Waihi Bush Organic Farm

I've noticed you do not have dosages on your bottles, why is that?

In New Zealand and Australia we are regulated as a food - think the good fats such as olive oil, Avocado or a nut oil. We are all rich in Omega 3 and can keep you healthy and vibrant when included in a balanced diet. Over use may see you experience a more frequent bowel movement but if you drank olive oil in the same way I am sure the same would happen!

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Why is your flax seed oil in a capsule?

We bought the capsule out for convenience and for customers on the run. It is food in a capsule. Again this is regulated under the New Zealand and Australia Food Safety Authority and therefore you will notice we do not dose. People use this in a couple if ways, some take them daily, some split them open and use the oil whilst travelling.

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Can I use the flax seed oils externally?

Yes you may rub on the skin (take care with broken skin). Use only a small amount as it will go rancid on the skin if not absorbed and because it is oil it will stain clothing. Using in this way means the Omega-3 is absorbed directly into the blood stream and therefore bypasses the digestive system making it readily available for the body. For more information on skin disorders see FAQ Health Concerns > Skin Conditions

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Can I freeze flax seed oil products?

Freezing the oil prolongs the freshness of both the oil and fibre.

The oil may become slightly opaque and thicker when frozen, although it doesn't affect the structure of the Omega-3s.

The fibre never freezes solid and is still free flowing in the freezer.

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Can taking flax seed oils cause any ill effects?

We always recommend that the oils are taken with food - taking it from the spoon on an empty stomach can cause nausea in some people.

Some people find that taking flax seed oil causes diarrhoea. If this occurs, reduce your intake until bowel function is normalised.

Where liver function is poor, taking too much flax seed oil may over load the liver with fats. Massaging flax seed oil into the skin allows the body to absorb and use the oil without overloading the liver.

Some people may be allergic to flax seed, although this is reportedly rare. Signs of an allergic reaction might include rash, itching or shortness of breath. If any of these occur after taking flax seed oil or fibre and nothing else in the diet or environment has been changed, stop taking the product.

Gamma linolenic acid is not recommended for people who suffer from temporal lobe epilepsy. Such people should therefore use flax original rather than the flax boost or flax magic blends. For more information see FAQs > Health Concerns

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Do I need to take anything else when using flax seed oil products?

You do not need a drink when you take the oil, however you should never take it on an empty stomach as this may make you feel nauseous - always take with food.

When taking flax fibre you must ensure you take it with a glass of liquid preferably water. This is because the fibre can absorb up to 13 times it's own weight in water and could cause cramping and constipation.

There are also co-factors required for the body to utilise Omega-3 and Omega-6.

• Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 (found in whole grains, meats, yeasts) and Pantothenic acid (found in egg yolk, liver, kidneys)
• Vitamin A (found in yellow & orange vege), Vitamin C (found in fruit & vegetables, especially tomatoes, citrus, berries and peppers) & Vitamin E (found in vegetable oil, nuts, whole grains and green leafy vegetables)
• Zinc (found in meat, fish and seeds e.g. pumpkin)
• Iron (found in meat and green leafy vegetables)
• Potassium (found in fruit and vegetables)

Ideally most, if not all of these will already be in your diet in sufficient quantities, but often in disease or sicknesses there are multiple deficiencies operating.

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How do I store waihi bush organic farm flax seed oil products?

Once opened waihi bush organic farm flax seed oil products (including flax fibre) must be kept in the fridge and must be consumed within five weeks. Oxygen turns the oil rancid so the bottle must be kept closed except during use.

As with any gelatine, the capsules will go mouldy with prolonged contact with oxygen so must also be kept sealed unless in use. Capsules do not need to be refrigerated but must be kept away from a direct heat source and direct sunlight (don't keep in the glove box of the car!).

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How should I use flax seed oil?

Flax seed oil is delicious mixed into your food, and can enhance the flavour because it adds a creaminess.

Try these ideas to instantly improve the nutritive value of your meal:

• Drizzle over hot vegetables
• Use to mash potatoes instead of butter or milk
• Mix into soups or stews (after cooking is finished)
• Add to porridge
• Blend into smoothies
• Stir into yoghurt or cottage cheese with fresh fruit (the sulphur containing proteins combine with Omega-3 to help the transport of oxygen in the body)
• Add into fresh fruit or vegetable juice
• Use as a dipping oil for fresh bread
• Drizzle over hot pasta
• Mix into butter for spreading

Take a look at our recipe page for more ideas.

Flax seed oil can be used on cold, warm and hot foods just prior to serving, but should never be cooked or fried as this destroys their health giving properties and makes them toxic. Never reheat food containing flax seed oil.

