Flax Seed Information

Flax seed oil is another "health food" that has begun to gain increased popularity for its numerous health benefits, but in truth, it's been used for thousands of years. Flax seed oil comes from the flax plant and has been a much used plant not only for its nutritional benefits, which we'll explore shortly, but also as the flax plant was used anciently for clothing.

Key flax seed information is this: the flax seed is nutrient-rich and is very small. The oil is a good source of protein, potassium, boron, and linoleic acid as well as beta-carotene. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid.

Flax Seed and Cholesterol

How is flax seed oil helpful with cholesterol? It helps eliminate heart disease -- the number one killer in the Western world. As flax seed is a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids, specifically alpha-linolenic acid and as those nutrients are important for vascular health, that is its importance. How? Low-density lipins (LDL), which is the bad cholesterol, is lowered through the Omega-3 nutrients.

A flax seed and cholesterol discussion wouldn't be complete by mentioning that the Omega-3, which is abundant in flax seed oil, actually helps to increase high-density lipins (HDL) -- the good cholesterol.

Flax Seed Oil Information

Not only is flaxseed oil rich in alpha-linolenic acid, the Omega-3 fatty acid that helps a number of heart health related conditions, namely, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and strokes, but the polyunsaturated fat in flaxseed oil is vital for the proper functioning of cell tissues, nerve tissue cells, and for prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances that have anti-inflammation properties. It should also be noted that flaxseed oil is the richest plant source of Omega-3 fat, so people should eat it if they don't eat a lot of fish.

The problem is, however, that the alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) needs to be chemically converted by the body to long-chained Omega-3 fats to then be used by the body. For those in ill health whose bodies can't properly convert alpha-linolenic acid to long-chained version, its health benefits are lost.

Plus, for some, though it is rare, some have an allergic reaction to flaxseed oil and can go into anaphylactic shock. How can one obtain the Omega-3 fatty acids like ALA that will ensure assimilation in the system?

Vital Flax Seed Information

Clinical studies show that fish oils are a better source for Omega-3 fatty acids. When Fish oil is properly harvested from cold-water fish, it is found to contain two vitally important fatty acids: DHA and EPA. Unlike flax seed oil which has to be converted to long-chain Omega-3 absorbable fats, the fish oil fatty acids are readily absorbable by the body -- this is key flax seed information.

While we've mentioned this numerous times throughout this site, let's mention it once again: it's not what you eat that's important (although that's vital in the proper selection), it's what's assimilated and absorbed by the body that's important. Therefore, If you are interested in learning about the health benefits of fish oil and how to choose a quality fish oil supplement, please visit our fish oil webpage.

Flax Seed Information

Choosing a Good Flax Seed Oil Supplement

If you do use flax seed oil, here are a few quick tips in how to use it.

1.) If you buy it in seed form, you'll need a coffee grinder to grind up the seeds. Chewing the seeds is fine but unless the seeds are really well ground, they will simply pass through the body. A coffee grinder will do the trick.
2.) If you buy it in oil form, heating it as a substitute for saturated fats will make the taste unpleasant. (It's taste is a mild, pleasant nut-like taste if not cooked.)
3.) Refrigerate the oil at all times. With pre-ground flax meal, store it in the freezer.

Yours in health, hope, and harmony,
Nutritional-Supplement-Bible.com