Ground flaxseed

[James2133]

Whats the deal. Does it raise or lower testosterone?

I really want to eat it for its omega 3 content and its omega 3:6 ratio, aswell as its protective affects on general health 

I don't consume animal products so I cant take fish products.

Cheers!

[Bigken1985]

 

Flaxseed  has way too many omega 6 and 9 fatty acids. A Lot of the modern diet has way too many 6s and 9s. That's why you offset them with omega 3s.   If animal sources aren't a option my go to would be coconut oil and olive oil

[James2133]

13 hours ago, Bigken1985 said:

 

Flaxseed  has way too many omega 6 and 9 fatty acids. A Lot of the modern diet has way too many 6s and 9s. That's why you offset them with omega 3s.   If animal sources aren't a option my go to would be coconut oil and olive oil

 

Flaxseed per tbsp
1597mg omega 3
414mg omega 6

Ratio 0.2 : 1
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3163/2

Olive oil per tbsp
103mg omega 3
1318mg omega 6 

Ratio 12.8 : 1
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fats-and-oils/509/2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratio_of_fatty_acids_in_different_foods

[GyzzBrah]

16 hours ago, James2133 said:

Whats the deal. Does it raise or lower testosterone?

I really want to eat it for its omega 3 content and its omega 3:6 ratio, aswell as its protective affects on general health 

I don't consume animal products so I cant take fish products.

Cheers!

 

Just eat it then??

[James2133]

59 minutes ago, GyzzBrah said:

 

Just eat it then??

I would, but I'm hesitant due to some evidence that they may reduce testosterone. I was wondering if anyone knew the definitive answer.

 

[Bruce Al]

How would it lower testosterone? 

[James2133]

7 hours ago, Bruce Al said:

How would it lower testosterone? 

http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FBJN%2FBJN93_03%2FS0007114505000504a.pdf&code=203f788386e95cc0b810d4d41529542f

Perhaps the lignan content. 

Source	Amount per 100 g
Flaxseed	300,000 µg (0.3 g)
Sesame seed	29,000 µg (29 mg)
Brassica vegetables	185 - 2321 µg
Grains	7 - 764 µg
Red wine	91 µg

Lignans are associated with a decreased risk of breast and prostate cancer.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2883619/pdf/nihms172360.pdf
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/92/1/141.full.pdf+html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18358071

 Lignans bind to things like DHT maybe and hence the reduction in testosterone. 

Then again, they are high in polyunsaturated fats which ive read decrease test.

I want to take it mainly for these reasons.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12442909

And in regards to phytoestrogen concerns of soy and maybe flaxseed

 

Men[edit]

Because of the phytoestrogen content, some studies have suggested that soybean ingestion may influence testosterone levels in men. However, a 2010 meta-analysis of 15 placebo controlled studies showed that neither soy foods nor isoflavone supplements alter measures of bioavailable testosterone or estrogen concentrations in men.^[166] It has been hypothesized that soy foods and enterolactone may increase the development of prostate cancer although no significant associations were observed for the soy isoflavones.^[167] Furthermore, soy consumption has been shown to have no effect on the levels and quality of sperm.^[168] A 2009 meta-analysis of the research on the association between soy consumption and prostate cancer risk in men concluded that "consumption of soy foods is associated with a reduction in prostate cancer risk in men."^[169]
 

[Pseudonym]

On 12/12/2015 at 6:46 PM, James2133 said:

Whats the deal. Does it raise or lower testosterone?

I really want to eat it for its omega 3 content and its omega 3:6 ratio, aswell as its protective affects on general health 

I don't consume animal products so I cant take fish products.

Cheers!

I can't answer your question on flax seed's effect on testosterone, although my gut feeling is that if there is any measurable effect, it's probably small enough that it won't make a huge difference in practical terms.

 

However, this may be of interest:

Quote

Omega 3 fatty acids in flax seed (as well as in Hemp Protein) are found in the form of Alpha-Linoleic Acid (ALA). Not only is ALA not sufficient to supplement on its own^[1], but ALA has to be converted by the body into a usable form, and the ratio of conversion from unusable form to usable is rather poor, somewhere in the range of 5-15%^[2][3]. Omega 3 supplements in the form of EPA and DHA are what the body tends to use for many of the benefits associated with Fish Oil.

 

For vegetarians and vegans, supplementing with DHA from algae can "markedly [enhance] the DHA status (of serum and platelets)" and "[provide] for the formation of substantial EPA"^[4]. Supplementation of ALA and/or GLA is not enough^[5].

http://examine.com/faq/can-i-eat-flax-seeds-instead-of-fish-or-fish-oil-for-omega-3s/