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How much flax seed oil is appropriate for pregnant or breastfeeding women, babies and toddlers?

We can only give rough guidelines on how much oil to take as everyone is unique in their requirement for essential fatty acids. It is better to start off with a little and build up slowly to minimise the likelihood of adverse reactions such as nausea or diarrhoea.

Suggested amounts are:

• Baby: teaspoon/day. For babies, massaging with flax seed oil is a good way to obtain its health benefits, or else a little oil can be mixed in with their feed. If mum is breast feeding, the good fats will be passed on to baby in her milk.
• Toddler: tablespoon/day
• Pregnant/Lactating Women: same as any adult

Note: flax bloom is the product of choice for pregnant or lactating mothers and flax magic is recommended for small children because it is easier for a developing body to utilise.

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How much waihi bush organic farm flax seed oil should I take?

We recommend 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil a day (15-30ml).

When first taking flax seed oil, we advise that you start off slowly with a small amount (e.g. 1 teaspoon a day), and build up the amount over time. Excessive amounts of flax seed oil may cause diarrhoea or nausea. Do not take on an empty stomach as this can cause nausea in some people.

If you prefer to take flax seed oil capsules, we recommend 2-5 1000mg capsules, up to 3 times per day for an adult; 1-2 capsules, 2 times a day for a child 3-18 years old. Be aware that small children can choke on capsules.

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How much waihi bush organic farm flax fibre should I take?

We recommend 1 tablespoon of flax fibre per day. However because of the high lignan content (lignan's have a hormone regulating effect) pregnant women should seek advice from a health care professional before taking this product.

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How much Omega-3 and Omega-6 do I need?

We need to consume both adequate amounts and also the right balance of the Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids (EFAs).

Firstly, what amount is adequate? In New Zealand, the Ministry of Health has not defined a recommended dietary intake for the EFAs. It is prudent to ensure the regular consumption of foods containing both the EFAs.

What constitutes an 'ideal' balance of Omega-3 to Omega-6 has also not been defined. Various recommendations have been made, ranging from 1:1 to 1:10. Experts do agree however that the typical Western type diet is too high in Omega-6 and low in Omega-3.

The reasons for this imbalance are:

• Many of the foods we eat are manufactured using vegetable oils, which tend to be high in Omega-6. In the past, saturated animal fats were used instead. This has decreased due to the prevailing health advice warning the population to reduce their intake of animal fats and also due to the economics of cheap vegetable oil production
• The types of foods we eat have changed. Convenience foods such as chips, pastries and biscuits are more likely to be consumed, and are usually cooked with Omega-6-rich vegetable oils
• We do not eat as many Omega-3 containing foods as we did when we were hunter-gatherers - i.e. fish, wild game and large amounts of fresh green matter

For many people it is therefore appropriate to re-establish a dietary balance between Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats by increasing Omega-3 intake. flax boost and flax original are designed with this in mind.

For those on a diet which is not high in Omega-6, flax balance may be a better choice as it provides a 1:1 ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 for long-term health maintenance.

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Is the flax used in your products New Zealand native flax?

No. The flax used in our products, also known as linseed, is the plant Linum usitatissimum. In New Zealand, the totally unrelated plant Phormium tenax is called New Zealand flax because it is useful for making fibres, just as linseed is used to make linen.

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Is the packaging recyclable?

Bottles, lids and labels are all recyclable.

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Isn't fat bad for you?

Fats fulfil many important functions in our bodies and we cannot survive without them. Fats are blamed for many health problems, but it is now clear that this is a dangerous over-simplification. Some fats are healthy; others are unhealthy.

Healthy fats include the two essential fatty acids (EFAs) alpha linolenic acid and linoleic acid, which must be obtained from the diet and are both present in flax seed oil.

As EFAs are sensitive to light, air (oxygen), and heat, they need to be pressed, packaged, stored and used with care. Otherwise they become oxidised (rancid), which makes them toxic. waihi bush organic farm flax seed oils are treated with the utmost care during pressing and bottling, and are tested for freshness prior to bottling, so you can be confident that they are health-enhancing.

For more information on Weight Loss and flax seed oil go to FAQs > Health Concerns > Weight Loss

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What does flax seed oil look and taste like?

It is a clear, golden oil with a pleasant nutty flavour. Added to food such as porridge, mashed potato, yoghurt or smoothies, it gives a delicious creamy texture.

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What are Essential Fatty Acids and why do I need them?

