While many of us are aware that it is good to eat fish as a part of a healthy diet, for the proteins as well as the Omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, not so many know that there is also a vegetable source of this kind of oil – flax seeds. Flax seed oil has a very high concentration of these fatty acids – up to twice as much as fish by weight. The Omega-3 oil in flaxseeds is called Alpha Linolenic Acid, or ALA, and behaves in a similar way to fish omega-3s. A diet high in Omega-3s has been directly linked to lower cholesterol and trygliceride levels, and less risk of suffering blood clots in the arteries, therefore lessening the risk of heart attack, stroke and thromboses. Omega-3s have also been linked to maintaining a healthy immune system, controlling high blood pressure, water retention and avoiding the sticking of blood platelets.
Flaxseed oil also contains substances called lignans, which are thought to help reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer. Flax seeds and their oil can be 100 times higher in these lignans than other whole grains. Research indicates that people with certain conditions such as diabetes or schizophrenia are better off with fish-based Omega-3s, but for those who are allergic to fish, a vegan or just do not like fish, flax seed oil can be used instead of other vegetable oils on salads or raw foods – do not cook it! For those not keen on its special flavour, there are capsules, such as Lifeplan’s 1000mg flax seed oil, which are produced without chemical solvents, using only cold pressed flax seed oil.
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