Medical Questions » Vitamins Questions » Question No. 1540
| Question: | What' s your view on flax seed oil? |
| Answer: | Flax seed oil, also known as linseed oil, is by far the richest plant source of the essential omega-3 fats. Used by Native Americans for a wide variety of health problems, flax seed oil balances hormones and helps with PMS, menopausal problems and male infertility. It contains a fat called alpha linolenic acid, which is converted by the body into the fatty acids EPA and DHA. These two fatty acids are essential for the functioning of the brain, immune system, heart and arteries. Children who are deficient in these omega-3 fats are prone to learning difficulties, hyperactivity and poor coordination, and pregnant women need to pave the way for healthy brain development in the foetus by taking these fats, too. The richest sources are fish and flax seed oil; but while fish oil is a direct source, flax seed oil needs to go through a stage of processing in the body to create EPA and DHA.
If you' re deficient, this may show up as dry skin. In most cases a daily tablespoon of flax seed oil, which is best either drunk with some orange juice, or added to salad dressings, soups or cereals, improves dry skin within a week. Alternatively, you can supplement capsules - four l,000mg caps is an ideal daily amount. With omega-3-rich fish oils, however, limit your supplementation to a total of 1,000mg a day. |
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