If you are looking for one of the sources of omega-3, then flaxseed oil should be the one you must find. It is immensely helpful for your hair, skin, brain, heart, and gut. And all of this possible because of all the flaxseeds nutrition, which is high and very valuable. Let us quickly check out what each benefit of flaxseed oil is and more, right here in this blog. Hang in there and scroll down!
What Is Flaxseed Oil?
Before we get into the detail of each benefit of flaxseed oil, you must know what flaxseed oil is, how to take flaxseed oil, and more. Now let us find out everything about flaxseed oil.
You undoubtedly know that flaxseed oil is made from the super seeds – flaxseeds. The flaxseeds nutrition is potent and provides your body with loads of nutrients. It is high in omega-3 fatty acids and lignans too. You will find omega-3 fatty acid content in flaxseed oil to be almost around 50-60%.
Are you wondering if it is a newly emerging superfood? Well, that’s not the right concept to have. Flaxseeds are in use for centuries, and people have got significant results in using them as a laxative. Moreover, it is filled with fiber and is of great use in bakery and in making linen products.
Flax seeds Nutrition
You can get the benefit of flaxseed oil only because of the valuable nutrition content it has. So, here we have got for you all the compounds present in flaxseed that make it beneficial. Which are:
- Valuable proteins
- Omega-3 fatty acids or Alpha-linolenic acids
- Beneficial fibers content
- Lignans which is a phenolic compound
- Phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium
Benefit of Flaxseed Oil
You can use flaxseed oil in your foods and benefit from it. You will find a lot of studies which show that flaxseed oil is beneficial for your health. However, there are even contradictory studies that show that flaxseeds are best when you have it in your foods. More so, you can use its oil over numerous recipes made at home.
But if you think of consuming its supplements, you must consult your doctor. That’s because the FDA hasn’t yet confirmed the use of flaxseed oil supplements for medical purposes.
Nevertheless, you can always consume flaxseed oil in your foods to get its benefits. So, let’s not waste any more time to know the benefit of flaxseed oil on health. Here are the following:
Improves Heart Health
You can lower the levels of EPA in your blood by consuming flaxseed oil. Since flaxseeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, you can obtain the benefit of flaxseed oil to lower the chances of blood pressure. That’s because when you consume flaxseed oil, you’re providing your body with ALA present in it. Even the FDA has given its approval against using omega-3 fatty acids to treat blood pressure and, consequently, heart problems.
Reduces Bad Cholesterol Level
You will find a few studies to claim that flaxseed oil can reduce the levels of bad cholesterol in people. But the intensity of lowering does depend on the health condition of the person and the sex.
Numerous studies show that flaxseeds have shown effectiveness in people having heart problems. The participants were given a very high diet of flaxseeds for a year. But the result was contradictory. It is not clear whether the presence of flaxseeds or its oil helped in lowering the cholesterol levels.
Improves Skin Health
You’ll find the flaxseed oil benefits for skin to be immensely influential. You must also know that when you are a deficit of ALA in your body, you might have dry and rough skin. More so, you may have chances of dry skin peeling during winters. Flaxseed is a good source of ALA, and you can get the benefit of flaxseed oil for skin by providing it with ALA it lacks. You will find your skin to be more supple and soft after having flaxseed oil.
Do you know what eczema is? If not, then let us tell you that it is a skin problem that commonly appears to be uncomfortable, dry, flaky, and reddish. So, you can treat eczema that having flaxseed oil. It lowers the levels of saturated fatty acids in your body and provides you with the perfect skin nourishment.
More so, you can get rid of skin inflammation and rashes with the help of flaxseed oil. The benefit of flaxseed oil for skin disorders is remarkable, and you’ll find magical results once you use it.
Keep Gut Healthy
Do you know that ancient people consumed flaxseeds to keep a healthy gut? Well, that’s because it has lots of fibers and laxative properties. All of which are extraordinary to relieve you from constipation.
A study done on 50 patients were given 4 ml of flaxseed oil daily. It was seen that the participants were relieved from constipation in no time.
If you have any other stomach problems like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), flaxseed oil can be of immense help to you too.
Improves Brain Health
BDNF is essential to help neurons to grow. So, you can the presence of ALA in flaxseed helps in improving the levels of BDNF. More so, you can also recover from a stroke by consuming flaxseed oil.
Another cognitive problem is bipolarity. Numerous studies have concluded that flaxseed oil can help improve mood swings, which happen due to bipolarity.
Do you know that having diabetes can lead to mental problems? Well, yes, you may have oxidative stress that can destroy your brain cells. You can get the benefit of flaxseed oil in this regard too.
Flaxseed oil benefits for males and females in the case of seizures are potent. It can minimize the time of convulsion in a person. However, more human trials need to be done to add flaxseed oil supplements in medical use.
Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
The flaxseed oil benefits for females are potent and effective. If you have PCOS, then you might develop the chances of having high blood sugar levels. That happens because you might produce high levels of glucose levels where the insulin cannot absorb the glucose. So, you can quickly boost up your insulin production by consuming flaxseed oil.
