Borage Oil, Evening Primrose = GLA/Omega 6 fatty acid

[Bernard]

GLA and Seizures

People with epilepsy should avoid consuming borage oil as GLA may lower the seizure threshold (Miller, 1998). As a source of GLA, borage oil may also cause harmful interactions with anticonvulsant drugs (such as phenobarbitals) or with drugs that lower the seizure threshold (tricyclic antidepressants and phenothiazines).

Borage Oil Report

It's a very interesting read. I recommend it.

There is a nifty chart on page 5 showing the breakdown of fatty acid components for many common oils:

Looks like Stacy and I need to stop using butter, sunflower and safflower oils and stick with extra virgin olive oil.

[kmarquart]

Thanks for the information--i use butter when i bake but the rest of the time it's extra virgin olive oil for me--i love the stuff anyway LOL
Kim

[Shelley]

I was wondering if there is a difference between cold pressed, twice pressed, and any other variety that there may be. Also, between grecian, Italian/Mediteranean, and American oils.
I just turned a friend on to olive oil. and I want to make sure that I gave him the best info possible.

[Bernard]

Yes.

Cold pressed indicates how it is pressed - ie. the olives are pressed without heat (which is good)

First pressing indicates the oil is from the first attempt at pressing the olives. This is also termed extra virgin.

The best quality olive oil is the first cold pressing (extra virgin olive oil). It should have a slight sweetness and aroma to it.

The difference between Grecian, Italian and American oils will be the quality of the olives used (subjective) and the time/aging resulting from exporting/shipping (fresher is better).

wikipedia has a decent page explaining the system:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_oil

[RobinN]

The olive tree, a small evergreen native to Mediterranean regions, has been revered throughout history for its contribution to the culinary and healing arts. Its extracts have been used for thousands of years as a folk remedy for treating fevers, wounds, and infection, and for skin rashes and boils.1 The oil is symbolic of purity and goodness, the olive branch represents peace and prosperity, and Greek Olympians were crowned with a wreath of olive leaves.

Now, scientific research has proven that the active ingredients in olive leaves do indeed have vast healing powers.

# Protecting low density lipoprotein from oxidation
# Inhibiting the growth of bacteria and viruses
# Inhibiting platelet aggregation and production of thromboxane
# Exerting a vasodilator effect
# Providing potent antioxidant protection

http://www.smart-publications.com/th...af_extract.php

Was this considered The Tree of Life?

[brain]

Canola Oil = Motor Oil

LOL - you might as well almost use
3 in 1 Oil

A Doctor long time ago told me that.


But I use Olive Oil or Veggie Oil only.

[Birdbomb]

Taste like it too, Brain.

With a few exceptions, I stick with the olive oil. I like to try different brands mainly for flavor.

[RobinN]

The Borage Oil link isn't working Bernard. I am not familiar with that term, so I would like to know more about this.

There is also a difference in some of the olive oils, some can retain their integrity while cooked in high heat, and others can not. Some mfg. are including this on their labels.

[Shelley]

The requested URL /ncarm/PDF/Borage Oil Full Report.pdf was not found on this server.

But I think I'll stick to the oil made from the fruit of the olive tree, (not the leaf)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4204076.stm

[Bernard]

I sent an email to someone related to the site referenced in the original link. Hopefully I will get some positive feedback on either a new link for the document or a copy of it that can be attached to this thread.

[Bernard]

OK. They got the report back online and I've updated the link for it.

[RobinN]

The results of the few studies using borage oil as the source of GLA in the treatment of atopic eczema are inconclusive...
However, a small subgroup of the population studied (those
with increased red blood cell DGLA levels) did show significant improvement, suggesting that further studies of this type with borage oil are warranted (Henz et al, 1999).
Although the precise cause of atopic disease is uncertain, it has been proposed that defective delta-6-desaturase function and abnormal eicosanoid synthesis may be involved

eicosanoids are signaling molecules derived from omega-3 (ω-3) or omega-6 (ω-6) fats. They exert complex control over many bodily systems, especially in inflammation, immunity and as messengers in the central nervous system. The networks of controls that depend upon eicosanoids are among the most complex in the human body.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eicosanoid

The amounts of these fats in a person's diet will affect the body's eicosanoid-controlled functions, with effects on cardiovascular disease, triglycerides, blood pressure, and arthritis. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and NSAIDs act by downregulating eicosanoid synthesis.