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Borage OilBorage Oil, Essential Fatty Acids And Gamma Linolenic Acid, GLABorage oil or Starflower oil is derived from the seeds of Borago officinalis plant. It is one of the richest source of GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid) - a long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, one of the omega 6 fatty acid and an essential fatty acid. Gamma linolenic acid is responsible for the benefits of borage seed oil. Gamma linolenic acid is found in very few plants like black currant, hemp, borage and evening primrose. GLA is present in 20-27% concentration of total fatty acid content of borage oil. Most borage oil supplements contain it as 24% standardized GLA. Good Sources Of Gamma Linolenic Acid:GLA is found in three most common substances - borage oil, evening primrose oil and black currant oil. The potency of each of these three seed oils depend on the concentration of gamma linolenic acid in the seed oil. Borage oil is the best source as it contains 24% GLA of borage oil, followed by black currant oil 18% and evening primrose oil with 10% of gamma linolenic acid. Next comes purity and safety. Black currant oil is not good over evening primrose as the former contains a gamma linolenic acid inhibitor that is why it should be last among the three oils. Get in the practice of getting oils and other supplements from those stores and manufacturers that offer appropriate information the packet. There should be disclosure of the method of extraction of seed oil as well. The Extraction Method Of Borage Seed Oils:There are three popular methods of extraction of borage oil from seeds. The expressed method of extraction of borage oil is the best as there are little chances of unnatural products. Expressed oils don't contain chemicals or don't undergo refining process like refined vegetable oils. Chemical Hexane To Extract Borage Oil:In this method, cracked seeds are submerged in Hexane. Then this is evaporated slowly and this method yields 90% oil. It is the most common method to get oil and it is used with evening primrose oil as the seeds are small and with little oil. Super Critical Fluid Extraction (SCFE) Method For Borage Oil:Super Critical Fluid Extraction method is a high tech method in which oil recovery is claimed to be 95%. The pregrinded seeds are put under intense pressure of 6000-10,000 psi in the presence of carbon dioxide gas. Under these conditions, Carbon dioxide gas turns into liquid and the pregrinded seeds are found submerged into liquid gas. Expeller Processed Method To Get Borage Oil:This is the oldest method and it employs simple mechanical method for extracting the borage seed oils. In India, we get most of oils by this method from seeds. Seed oils are saved from the damaging effects of light, heat, chemicals and high pressure. The only economic limitation is that the yield is comparatively lower. Essential Fatty Acids And Dietary Recommendations:All the lipids that we consume are digested to simpler molecules of fatty acids and triglycerides. Some types of fatty acid can be synthesized in our body and some fatty acids can't be synthesized in our body. That is why the later class of fatty acids is called Essential Fatty Acids or EFAs and the former class as non-essential fatty acids. There are two main classes of Essential fatty acids - Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. One recent survey reported that typical 80% of US population is deficient in EFAs and need supplements for that deficiency. However, this fact appears contrary to the fact that US citizens should not take more than 20-30% of their calories from fat. EFAs are the polyunsaturated fats or good fats as compared to saturated fats or bad fats. Sources of Omega-3 fatty acids are cod liver oil, fish oils, flax oil, flaxseed or leafy green vegetables. Some nuts also contain Omega-3's (walnuts). Omega-6 fatty acids sources are corn oil, wheat germ oil, soy oil, borage oil, evening primrose oil, blackcurrant oil plus many of the other grocery store bought cooking oils. Essential fatty acids are often called by their chemical names. Omega-3 compounds are:
Omega-6 compounds are:
Flaxseed oil is world's richest source of Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are converted to hormone like substances Prostaglandins that are important in regulation of several of physiological processes and disease related processes. Some individuals who are deficient in Co-factor nutrients, vitamins and mineral nutrients and those who suffer form some diseases like diabetes, hypertension, asthma, sclerosis, cystic fibrosis and degenerative disorders and aging do need these supplements as well as Omega 6 fatty acids. Otherwise Omega 6 fatty acid like Linolenic acid found in flax seed oil could not be converted or used for production of Prostaglandins. That is why the ideal essential fatty acids supplement should be a mix of Omega 3 fatty acids and gamma linolenic acid (which is an Omega 6 fatty acid). Gamma linolenic acid can bypass the conversion process to Prostaglandins in an easier way. So a mix of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids is far superior, ideal and more effective. Borage oil is the richest source of gamma linolenic acid. Borage seed oil has 20-27% of Gamma linolenic acid.
Borage Oil - Gamma Linolenic Acid And Their Research Based Actions
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