Flaxseed (linseed) oil is the richest known source of an omega 3 fatty acid by the name of ALA. In fact, the % of ALA found in flax seed is almost in a class of it’s as, containing more then 5 times the ALA then the next highest sources (walnut and canola oil) [pubby id=“14995053”].
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Regular Fish = No Flax Needed
Fish provides a substantially more biologically active form of omega 3 fatty acids. If you regularly consume fresh fatty fish, the benefits gained from supplementing with flax seed aren’t as important.
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Documented Benefits of Flax Seed Oil
Regular consumption of fresh flax seed oil can:
- Improve skin barrier function and stability [pubby id="21088453"]
- Reduce systemic inflammation [pubby id="27115157"]
- Lower the risk of cardiovascular disease [pubby id="19568181,21076723"]
- Regulate cholesterol levels [pubby id="16490217"]
Additional Notes:
- Do not simply add flax seed oil into your diet, try to replace another vegetable oil you currently use (has a greater impact on the omega 3/6 ratio)
- Many of the antioxidants found in flax seed oil are easily oxidized, making sure you buy cold pressed oil with a recent production date can help some of these antioxidants are still present
- If the flax seed oil is overly pungent in taste, it's likely bad (overly oxidized and has gone rancid)
- As with anything else, some individuals may not tolerate flax seed oil and allergy has been reported [pubby id="26367209"]