Flax oil comes from flaxseeds – tiny, fiber-rich seeds high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Like all oils that are good sources of unsaturated fats, flax oil can be used as both a prevention and treatment for a number of health conditions. Before adding flax oil to your diet or using it to address a health problem, speak with your doctor.

Nutrition Benefits

One tablespoon of cold-pressed flaxseed oil offers 120 calories and 13.6 grams of fat, about 12 grams of which are unsaturated. Flax oil is cholesterol-free. Not all brands are processed in the same way, but it’s generally healthiest to choose cold-pressed oil when possible because it keeps more nutrients intact. As a plant-based source of unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed oil is a viable alternative to fish oil for vegetarians.

Disease Treatment

Scientific trials are ongoing to assess how effective flaxseed oil is at treating certain conditions. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, flax oil may have benefits for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, atherosclerosis, heart disease, dry eyes and skin, HIV, high blood pressure, polycystic ovary syndrome, pneumonia, anxiety, constipation and certain cancers. Combining flax oil with fish oil may be especially effective for treating dry eyes and anxiety because fish oil has separate beneficial qualities for each of those conditions. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, people with the autoimmune condition Sjogren's syndrome may get relief from dry eyes by taking 1 to 2 grams of flax per day.

Getting the Benefits

Flaxseed oil has three types of omega-3 fatty acids, and fish oil has only two. That makes flax oil a richer source of omega-3s -- however, your body is not able to directly absorb the third type, alpha-linolenic acid, without converting it to another type of omega-3. For that reason, 1-gram capsules of flax oil won't provide as many usable omega-3s as 1-gram fish oil capsules. Instead, you'd need to take about six 1-gram flax oil capsules to get the same amount of omega-3s found in just a single 1-gram fish oil capsule. Flax's omega-3 fats do offer benefits including reduced inflammation, lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels, better blood vessel health and a lower risk of arrhythmia.

How to Use It

Negative side effects are uncommon with short-term use of flaxseed oil, and most people won’t notice any problems after adding it to their diets. It can slow down the rate of absorption of some oral medications and have negative interactions with anticoagulants, medications that lower blood sugar or cholesterol, steroids and certain anti-inflammatory drugs. There is no risk of getting too much flaxseed oil from food sources in a balanced diet, but the oil should not be used for cooking and should never be heated to higher than 120 degrees. Store flax oil in the fridge, as it may go rancid if kept at room temperature for too long. If you plan to begin taking flaxseed oil as a supplement, talk with your doctor about how much you should take.

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