I had known about the positive health effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are contained in oily fish, e.g., salmon, tuna, etc. Amongst other benefits, studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish may help sufferers of depression, reduce the likelihood of heart disease and improve inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.
However, my consumption of fish is 1 can of tuna per month and 1 fillet of salmon in 3 months or so due to high cost and to the fact that such fish contain toxic mercury. After I read a newspaper article 2 weeks ago saying that flaxseeds are the highest known vegetable source of omega-3 fatty acids, I bought a container of ground flaxseeds (0.280 kg). Since then, I have been taking mega-doze of ground flaxseeds every day. There has been no other change in my diet pattern.
Today, I cycled to the Champlain Lookout of the Gatineau Park for the 6th time this year. My time to reach the summit had improved from 3 hours in early May to 2 1/2 hours in early June. However, I was stopping many times to walk uphill, more than half the time. It took me only 1 hour and 40 minutes today to go up, and 50 minutes to come down. Amazingly, I cycled 20 km to the summit non-stop, without walking at all. Unlike previous times, I was not out of breath or out of energy during cycling like before, and I was not tired when I reached the top. So, the benefit of omega-3 fatty acids is definitely not a placebo effect.
I am pleased to discover that flaxseeds are my fountain of youth! Other people may have different metabolism, so the effect may differ. Ground flaxseeds is not a health food with inflated price but cheaply available at a supermarket.
The inspiration comes from the late Dr. Linus Pauling who was taking mega-dose of vitamin C. He won 2 Nobel Prizes, and lived to be 93 years old.
