Precautions and Guidelines of Using Vedic Flax^TM
 

General advice (including Weight loss and Constipation)

Diverticulosis

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Lipid abnormalities

Hyperthyroidism

Hypothyroidism

Pain syndromes

Fibromyalgia

Osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis

Diabetes

Coumadin or anticoagulant drugs

Surgery

In general, because of the high fiber, excellent protein profile and the thermogenic properties of the Vedic Flax^TM, it is highly recommended to drink lots of water during the day. This will help regularize your bowel habits. In an individual who has a tendency toward constipation, this is something that has to be done. Everybody should start slow (eat 1 oz of Vedic Flax^TM once a day with 8 oz. of water the first week) and then increase to 2 oz./day the second week and so forth. If you start noticing abdominal discomfort or bloating with initial usage, increase your fluid intake even more and progress very slowly. This increase in water intake is very helpful especially if you also desire Weight Loss with Vedic Flax^TM.

It is advised, in general, to let your doctor know about your intent to use the flaxseed concoction, Vedic Flax^TM, as a nutritional supplement in your diet. This is especially important if you are already taking some prescription medicines. This could be communicated via the nurse who updates your history and medication list. This lets the doctor know that you are an individual who likes to take charge of your health. Believe me, it is a pleasure to have patients who are proactive in maintaining their health because it makes our job little easier. It would be helpful for your doctor to look at the actual package of Vedic Flax^TM or my website for some more details. You may raise the curiosity level of your doctor by telling them that the recipe is of a medical doctor who specializes in Family Medicine.

In a patient with a condition called diverticulosis, pathology of outpocketing of the colon develops. These little pockets can be seen as an incidental finding through a colonoscopy procedure (a routinely recommended procedure for Colon cancer screening at age 50). Patients with diverticulosis are usually asymptomatic. These little sac like pockets have the potential to become inflamed and infected if some undigested material gets trapped in them (now called diverticulitis). In general, the patient comes home after a colonoscopy with instructions to chew food for a longer period of time and avoid eating nuts and seeds to prevent any undigested pieces to get stuck in these little pockets. Having explained all that, flaxseed in the Vedic Flax^TM concoction is roasted and then ground well. Despite this method, there still are a few flaxseeds seen that escape the grinding process which actually enhance the aesthetic of the prepared food. It is recommended that a patient with diverticulosis diagnosis re-grinds theVedic Flax^TM concoction one more time before consumption.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a condition that comes in 3 different varieties. People with IBS can suffer from abdominal pains and bloating with diarrhea or with constipation or with both (alternating diarrhea with constipation). It is important that these people go slow and steady in portion size ofVedic Flax^TM along with drinking plenty of water with it. This is especially important for people who have an IBS of mostly constipation type. It is recommended that these people start out with 1 oz. of theVedic Flax^TM concoction for 6-7 days before progressing slowly upwards to a larger portion size.

People with IBS of mostly diarrhea type probably do not need a slow progression with Vedic Flax^TM but should not take more than 2 oz. ofVedic Flax^TM initially, and stay with that amount for at least one month before increasing the portion size. They may find that dividing up the dose works better. Some people have admitted to going “overboard” and then felt noxious, bloated and then some diarrhea. So go S-L-O-W!

Hyperlipidemia is another diagnosis where some people have asked questions and given feedback on this website. Flaxseed is generally excellent in increasing HDL (good cholesterol) and decreasing Triglycerides. It also decreases your LDL (bad cholesterol) but to a lower extent. Most medical professionals will agree that it is the individual with a low HDL where the real challenge lies as a clinician. Niacin does a pretty good job but for some patients the itching and hot flashes is not an acceptable side effect despite taking an aspirin beforehand. Statin medications (like Lipitor^® and Zocor^®) do a mediocre job with HDL reduction but if the main problem is low HDL cholesterol, why subject that patient to a Statin drug and the risk of the side effects?

Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) is a diagnosis where you definitely need to have a close follow up with your doctor in managing your labs, and even more so if you have some underlying or preexisting heart condition. Flaxseed will increase metabolic activity through thermogenics so it has the potential to put the heart in decompensation mode in that particular individual. Do not underestimate this diagnosis.

