Flax Oil

I was wondering if anyone knew anything about flax oil. I read to take a TBSP of it in the mornings. What exactly does it do for you? Is it supposed to help detoxify your body?

It contains essential fatty acids (omega-3) that your body needs as much as vitamins and minerals to keep functioning properly. It helps with regularity as well. I just add it to my salad dressing at lunch time. Don't cook it because it denatures the fatty-acids. It also helps in weight loss and to decrease inflammation in the body.

Oh! Thanks for the info, I will have to go buy some!!

Should you add flax seed oil to your diet? (Found this from another site)


Some nutritionists, researchers, and scientists believe that it could be the most important health-promoting supplement next to a multi-vitamin. Nearly every system in the body can benefit from flax seed oil's natural properties, including the cardiovascular system, immune system, circulatory system, reproductive system, nervous system, as well as joints.


Just look at this list of facts and studies of what Flax Seed Oil can and may accomplish:


- Research shows low incidence of breast cancer and colon cancer in populations that have high amounts of lignan in their diet. Flax is 100 times richer in lignan than most whole grains.

- Studies show that Omega-3 fatty acids help lower cholesterol and blood triglycerides, and prevent clots in arteries, which may result in strokes, heart attacks and thromboses.

- Helps protect the body against high blood pressure, inflammation, water retention, sticky platelets and lowered immune function.

- Shortens recovery time for fatigued muscles after exertion.

- Increases the body's production of energy and also increases stamina.

- Accelerates the healing of sprains and bruises.

- Eases weight loss in people afflicted with obesity.

- Stimulates brown fat cells and increases the metabolic rate making it easier to burn off fat.

- Improves the absorption of Calcium.

- Strengthens finger and toenails.

- Can improve eyesight and perception of colors.

- Can often improve the function of the liver.

- Can relieve the side effects and stop development of many forms of cancer.

- Can relieve some cases of Asthma.

- Helpful in the treatment of Eczema, Psoriasis, and Dandruff.

- Can relieve the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. It can relieve the symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus.

- Can alleviate some allergies.

- Helps prevent Atherosclerosis (the accumulation of fatty deposits inside the blood vessels, especially the large and medium-sized arteries, that many people experience during the aging process).

- Lowers high blood pressure in Hypertension sufferers.

- Has been scientifically proven to treat some cases of depression.

- Can improve the mental function of many old age pensioners.

- Can help in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.

- Has been proven to improve the behavior of Schizophrenics.

- Can relieve some cases of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) in females.

- And more...!

Wow I think I might need to invest in some. Anyone have a preference between the oil and the oil capsules?

Yay! I've been blabbing on and on about Omega 3s so I am so happy to see some others start to care about it! But I haven't been taking flax, only deep sea fish oil capsules. I preferred capsules because they're quickly down the hatch and a bit more portable. But I was curious about the difference between flax seed oil and fish oil as a source of Omega 3. Apparently they have different benefits and we should probably be taking both: http://www.mind1st.co.uk/Flax_Seed_Oil_v_Fish_Oil.asp

I've been taking a triple oil deep sea variety called NORDIC NATURALS. The thing I love about them is that they are flavored like lemon so there is never any gross fishy aftertaste. Also, I swear by them as a mood booster. I got mine at whole foods but it seems like they're available all over. A little pricey, but worth it.

Cheers.

do u get energy from those???

Hmmmmm....not sure. I've definitely seen an increase in energy but honestly think it has been mostly about shedding the weight (almost 40 lbs so far!). But I defnitely notice they brighten my attitude. And I am very skeptical of such things; and I've tried other (very good) brands and this brand is the first one I've noticed any mood benefit. I take 2 of them every day and I notice when I don't.

I will have to try those ... I read a lot about these sorts of things in magazines like Woman's Day and Womans World, lol. I get some good info from them though! I love to read anything that has to do with health & diet though!

Yes, I think one should be taking more than just fish or flax. I take one capsule twice a day which has fish, flax, and borage oils in one capsule.

Damn now...what is borage oil? lol.

