Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the dietary fiber in flax so good for my health?
Flax contains both insoluble and soluble fiber. Insoluble fiber lessens the incidence of colon cancer and rectal cancer by binding bile acids as well as by increasing stool bulk and speeding transit time. Soluble fiber lowers serum cholesterol levels, nourishes favorable bacteria, slows the rate of sugar entering the circulatory system, and binds heavy metals.

ENRECO™ ground, stabilized flax seed has a high mucilage (soluble fiber) content. Mucilage is a gum-like substance located beneath the seed's outer coating. It has the ability to buffer excess acid, acts as a natural laxative to soothe and protect the intestinal lining, and improves regularity without side effects. Flax mucilage prevents reabsorption of bile acids, reduces absorption of cholesterol from foods and/or increases the amount of cholesterol excreted. Flax mucilage aids in the stabilization and modulation of blood glucose.

What is the difference between flax oil and flax seeds?
We promote the whole flax seed because the whole seed offers more nutrition. Lignans and dietary fiber (soluble and insoluble) are not present in flax oil. Yet, in the seed, these are found in generous quantities. Flax oil is very unstable and prone to oxidation. Our flax seed is stabilized before it's ground to give it a six-month plus shelf life.

What exactly are antioxidants and free radicals and how do they affect my health?
Generally speaking, antioxidants are good for your health, and free radicals are bad. Free radical oxidative damage is a major causative agent of cancer, arthritis and other degenerative diseases, according to the latest scientific evidence. The evidence so far is that free radicals damage genes and activate "bad" genes, whereas antioxidants protect genes and activate "good" genes. Because genes contain the biological instructions for how our bodies work, this research demonstrates that free radicals and antioxidants function at the core of our existence.

A combination of high-powered anti-oxidants (like those found in ULTRA OMEGA BALANCE) is the best method. The supreme anti-oxidant is polyphenols. Others are tocopherols, tocotrienols, oryzanol and lignans. Different antioxidants protect against different types of free radicals in different parts of cells and in different places in the body. A mixture of powerful antioxidants is more effective because of "antioxidant synergism" (a term coined by research biochemist, Dr. Richard A. Passwater, PhD) which means-the sum is greater than the parts.

How is antioxidant power measured?
The best way to measure antioxidants is by their Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). This combines the power of all the anti-oxidants present to quench free radical oxygen molecules. Diets containing higher ORAC values (ULTRA OMEGA BALANCE has an ORAC value of 525) lead to greater longevity, according to researchers at Tufts University, Boston, MA.

Why do you include soy extract in ULTRA OMEGA BALANCE™?
The soy extract we use is called "Heart of Soy" and is naturally refined extruded whole non-GMO soybeans. "Heart of Soy" has the most health benefits of any part of the soybean. With all the documented research that has been done on the individual protein compounds found in "Heart of Soy", it is our belief that by keeping them intact with all their other natural family of compounds found in the bean, the benefits far outweigh those of other compounds processed out and sold separately. There have been many reports of soy protein lowering cholesterol levels, blood pressure and improving liver health. We believe that incorporating "Heart of Soy" into our ULTRA OMEGA BALANCE formula promotes the lowering of cholesterol, lowers the risk of heart disease, protects against irreversible cell damage, aids in the treatment of arthritis, menopause and provides many other benefits.

Scientists agree that foods rich in soy protein can have considerable value to heart health, a fact backed by dozens of controlled clinical studies. A yearlong review of the available human studies in 1999 prompted FDA to allow a health claim on food labels stating that a daily diet containing 25 grams of soy protein, also low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. Soy protein products are good substitutes for animal products because, unlike some other beans, soy offers a "complete" protein profile. Soybeans contain all the amino acids essential to human nutrition, which must be supplied in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the human body. Soy protein products can replace animal-based foods -- which also have complete proteins but tend to contain more fat, especially saturated fat -- without requiring major adjustments elsewhere in the diet.

Much of the research to date has examined dietary soy in the form of whole foods such as tofu, "soymilk", or as soy protein added to foods, and the public health community mostly concurs that these whole foods can be worthwhile additions to a healthy diet. The controversy on soy stems mainly from the focus on specific components of soy, processed out and sold, not the whole food or intact soy protein (which is what we use).

I have heard some people say flax seeds should not be eaten because they contain enzyme inhibitors, is this true?
Flax does contain B-6 inhibitors. That's why we fortify ENRECO flax with B-6 to overcome the inhibitor. FDA fed diet of 40% flax to rats from conception to early adulthood, and found no enzyme inhibitors.

I read in your abstracts that pregnancy is one of the conditions associated with Omega-3 deficiency. What does that mean exactly?
During pregnancy a woman's body becomes deficient in Omega-3 because the fast-growing brain of her baby utilizes all available Omega-3. The solution is to add extra Omega-3 to the diet during pregnancy. The safest way to add Omega-3 is from ground, stabilized flax seeds. The whole ground seeds offer more nutrition. Lignans and dietary fiber (soluble and insoluble), for example, are not present in flax oil. Yet in the seed, these are found in generous quantities.

We recommend adding a daily amount of 2,000 to 3,000 mg Omega-3 to your diet. Our product, ULTRA OMEGA BALANCE, would be a wonderful supplement because it not only contains enough Omega-3 but is rich in natural antioxidants and vitamins and minerals.

How long will it be until we notice a difference after adding ALENA to our diet?
You'll notice higher energy levels and recovery faster in 2-5 days. However, it takes two to three weeks to obtain the full benefit of ALENA.

Where does ALENA derive its energy?
ALENA Energy Drink mix is formulated to provide time-released energy for two to four hours. This nutritional effect is accomplished by furnishing a precise combination of simple and complex carbohydrates and unsaturated fats. As recently completed research revealed, certain fats are actually excellent energy sources for athletes. For example, within the first two hours after ingesting ALENA, the mono-unsaturated fats in ALENA (linolenic acid) produce five times more usable energy than typical saturated fats. Plus, the athlete gets an extra boost because fat metabolism doesn't affect the glucose insulin system which in turn, can cause low blood sugar.

Will the use of ALENA affect my training level?
Athletes daily consuming ALENA report having more energy, more endurance, reduced stiffness and experience a faster more complete recovery after an intense workout. In addition, athletes observe less cramping and burning muscles related to lactate build up.

Why is the Omega-3 (Alpha-Linolenic Acid) in ALENA important to me as an athlete?
The positive effects of Omega-3 are numerous. Here are but a few of the benefits derived from the regular, daily intake of Omega-3:

1. Medical experts have long recognized the excellent anti-inflammatory properties of Omega-3. This is important to the athlete when one considers the constant stretching, straining and conditioning of muscle fibers.
2. Animal studies recently completed demonstrated how Omega-3 in the diet affects the immune system. Omega-3 was added to test diets, a two-fold increase in antibody production was experienced. This research may partially explain why athletes who regularly take ALENA Energy Drink have better health.
3. Researchers have found that Omega-3 improves memory, skin tone, and learning ability. This is very important for the high mental concentration necessary for athletes.

Can ALENA be used with high fiber foods and sports drinks?
ALENA contains soluble fiber, which has been shown to prevent intestinal wall damage from high fiber foods, prevents constipation and prevents upset stomach from drinks that contain sugar and citric acid.