Certain fatty acids are defined as 'essential' because:

• The body cannot make them
• They are required for normal cell, tissue, gland, and organ function
• They must be provided from outside the body, through food or supplements
• Deficiency results in progressive deterioration of health

According to the above definition there are only two essential fatty acids or EFAs. One is the Omega-3 EFA alpha linolenic acid. The other is the Omega-6 EFA linoleic acid.

The body converts these 'parent' Omega-3 and Omega-6 EFAs into several 'child' fatty acids with important functions in the body. 'Children' of Omega-3 include stearidonic acid (found in blackcurrant seed oil) and EPA and DHA (found in high fat, cold water fish). 'Children' of Omega-6 include GLA (found in borage seed oil, blackcurrant seed oil, and evening primrose oil), DGLA, and AA (found in meat, eggs, and dairy products, as well as in fish).

flax boost contains flax seed, blackcurrant seed and borage seed oils for a superb fatty acid profile consisting of both the Omega-3 and Omega-6 EFAs and their 'children'. This makes it easy for the body to utilise.

flax original contains flax seed oil, providing around 3 times as much Omega-3 as Omega-6 - good for topping up deficient Omega-3.

flax balance contains flax seed and safflower oils, providing equal amounts of the Omega-3 and Omega-6 EFAs - for long-term balanced intake of the EFAs.

flax magic contains seed oils from flax, hemp, golden flax, borage, blackcurrant and natural banana flavour. This blend has been carefully balanced to provide optimum health for young bodies.

flax bloom contains seed oils from flax, pumpkin, golden flax, blackcurrant, evening primrose and coconut. This blend will ensure both mother and child receive the correct balance of essential fatty acids for healthy brain, eye and nervous system development of the foetus and ongoing good health for the mother during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

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What are the Functions of Essential Fatty Acids?

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) perform the following functions in the body:

• Energy Production. They help with endurance, recovery from exercise and mental stamina
• Brain Function. Benefits include elevated mood, lifted depression, increased calmness, better handling of stress, less hyperactivity, better focus, better mental processing, faster learning, increased intelligence, better concentration, and improved motor coordination. EFAs are also required for vision
• Skin, Hair, and Nails. EFAs are required for healthy skin and hair, and are required for normal nail growth. They moisturise skin and prevent dryness
• Cardiovascular Health. Omega-3 fatty acids can decrease many cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including arrhythmia, high triglycerides, blood pressure and platelet stickiness
• Insulin Function. Omega-3 helps to improve insulin sensitivity in diabetics
• Weight Management. EFAs help reduce fat production in the body. They also increase fat burning and heat production in the body, and shift the body from burning glucose to burning fats
• Digestion. EFAs improve gut integrity, decrease gut inflammation, and decrease 'leaky gut' that can lead to allergies
• Allergies. EFAs reduce symptoms of allergies
• Inflammation. Omega-3 fats reduce inflammation
• Immune System. Omega-3 fats help to regulate the immune system and can help with both low immunity and an over response of the immune system (autoimmunity)
• Injury. EFAs speed the healing of injuries
• Bone Minerals. Omega-3 fats improve bone mineral retention, thereby inhibiting the development of osteoporosis
• Stress. EFAs improve the stress response. People report feeling calmer, getting stressed less easily, dealing with stressful situations more calmly, and losing their temper less often. EFAs improve sleep in some people
• Hormones. EFAs can improve hormone function
• Reproduction. EFAs are required for sperm formation, the female cycle, and pregnancy

For more information on Health Concerns go to FAQs > Health Concerns

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What happens when we don't get enough essential fatty acids (EFAs)?

No cell, tissue, gland, or organ can function normally without EFAs. According to Udo Erasmus, one of the pioneers promoting the importance of EFAs to human nutrition, symptoms of deficiency include:

• Dry skin
• Constipation
• Low energy levels
• Brittle hair and hair loss
• Poor nail growth
• Deterioration of liver and kidneys
• Behavioural changes due to brain deterioration
• Imbalanced immune system, resulting in more infections, poorer wound healing, and increased cancer
• Digestion problems, inflammation, bloating, allergies, autoimmune conditions
• Bone mineral loss
• Reproductive failure in males and females
• Retarded growth of children
• Tingling in arms and legs due to nerve deterioration
• Vision and learning problems
• Insulin resistance
• Increased risk of overweight
• Increased cancer risk
• Increased cardiovascular risk
• Decreased ability to cope with stress
• In mental illness, increased symptoms
• Decreased lung function
• Decreased tissue oxygenation

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What are lignans?