Awh Dang! I don't know about borage oil either ... I'll be back, gone to check it out, lol

(from another site)
Borage oil is derived from the seeds of the borage (Borago officinalis) plant, a large plant with blue, star-shaped flowers found throughout Europe and North Africa and naturalized to North America.1

Borage oil, evening primrose oil, and black currant seed oil contain gamma linolenic acid (GLA), a fatty acid that the body converts to a hormone-like substance called prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). PGE1 has anti-inflammatory properties and may also act as a blood thinner and blood vessel dilator. Linoleic acid, a common fatty acid found in nuts and seeds and most vegetable oils (including borage oil), should theoretically convert to PGE1. Many things can interfere with this conversion, however, including disease; the aging process; saturated fat; hydrogenated oils; blood sugar problems; and inadequate vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins. Supplements that provide GLA circumvent these conversion problems, leading to more predictable formation of PGE1.2

Borage seed oil is the richest source of GLA, containing 20 to 26%. While GLA from evening primrose oil has been widely researched, scientific evidence supporting the use of borage oil has been limited. Nonetheless, one preliminary trial3 and two double-blind trials4 5 have shown that borage oil, 1.1-2.8 grams per day for at least three months, reduces symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Borage oil has also been used to treat people with atopic dermatitis (eczema) in preliminary trials, with reductions in skin inflammation, dryness, scaliness, and itch, without side effects being reported.6 However, a controlled study using 360 mg daily of GLA from borage oil in patients with atopic dermatitis (3 to 17 years of age) was unable to reproduce these results.7 In another preliminary study, a group of children with infantile seborrheic dermatitis were treated with borage oil (0.5 ml) applied to the diaper region twice daily.8 Within 10 to 12 days, all of the children were free from skin lesions, even in the areas not treated with borage. Moreover, using the oil topically two to three times a week kept the seborrhea in remission until the patients were six to seven months old. There were no relapses after the oil was discontinued.

Where is borage oil found?
Borage oil is found primarily in supplements. Its presumed active ingredient, GLA, can also be found in black currant seed oil and evening primrose oil supplements. However, it is not known whether the effects of these three oils in the body, are the same.

Borage oil has been used in connection with the following conditions (refer to the individual health concern for complete information):

Rating Health Concerns
Rheumatoid arthritis

Eczema

Infantile seborrheic dermatitis (topical)

Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.
Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.
For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support and/or minimal health benefit.

Who is likely to be deficient of borage oil?
Many people in Western societies may be at least partially GLA-deficient as a result of aging, glucose intolerance, dietary fat intake, and other problems, though the exact incidence of deficiency remains unknown. People with deficiencies benefit from supplemental GLA intake from borage oil, black currant seed oil, or evening primrose oil.

Those with premenstrual syndrome,9 diabetes,10 scleroderma,11 Sjogren’s syndrome,12 tardive dyskinesia,13 eczema,14 and other skin conditions15 may have a metabolic block that interferes with the body’s ability to make GLA. However, most clinical trials supplementing GLA for these conditions has used evening primrose oil, and not borage oil.

How much borage oil is usually taken?
For the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, the amounts of GLA from borage used in successful double-blind trials were 1.4–2.8 grams daily for at least two months.16 17 Although 360 mg of GLA daily from borage oil has been used to treat people with eczema, controlled research has not supported its use for this condition.18 Topically, 0.5 ml of borage oil may be applied to areas of seborrhea daily for two weeks, and then three times a week until the condition is stable.19

Are there any side effects or interactions with borage oil?
Borageseeds contain small amounts of liver toxins called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). However, testing has not demonstrated the presence of the alkaloid in the seed oil.20 Most commercially available borage seed oil is, therefore, likely to be PA-free and presents no risk of PA toxicity. Minor side effects from borage oil use can include bloating, nausea, indigestion, and headache.

As well as adding flax seed oil to my salad oil I also take evening primrose oil in capsules. I have had good results with both. I prefer just to eat fish because I don't like the aftertaste of fish oil tablets.

That is exactly is why I like the Nordic Naturals -- no fishy aftertaste! (they flavor them like lemon). They also make a brand of fish oils that don't "open" in your stomach so those are supposed to avoid fishy regurgitation (so pleasant!) too.

Anyway, I bought flax seed oil capsules from Costco last night -- I know that brands of vitamins can be as important as anything so if anyone knows of a superior brand please let me know. I've never bought supplements at Costco before and as usual, I'm skeptical of something that seems inexpensive but I also think Costco tends toward better quality in general. Advice welcome.

I read somewhere that it is better to avoid capsules for flax oil because it goes rancid very easily and has to be kept in the refrigerator to prevent that. If you take a capsule you can't taste it if it goes rancid and you could be taking rancid oil, which has no health benefits. It really doesn't taste bad straight and if you add it to olive oil, you can't even taste it.

Oooh...I did not know that. Thanks for the info. I'll put them in the fridge and try the other kind for the next round.

Is there a capsule that does the fish oil and borage oil together??

can anybody recommend which brand to buy for flaxseed capsule i though that there was one which had 3 6 and 9 combined.

I take a combo capsule that has flax and fish oil. Nature's Bounty makes a capsule with fish, flax and borage oil and you can get it at your local health food store or pharmacy. I've been taking flax seed oil for about a month now and definitely notice a difference in my skin. =)