I stumbled onto flax seed oil after a good friend of mine was given the suggestion of taking it by her personal trainer. Right around this time, I was diagnosed with eczema. I figured I’d give flax seed oil a shot too just to be “healthier” not expecting it to help clear up my eczema. After several weeks of taking flax seed oil each day, I began to notice the trouble areas of my skin beginning to clear up and smooth out.

The dry, itchy, flaky skin was disappearing. Taking flax seed oil had already become a habit so I actually had to ask myself what I was doing different in my diet. After I realized it was the flax seed, I immediately looked up some of the known benefits of taking it:

• Rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids
• Rich source of lignan
• Helps lower cholesterol
• Helps protect against high blood pressure
• Improves calcium absorption
• Helps treat Eczema, Psoriasis, and Dandruff
• and much more!

Results vary of course and what works for one person may not work for another. The benefits definitely outweigh any chance of negative side effects but it’s always good to ask your doctor if you can take flax seed oil on a daily basis. As for myself, I am a fan and will continue to consume it. The taste is pretty bad so I usually take it by the tablespoon and chase it with some fruit juice. It’s also great to blend in with your favorite protein shakes or smoothies.

There are about 120 calories per tablespoon of flax seed oil so if you are counting calories, don’t forget to add it in. It’s easy to overlook since it is a supplement.

I just read a very interesting article about waste products being sold as health products. Supplements aren’t requirements to good health but many health-conscious individuals will include certain supplements in their diet for specific reasons. I take flax seed oil everyday because it clears up my eczema. Before I discovered flax seed I was using dangerous prescription creams that only cleared it up temporarily. Flax seed oil does wonders for my skin and I will continue to take it.

Others consume supplements like whey protein (very popular), creatine, and cod liver oil just to name a few. My grandmother used to make me take cod liver oil as a kid (the liquid kind) with a spoonful of peanut butter to wash it down with - disgusting! Getting back to the article, I was surprised by whey and creatine, two very popular supplements on the market today:

Whey Protein

Another serious toxic byproduct is whey protein, a byproduct of the dairy industry. Whey is milk protein that is discarded from the production of cow milk, a serious toxin to the human body. You can commonly find whey protein in your commercial brand health food stores and local gyms and fitness centers. The dairy industry targets athletes for their whey protein byproduct; perhaps figuring athletes generally are not the brightest individuals. Regardless, whey protein has no business in the human body. It is a waste byproduct and toxin to the human body. Beware of all those protein bars and beverages containing whey. The dairy industry, like all other byproduct waste industries, are using people as trash dumpsters and canisters to rid itself of waste that would otherwise cost it millions of dollars to dispose of. [Source: dherbs.com]

CREATINE

This crap is derived from pig blood and pig brain and muscle tissue in some cases. Pigs are a great source of steroids and other things that bulk up the body. This is why Creatine is a favorite product of bodybuilders; many of who will do almost anything for the desired muscularly built and toned body. [Source: dherbs.com]

Of course doing your own research is always good because you should form your own opinions when it comes to what you put into your body. However, I did find this article really enlightening. You can read the entire article below:

Beware of Waste Products Sold as Health Products

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

image credit: cronfeld

There is no doubt about it - whole foods are always the better choice when deciding between them and supplements. What many people fail to realize is that supplements are just that - supplementing your diet. For example, you wouldn’t cut out protein in foods to only take it in powder form. Many times bodybuilders or strength trainers incorporate whey protein powders into their diets as a convenient way to consume protein until they can get it from their food.

The same goes for vitamins. It’s always a good idea to seek your vitamins from the foods that you eat and supplement with a multi-vitamin rather than depending only on the vitamin supplements. I conducted interviews with fitness professionals on my other fitness blog and they provided great advice about supplements:

What role do you feel supplements play in getting fit?

NOT A BIG FAN OF SUPPLEMENTS - I EAT REALLY WELL. ONE THING I TRY TO DO IS FIND WHAT THE SUPPLEMENTS ARE SELLING (INGREDIENTS) AND THEN FIND THE FOODS THAT NATURALLY HAVE THOSE COMPONENTS IN THEM. YOU WOULD BE SUPRISED THAT BY JUST EATING MANY VEGETABLES, LEAN MEATS, NUTS, BERRIES, FRUITS HAS EVERY THING YOU NEED. [Stew Smith - CSCS, former Navy SEAL]

Could you describe your diet? Do you take supplements as well?

Only clean fresh food. Having a busy schedule keeps me from eating home less than I would prefer. However, I watch what I eat and stay completely away from sweets, fats, and junk food. I eat lean meat, fish, vegetables and fruit. I don’t add any sugar, salt or cheese to anything.

Not too many supplements; nothing replaces real foods. I take fish oil capsules, flaxseeds and Amino Vital energy gels as needed. I drink at least a gallon of water a day. [Rick Seedman, PT]

Another thing to think about is how much do you trust the supplement manufacturers? Do you really know what all goes into creating some of these supplements? That is just something to consider. As for myself, I do take flax seed oil daily as well as whey protein every now and then. Once you begin eating clean, you will definitely increase the amount of vitamins, minerals, and protein needed on a daily basis.