Lignans are phytoestrogens which are converted in the intestines to SDG, a potent antioxidant substance with a hormone-like structure. Phytoestrogens are compounds found naturally in the plant world that have a mild oestrogenic activity in the human body.

Flax fibre is a rich source of lignans. Research is linking lignans with hormone balancing and immune boosting effects.

For more information on lignans go to FAQs > Technical > Flax Lignans

What is the shelf life of waihi bush organic farm flax seed products?

The oil, capsules and fibre have a shelf life of 13 months unopened if stored according to our recommendations (i.e. away from direct sunlight and a direct heat source at no greater temperature than 20°C).

Crop and Food Research Ltd in Lincoln, Christchurch have done extensive testing and we have revised our policy regarding refrigeration on the shelf and extended our shelf life following these results.

Once opened the oils and fibre must be kept refrigerated and used within five weeks. The capsules do not require refrigeration but must be stored cool and dry.

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Which blend of waihi bush organic farm flax seed oils should I take?

Use our Matrix for a quick and easy way to find out which is the best blend for you.

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Which is better: fish or flax seed oil?

Fish oils are often recommended because they contain the Omega-3 derivatives EPA and DHA rather than the Omega-3 precursor alpha linolenic acid (ALA) found in flax seed oil. The thinking is that if these derivatives are taken directly, the body does not have to make them from the precursor.

It is however beneficial to directly consume some ALA because it is thought to have specific functions in the body.

While there is some controversy about the efficiency of the body's conversion from ALA to EPA, some studies and anecdotal evidence suggesting that flax seed oil helps to reduce inflammation indicate that this occurs adequately in most people.

There are sectors of the population who may have a compromised ability to convert the Omega-3 and Omega-6 precursors.

These include people who suffer from health problems linked to:

• Stress
• Poor diet
• Vitamin/mineral deficiency
• Smoking
• Alcohol intake
• Hormone imbalance
• Allergies
• Diabetes
• And many more

As a vegetarian alternative to fish oil we have formulated flax boost and flax magic. These products contain stearidonic acid and gamma linolenic acid, Omega-3 and Omega-6 derivatives that by-pass the first step in conversion.

flax boost is appropriate for use by anyone with a chronic health condition because their metabolic systems are likely to be less efficient. flax magic is ideal for small children, as the metabolic systems required to perform the conversion are not fully developed in the young. flax bloom is recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Our flax seed oil beats fish on a number of counts:

• Our flax seed is grown organically and is free of pesticides and other toxins so there are no concerns about contamination with dioxins, PCBs or heavy metals
• Flax seed is sustainably farmed and depletes no resources
• Flax seed contains the primary Omega-3 from which all secondary Omega-3s are made
• Flax seed also contains Omega-6 and 9 which fish does not
• Both blackcurrant and fish contain secondary Omega-3, which by pass the first step in the conversion from primary to secondary Omega-3. Blackcurrant also has secondary Omega-6 as does borage. (These are contained in flax boost and flax magic)
• waihi bush organic farm flax seed oil products are a vegetarian source of Omega-3
• Flax seed oil is less fragile than fish oils, which oxidise extremely readily. Furthermore, we handle our products with special care to protect their integrity
• More versatile - it can easily be added to your daily foods
• Pleasant flavour enhances foods - no fishy burps!
• The flax seed used to create our products is grown here in New Zealand, and all manufacturing is done in New Zealand too

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Where is the linseed grown?

All linseed used by Functional Whole Foods New Zealand Ltd is currently grown in New Zealand, from Hawkes Bay down to West Otago.

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Why should I take waihi bush organic farm flax seed oil?

We think our flax seed oils are simply the best! We are passionate about our products and have developed rigorous production and quality control processes to protect the fragile EFAs so that the oil reaches you in perfect condition. waihi bush organic farm flax seed oils:

• Are formulated in a number of different blends, allowing you to tailor your essential fatty acid intake
• Contain Omega-3, Omega-6 and Omega-9
• Taste fresh - not bitter which is a sign the oil has started to oxidise
• Contain naturally occurring Vitamin E
• Are free from cholesterol and trans fatty acids
• Are cold pressed and unrefined
• Are a vegetarian source of Omega-3 (excluding capsules)
• Are certified organic by AgriQuality and therefore free from toxic residues
• Are farmed sustainably, depleting no natural resources
• Are controlled by Functional Whole Foods New Zealand Ltd from seed to product dispatch, with complete traceability
• Are manufactured in a GMO free process
• Are manufactured in a facility with a HACCP Food Safety Programme

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DISCLAIMER: This information has been compiled in good faith, based on current research findings. It is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified health practitioner.

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