Flaxmeal

[FreyaUSA]

Someone on another thread mentioned that flaxmeal has a lot of estrogen in it. Does this mean I should NOT be giving this to my two boys? I've been using it lately to replace bran and for the omega-3 it contains, but I've two growing boys and a 6 year old daughter. (I'm really not up on all this stuff and am worried now! ) SO CONFUSED!

[gf4life]

I was the one who mentioned it. I recently read an article in the paper that said they were doing a study where they were giving flaxmeal inn large doses to women who had has hysterectomys , paired with women on hormone replacement and they had the same relief of symptoms. Flax is evidently high in estrogen (as are soybeans and soy products), but I believe you would have to be giving them large amounts for it to affect them. My husband once had a problem with too much estrogen from soy, and he eats about 2 tbsp of ground flax meal everyday with no problems.

You could ask the doctor about it, but I doubt it is a problem.

God bless,

Mariann

[FreyaUSA]

Thank you, Mariann! Hmm, we use a lot of soy here too, how did your husband discover he was getting too much? (I'm beginning to think I need to go back to school and get a degree in nutrition!)

[gf4life]

About 5 years ago my husband had what is called gynecomastia (sp?). This is where the excess in estrogen caused him to start developing fatty tissue on his breast in the nipple area. Basically he was getting large breasts. (He wants large muscles in that area, but not fatty tissue! )The doctor was the one who told him it was caused by an excess of estrogen. Then he asked if my husband ate a lot of soy, because it is high in estrogen. He had been using a soy protein supplement daily for months. He quit using soy and has been fine ever since.

When I read about flax being high in estrogen I told him about it. He hasn't had any problems, but we know now to watch for them. I don't think the amount he uses is too much, so it should be fine.

I would ask the doctor about the effect of a lot of soy/flax/estrogen in your boys. It might not be a problem, but if it could become a problem, it would be nice to know and have the choice to avoid it. Nowadays they are adding soy to practically everything! It's hard for me, since I am allergic to soy, I tend to avoid it anyhow, but so many foods are adding soy now.

God bless,

Mariann

[traci]

Soy is high in an estrogen like compound, its not as if you are taking estrogen the hormone by eating it.

Many orientals eats pounds of soy a year and never have feminine characteristics in the men. The women dont have near the trouble with menopause either.

It is my understanding of gynecomastia that men who experience it are low in testosterone and other hormone inbalances, such as temporary raise in estrogen like substances. but men who suffer this should avoid estrogen like substances...

Just because you feed your sons flax does not mean they will grow breasts. The same is true of soy. Both contain phytoestrogen compounds. In fact this thing in flax is thought to inhibit estrogen production the kind that causes hormone driven cancers. Further more the lignans in Flax actually bind with testosterone just as it does estrogen and prevent some male cancers.

Having said that, I give my dogs flax seed oil, tons of it. We breed a few litters per year and my boys are very masculine. I realize your children are not dogs, please forgive the comparison.

I would not worry about feeding your boys Flax. It is a very beneficial thing for men and women.

[gf4life]

I agree that flax is very healthy and I am not saying don't use it, but I am saying to be aware of any possible side effects. This is true of any supplements that are not ordinarily a part of your diet. Certainly the benefits are more common than the negative effects, but they are there. I use flax with no problems. But I have yet to give it to my kids on a regular basis. And like I said, my husband has been eating it daily for about 6 months with no ill effects.

It is my understanding of gynecomastia that men who experience it are low in testosterone and other hormone inbalances, such as temporary raise in estrogen like substances. but men who suffer this should avoid estrogen like substances...

My husband's case was interesting, since he did not have low testosterone or any other hormone imbalances. Yet his problem went away when he stopped consuming soy. And coincidently he is asian. Although he doesn't have the gynecomastia now, he does have other symptoms that appear to be hormone related, yet nothing shows abnormal in his tests. The doctors are stumped. Any ideas Traci? You seem to be very knowledgable on the subject.

God bless,

Mariann