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is where you can clearly manage your labs with the help of your doctor by informing your intent to useVedic Flax^TM and doing before and after labs. It is important to be clear and consistent about portion size. If somebody is on one of the lowest dosages of thyroid replacement medicine, and no other preexisting conditions are known, your doctor may feel comfortable enough to take you off that medicine and try Vedic Flax^TM for 3 months.

Pain syndromes:

Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis (also called by a misnomer "old age arthritis") are not considered inflammatory pain conditions, at least, not initially. However, chronicity of these conditions leads to inflammation in the muscles and joints respectively. This is when the Vedic Flax^TM starts helping the pain by combating the inflammation. In osteoarthritis, once Vedic Flax^TM starts to be ingested regularly for 3 to 4 weeks, this is when a supervised exercise program should begin that focuses on strengthening the muscles to do the majority of the weight bearing work of the joints and reduce the “bone on bone” friction of the joints. It is important fibromyalgia patients exercise but they need to engage in a proper amount of exercise. They cannot go overboard with exercise. The level of exercise should be consistent and more stretching in nature like Pilates or Yoga where proper breathing is encouraged with lengthening of the muscles. Water intake is very important in fibromyalgia patients to avoid feeling like the “the dry kitchen sponge in the mornings”. Caffeine and alcohol should be avoided altogether. Vegetarian diet is encouraged in all pain syndromes. Magnesium deficiency is common in fibromyalgia patients. A proper ratio of calcium and magnesium needs to be maintained for optimal functioning of the muscles. A supplement containing calcium, vitamin D and magnesium should be taken with the evening meal. This will help in relaxing the skeletal muscles and therefore help with the sleep disturbances that many fibromyalgia patients have. Vitamin D is needed to absorb the calcium in our bodies.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis and it is very important to rule this arthritis out because best outcome of this disease is when it is diagnosed and treated appropriately with immunosuppressant drugs within first 6 months of the diagnosis. Your family doctor will refer you to a specialist, Rheumatologist, once he/she decides that your pain is not due to the usual osteoarthritis type of pain. Once the rheumatologist feels that you are doing fine with your maintenance therapy, he/she needs to be involved in your decision to add the Vedic Flax^TM nutritional supplement. Do not take Vedic Flax^TM without the specialist’s consent. Rheumatoid arthritis, as with other autoimmune triggered arthritis pain syndromes, need to be taken very seriously. In general, aim for 3 grams per day of Omega-3 recommended from supplements.

Diabetic patients are encouraged to take Vedic Flax^TM with the approval of their doctor who manages their HgAIc every 3 months. Most diabetic patients who are interested in adding Vedic Flax^TM to their diet are typically also the same patients who have become proactive about their preventative health. These patients are able to gauge their AccuCheck readings (blood sugar check by finger stick) and feel comfortable in adding Vedic Flax^TM somewhere in their routine. The majority of simple sugars in Vedic Flax^TM are from fructose (the type of sugar found in fruits) and therefore can be added at the end of a meal. The sweetener in Vedic Flax^TM is organic Agave nectar which has glycemic index (G.I.) of 11. Table sugar has G.I. of 65-85 depending on the refinement of the sugar in question. So, diabetics will expect to see a slow, gradual increase in blood sugar as desired and expected in foods that are high in complex carbohydrates. Vedic Flax^TM nutritional supplement is excellent for improving the typical lipid profile abnormality that doctors see in the blood work of diabetic patients. They usually have high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol. Vedic Flax^TM will also decrease the LDL cholesterol but to a lower extent compare to the beneficial improvement seen in triglycerides and HDL.

Coumadin or anticoagulant drugs – If already on Coumadin^® or Lovenox^® because of stroke, atrial fibrillation or blood clot type of medical history, do not take any Omega-3 supplements. High doses can cause excessive bleeding in some people.

Scheduled Surgery – It is recommended to stop taking Vedic Flax^TM or any other type of Omega-3 supplements at least one week before surgery to avoid bleeding complications.