Caution With Flax Seeds?

[hrcmom]

My near-one-year-old ds is showing signs of some food sensitivies or allergies, so we're introduce new foods very carefully. I'd like to begin giving him flax seed oil or ground flax seeds with his breakfast cereal, but I'm worried. Are flax seeds a high allergen? Are they similar to nuts? Does the oil differ from the seeds as an allergen? Any info. would be very useful. Thanks.

[vegmom]

I think seeds are different from nuts. Can't be sure though. Ground flax is best because the oils are able to be digested. Otherwise they just pass through the colon undigested. Try a bit and see.

[cathe]

Seeds are different from nuts and are much less likely to be allergenic.

[circlemama]

Sesame seeds are the #9 allergen, right after the top 8. I have heard of many children who are sensitive to flax and sunflower seeds.

[Siana]

I have a sensitivity to flax seed oil if taken in a large enough doses (max adult dose, 2-3 Tbsp./day gives me stomach cramps etc.). I have heard that this is not entirely uncommon (among adults anyway and the reaction might be different). If I can find the article that discusses this I shall post here.

Other than flax oil, you may try to give an oil blend of Omega-3 and -6 oils. I'm currently taking an oil blend that does have flax seed oil in it, but I don't have any issues with the dosage. But that's just my case!

Ground flax is great, but adds fibre to the diet as well, so you'd have to make sure there is also adequate water in the diet.

Undigested flax oil will simply lubricate the GI tract, and is helpful with constipation as a result.

[cathe]

That sesame seed thing really suprises me - What list is that circlemama. The Dr. Sears family nutrition book has lists of most allergenic and least allergenic foods and no seeds at all are mentioned in the most list.

[circlemama]

It surprised me, also. It was #9 on the allergens tested for RAST testing. It was a part of eggs, dairy, citrus, peanuts and other nuts. It's the "up and coming" allergy. I know and have heard of many other children that have sesame allergies. Unfortunately, many publications are not up to date, and Dr. Sears is a great pediatrician, but, not an allergist.

[cathe]

Thanks for the info circlemama.