I agree that excess flax oil can contribute to both prostate and breast cancers if taken continuously over a period of time. However, if the liver function is optimal and there is adequate lymphatic flow and you check labs for the estrogen ratios....then you can determine if the patient is best suited for flax or fish oil. If in doubt, use fish oil! Keep in mind that all fats are metabolized in the liver. If the liver becomes congested or functions sub-optimally, then you need to assess the patient and consider avoiding EFA's until the liver function improves. Then you may want to introduce them at a later point in time! And...for the record....How do you know if the liver is functioning below par? Ask the patient how they feel after they eat fatty foods. This is not only deep-fried foods but things such as salad dressings, avocado's etc. ... You will be surprised!

On another EFA note......evening primrose oil is an omega 6 EFA source and must be used with caution in women with hormone-sensitive cancers. Also, women who take EPO and tend to develop PMS breast tenderness should NOT take EPO. It may put them at risk in the future!

Hope this helps.....

PS...thanks for the compliments re my knowledge! Paid lots of money for and spent too many hours acquiring it! ....as you know! I'll be contacting you soon....

Thanks FDNH, very thorough info. I completely dismissed liver function and fat metabolism and didn't know about EPO and breast cancer.
Do you use basic liver treatments and diindole3carbinol for excess bad estrogen? I have a patient with endometriosis and imabalanced estrogen ratios. Good diet, health conscious patient.

Hey Princess
Thanks for your questions Princess1....
As for basic liver support, I like to use Milk Thistle, drainage treatments and TONS of fresh-squeezed lemon water.....which helps alkalinize the body while enhancing liver function. I especially have patients take their lemon water (preferably warm) 15 minutes before meals. It really does wonders for anyone who has compromised digestion. These help with regulating liver metabolizing so would be very helpful with estrogen balancing. As for specifics with estrogen balancing....I can't recommend fresh ground flax seeds enough. An MD at Toronto General Hospital has publicly stated how much flax seeds are natures Tamoxifen! I believe it because I see it every day! My own mother benefitted and did not begin her Tamoxifen. I do use Indole-3-Carbinol to help convert harmful estrogens to less harmful ones. I also use Calcium D Gluconate which also supports the hormone metabolism pathways.

Always remember that whenever you work on the liver....you are enhancing the function of ALL liver metabolism. Especially that of hormones. Let's not forget that all hormones have cholesterol as their base. And if there is excess cholesterol being produced in the body, then there are going to be excess hormone end-products. Just one more thing to ponder in the cholesterol debate!

Let me know if there is anything different you would use.
FDNH

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I started the thread looking for more general supplements for use as preventetive. Of course certain supplements will help certain ailments and are not to be generally taken. Again, maybe a list for future MD's to learn about. What are some of your favorites that really could be taken by everyone.

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Choline, anyone?

Who doesn't love that fishy little acetylcholine precursor? Best combined with a nootropic..

I'm not so sure you will see excess hormone production, since these are all independently regulated generally by negative feedback loops. You don't see elevated hormone levels in people with extremely high cholesterol. Just because the base is plentiful doesn't mean the end products are going to be elevated. G

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DHEA: 10 mg a day. Opinions please (I am 47 yrs old)

Hey Vioxx Defender, how's it going? I would say that one would have to know much more about you than that to say you should put a concentrated hormone into your body. It's a sticky topic without an intake. ND intakes take about 2 hours sometimes - that's a whole lot of information that would be used to see how much/if you need DHEA. It's the whole silly idea of you being an individual and whatnot. I think whole foods are the most powerful medicine, (if you don't believe me, stop taking it), and much less likely to cause harm. Supplementation of various over the counter natural substances are concentrated and can be as dangerous as Vioxx without medical evaluation. Going to a naturopathic doctor could let you know for sure.

Anyway, that's my opinion. You, of course, could find a lot of information online. Sadly, I don't come here often and it won't let me post a link for you. You can try the Mayo Clinic DHEA page - I'm a fan of their articles.

It's likely not a problem for you, but you never know. Come see me in three years when I'm a resident ND.

Caboose.

I believe 7 Keto is a buffered form of DHEA making it safer to take. Although 7 Keto is primarily associated with Weight Loss, I think it acts very similiar to DHEA (but again, safer).

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Be good. If you can't be good, be careful. If you can't be careful...Name it after me.