More so, flaxseed oil is useful to protect the brain cell damage that occurs due to oxidative stress in diabetic people. You can consume the oil of flaxseeds and be sure to be away from any oxidative cell damage.
Reduces Inflammation
You will find a lot of people get the benefit from flaxseed oil when they have carpal tunnel syndrome. You’re supposed to topically apply the flaxseed oil on your skin and relieve yourself from the pain. Moreover, studies show that you can use this for one month and be sure for inflammation reduction.
A study done on rats showed that they were injected with flaxseed oil and showed immense results in stopping the blood vessel widening.
Helps During Menopause
The flaxseeds benefit for females are immensely popular. You will find a study proving that by supplying flaxseed oil supplements to improve the menopausal symptoms. The 140 participants said that there were lower chances of hot flashes and no mood swings at all.
Improves Bone Health
If you have a diet that lacks the presence of ALA in it, then you may have chances of having osteoporosis and bone resorption increase. You already know that flaxseeds are rich in ALA, and your body will get the deficit it may have.
More so, a study done on mice showed that a diet containing high levels of flaxseed oil in it helped in strengthening the bones.
Helps in Weight Loss
When you have low levels of leptin in your body, you will end up eating excessively. Are you wondering what leptin is? Well, it’s a type of protein that fatty tissue in your body produces. So, when levels of the protein fall, you start eating more, thus becoming obese.
And since flax seeds act as a laxative in your body naturally, it is evident that you will reduce weight by consuming flaxseed oil. Moreover, it can also increase the levels of leptin in your body, that will not allow you to overeat. Thus, proving that the effects of flax seeds for weight loss are very effective.
Keeps Kidney Healthy
It is seen that in a test done on rats, the use of ground flaxseed and flaxseed oil both were effective in declining the damaged kidney functioning. But it the effect of ground flaxseed was more potent than the flaxseed oil.
Also, it was seen that the flaxseed oil benefits for male and female rats to reduce the damage of polycystic kidney was effective. The presence of antioxidants (SDG) and flaxseed oil in the diet was effective in showing a decrease in protein secretion, inflammation, and cystic change in both the sexes.
Besides, if you have high blood pressure, your inclination towards kidney damage is very high. So, diets that have in the inclusion of flaxseed oil can lower the chances of high blood pressure levels, further saving them from kidney damage.
May Help in Cancer
Flaxseeds possess linooritides, which is an amalgamation of compounds that can help you in fighting off cancer and antioxidative damage. You must know that this compound’s presence is also responsible for keeping the shelf-life of flaxseed oil longer. Consequently, it can also do the same with the human body by reducing the growth of tumor cells.
Even more, flaxseed oil is a great source of lignans that can reduce the chances of lung cancer and breast cancer.
Flaxseed Oil Dosage
You now know what the flax seed benefits for female and male are and how effectively it works in your body. But you must know the correct flaxseed oil dosage to obtain the maximum health benefits.
First, you must know that there aren’t many studies that tell you the use of flaxseed oil supplements can be of use to treat diseases. Nevertheless, the clinical trials and flaxseeds nutrition proves that it does have good effects on your health. But only if you consume it through foods and not flaxseed capsules.
More so, certain contradictory studies show the flaxseed side effects through supplementation. So, it’s always best to consume flaxseeds in their natural form.
As you know that flaxseed contains alpha-linolenic acid, so we’ll tell the exact flaxseed dosage you must take. Approximately, your body much has around 1.1 to 2.2 grams of alpha-linolenic through flaxseed oil in one day.
Besides the normal dosage, you may require a higher dose of flaxseed, which the doctor may prescribe.
Ways to eat flaxseed
Do you wonder what the different ways to consume flaxseeds are? Well, you can have several sources of flaxseeds. And the list below will give more than one source of flaxseed:
- Flaxseeds
- Flaxseed powder
- Flaxseed Oil
- The oil capsules or supplements
- Flaxseed Gel (this is a gel you can apply topically on your skin to treat skin problems)
Fish Oil vs. Flaxseed Oil
You must be knowing fish is a very good source of omega-3 fatty acids. And flaxseed oil is also a rich source of omega-3. But do you know the difference?
Well, we’ll tell you everything here, right in this space! Fish oil consists of DHA and EPA, both of which your body gets when you consume fish through supplements or food. But flaxseed oil contains ALA in it, which later changes into DHA and EPA in your body.
Another advantage of consuming flaxseed oil is for people who go vegan or are vegetarian. By having flaxseed oil, you’re providing your body with the correct amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and even the other nutrients like lignan present in it.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know the benefit of flaxseed oil and its usefulness don’t delay a second in adding it to your diet. But it’s always best you include flaxseed oil in your diet naturally rather than supplementing its supplements to your body.
You can try out different salads, sauces, pasta, and more to induce flaxseed oil in it. And if you still require more flaxseed dosage, consult your dietician before consuming flaxseed oil capsules. Otherwise, you might invite other health problems for yourself. That’s because supplementing might have possible flaxseed side effects on your health.
