is good to know such alternative sources are available, and I love spinach and broccoli. Now to find such goodies in artichokes.

nelle

Tasty Hemp Seed Bars

Vered — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:29:42 -0500

These recipes look great - especially the chocolate hemp squares. Thank you!

I am not vegetarian nor vegan. We do eat mostly organic, and definitely try to live by the rule of "everything in moderation". Have you read Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma? He says it so well. "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants". Sounds like your family is doing just that.

Hemp seeds can taste good: I buy Nutiva Hemp Seed Bars at Whole Foods. They are really quite good. http://nutiva.com/products/1_original.php

Vered DeLeeuw
www.momgrind.com