Flaxseed oil

Any person who has joined the popular Weight Watchers weight loss program and support group over the past decade is probably familiar with flaxseed oil. Flaxseed oil is one of the many digestive aids that the Weight Watcher’s program recommends to people who want to lose weight. According to the program’s materials, flaxseed oils on a salad or other food are tasteless and assist with digestion. Better yet, while in the body, flaxseed oil is said to act as a dietary supplement that is good for the digestive system, joints, and heart. According to experts, flaxseed oil may even assist in the prevention of cancer. Read on for more about this wonderful, healthful natural oil.

Flaxseed oil is made from the seeds of – you guessed it – flax. Flax is also known as linseed, which is why you may sometimes see flaxseed oil packaged and marketed as linseed oil. Flax is a plant originally found in the Fertile Crescent and used to make clothing. The ancient Egyptians were especially well known for their love of the flax plant and its byproducts.

One of the most special features of flaxseed oil is that it is one of nature’s richest sources of omega-3 fatty acid. Omega-3 fatty acid. Omega-3 fatty acid is a vitally important substance within the body because it is an integral part of the function and well being of almost every system in the body – from the circulatory system to the digestive system and beyond. I guess you could say that if you take a daily spoonful of flaxseed oil, you are giving your entire body a healthful supplement. On the other hand, an improper level of omega-3 fatty acid can actually promote disease by weakening the immune system and the body’s function. Taking flaxseed oil really is a win win situation for the body.

While omega-3 fatty acid is integral in maintain the health of the body’s symptoms, it also has other uses. For example, it fights inflammation. Inflammatory disorders have recently been on the rise in Western society, perhaps because of a rich diet or sedentary lifestyle, so taking flaxseed oil can help combat what is becoming a growing problem. Further, flaxseed oil and its component omega-3 fatty acid have actually been shown to be brain food! Having the correct amount of omega-3 fatty acid in the body can actually improve the functions of the brain, including thought processes and memory, and aid in natural brain development.

If you suffer from several chronic conditions, flaxseed oil and its component omega-3 fatty acid may help you recover and regulate your body. For example, studies have shown that flaxseed oil may assist with that bugaboo of many older or overweight adults – high cholesterol. You may have heard that people who eat a Mediterranean diet are thinner, have better blood pressure and cholesterol, and suffer from fewer incidences of cancer than people on other diets. Well, one reason for that is that they ingest flaxseed oil and other oils that contain a good balance of omega-3 and other fatty acids, such as omega-6 and omega-9. What’s a Mediterranean dish without olive oil, right? Well, olive oil, like flaxseed oil, contains all of these healthful bodily substances. People on Mediterranean diets eat fish and poultry, fruits and vegetables, and oils, but not much red meat, butter or cream. This exact diet is often prescribed by physicians to patients who find themselves suffering from high cholesterol.

Essentially, flaxseed oil is a healthful supplement than can assist the bodily systems in many ways. The next time you are in the grocery store, locate a bottle of flaxseed or linseed oil and give it a try in your cooking or on your salad. Your body will thank you!

Last updated on Jan 25th, 2010 and filed under Nutritional Information. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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