Super Flax Seed Oil 1,000mg - 90 Caps - Swiss Naturals

Flax Seed Oil

Flaxseeds are a rich source of alphalinolenic acid (ALA), an omega 3 essential fatty acid. "Essential" means that the body does not produce the fatty acids on its own and therefore they must be taken in through the diet. Most North American and Western diets are very low in Omega3 and extremely high in Omega6. Too many saturated fats are consumed and the ratio of ingested EFA's averages more like 20:1 Omega6's to Omega3's instead of the recommended 4:1.

The ALA in flaxseed oil helps maintain cholesterol levels because healthy fats build HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is responsible for moving fat, from storage or plaques, into the liver where processing and excretion of fat occurs. By decreasing fatty buildup on arteries it helps to regulate blood pressure. It also provides valuable support for immune system function because many immune cells use omega 3 fats in their cell membrane. Having a properly functioning membrane allows the cells to do things like release packets of chemicals when they come in contact with foreign invaders. Since healthy fats play a large role in hormone formation, ALA can thus help optimize hormone levels and strengthen male fertility. Studies show that ALA is an antiinflammatory compound that is beneficial for the treatment of arthritis.

Essential Fatty Acids

The standard North American diet is deficient in essential fatty acids, especially omega 3s. Every cell needs essential fatty acids for its cell membrane where the fats make the important barrier that lets other molecules into and out of the cell.

There are three categories of EFAs, omega 3, omega 6 and omega 9. Vegetablebased combination oils usually contain alphalinolenic acid, ALA, for omega 3, gammalinolenic acid (GLA), for omega 6 and oleic acid, for omega9. The sources of the oils are several of the following: flaxseed, borage, black currant, hemp, pumpkin seed, primrose, sunflower or safflower. Some combination oils include fish oils derived from fish such as herring, cod, mackerel, tuna or salmon. These oils give the added benefit of containing docosahexanoic acid, DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, two other types of omega 3 fatty acids.

DHA: The Brain EFA

Docosahexanoic acid is an omega 3 essential fatty acid. It is an essential component of the brain and central nervous system. It seems to concentrate in areas where there is lots of electrical activity such as the synaptosomes, where nerve cells communicate, and the photoreceptors of the eye. This is why a deficiency of DHA can result in poor brain development, attention/deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disorders, memory problems and poor visual development.

EPA: The Heart EPA

Eicosapentaenoic acid is an omega 3 essential fatty acid. It is an important fatty acid in the maintenance of cardiovascular health and the regulation of inflammation. EPA is a precursor to a series of chemicals whose job it is to regulate the inflammatory effects of arachidonic acid. Too much arachidonic acid leads to pain and inflammation in conditions such as arthritis. Arachidonic acid also causes inflammation in arteries and leads to the development of atherosclerotic plaques. Deficiency of EPA can result in cardiac arrhythmias, high cholesterol and excessive aging. EPA has been used to treat heart disease, arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

Why are they Essential?

Omega3s (and omega6s) are termed essential fatty acids (EFAs) because they are critical for good health. However, the body cannot make them on its own. For this reason, omega3s must be obtained from food, thus making outside sources of these fats "essential."

Although the body needs both omega3s and omega6s to thrive, most people consume far more 6s than 3s. Hardly a day goes by, however, without reports of another health benefit associated with omega3s. For this reason, many experts recommend consuming a better balance these two EFAs.