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There are a number of different Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The main one of benefit to us is called DHA, or what is technically called Docosahexaenoic acid. DHA is the dominant Omega 3 fatty acid found in our brains.
Both are good for your health and both are found fish oil supplements because they are present in the oil found in fish.
However there is also a third Omega 3 acid that is important but not as important as the other two. This is called ALA. Where is the first two essential fatty acids are found in marine sources such as fish the third essential fatty acid ALA is a plant-based acid. This is present in flax seeds more then in any other plant-based sauce and for this reason flax seed oil is used as a polyunsaturated Omega 3 supplement.
Lets examine the health benefits of flaxseed oil and see if you ought to be taking flaxseed oil supplements. Note that it's not only in flaxseeds that ALA is found, there are other plant sources of ALA, such as walnuts, but flax seeds are a good source and the oil, containing ALA, can be extracted from the seeds to make flaxseed oil supplements.
The benefits of flax seed oil are primarily the ability of the body to use the ALA from the oil and turn it into DHA and EPA. The ALA is not used directly by the body, but the benefit of the ALA is in the DHA and EPA that results from its conversion.
The difference between DHA, EPA and ALA lies in their carbon bonds. For various highly chemical reasons the body can make use of DHA and EPA directly, but cannot make use of ALA. However the body is able to convert ALA into DHA and EPA.
ALA itself has not been shown to have the health benefits of the other 2 Omega fats.
Therefore the medical benefits of flaxseed oil lie in the ability of the body to convert the ALA. Unfortunately the body is not very efficient in doing this, and only a small proportion of the ALA is actually converted. Of course if you took a lot of flaxseed oil supplements your body may be able to convert enough to satisfy the need for an adequate amount of DHA and EPA.
But why not get your DHA and EPA directly, from fish oil supplements, rather than indirectly, from flaxseed oil capsules? It's more efficient to do it that way. Use the best fish oil capsules and you'll get your DHA and EPA direct, and at better value.
The people who can benefit from flax seed oil supplements are those who cannot eat fish. Most vegetarians do not eat fish and they will be deficient in the very important polyunsaturated fatty acids that they should be getting in their diet.
For vegetarians who don't eat fish it's much better to take flaxseed oil supplements than it is to get no Omega 3 fats at all. If vegetarians eat no fish at the moment, they will be very deficient in the important healthy, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and so should be taking some form of Omega 3 supplements.
However it is also possible to get vegetarian Omega three capsules that come from marine sources that do not include fish. These marine sources are primarily algae and it is actually from eating algae that the fish get their Omega 3 fats from in any event.
So it is possible to get vegetarian Omega three capsules that our marine-based not land plant based.
So, in answer to the question about the benefits of flaxseed oil, yes there are benefits. But these benefits are derived from the DHA and EPA that the body gets from converting the ALA in flax seed oil. So why not take that DHA and EPA directly?
There is no doubt that flax seeds are good for you. Eat them by all means, but it is not as successful taking flax seed oil supplements as it is taking fish oil supplements.
Visit my website to find out where to source the best Omega 3 fish oil supplements.
Both are good for your health and both are found fish oil supplements because they are present in the oil found in fish.
However there is also a third Omega 3 acid that is important but not as important as the other two. This is called ALA. Where is the first two essential fatty acids are found in marine sources such as fish the third essential fatty acid ALA is a plant-based acid. This is present in flax seeds more then in any other plant-based sauce and for this reason flax seed oil is used as a polyunsaturated Omega 3 supplement.
Lets examine the health benefits of flaxseed oil and see if you ought to be taking flaxseed oil supplements. Note that it's not only in flaxseeds that ALA is found, there are other plant sources of ALA, such as walnuts, but flax seeds are a good source and the oil, containing ALA, can be extracted from the seeds to make flaxseed oil supplements.
The benefits of flax seed oil are primarily the ability of the body to use the ALA from the oil and turn it into DHA and EPA. The ALA is not used directly by the body, but the benefit of the ALA is in the DHA and EPA that results from its conversion.
The difference between DHA, EPA and ALA lies in their carbon bonds. For various highly chemical reasons the body can make use of DHA and EPA directly, but cannot make use of ALA. However the body is able to convert ALA into DHA and EPA.
ALA itself has not been shown to have the health benefits of the other 2 Omega fats.
Therefore the medical benefits of flaxseed oil lie in the ability of the body to convert the ALA. Unfortunately the body is not very efficient in doing this, and only a small proportion of the ALA is actually converted. Of course if you took a lot of flaxseed oil supplements your body may be able to convert enough to satisfy the need for an adequate amount of DHA and EPA.
But why not get your DHA and EPA directly, from fish oil supplements, rather than indirectly, from flaxseed oil capsules? It's more efficient to do it that way. Use the best fish oil capsules and you'll get your DHA and EPA direct, and at better value.
The people who can benefit from flax seed oil supplements are those who cannot eat fish. Most vegetarians do not eat fish and they will be deficient in the very important polyunsaturated fatty acids that they should be getting in their diet.
For vegetarians who don't eat fish it's much better to take flaxseed oil supplements than it is to get no Omega 3 fats at all. If vegetarians eat no fish at the moment, they will be very deficient in the important healthy, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and so should be taking some form of Omega 3 supplements.
However it is also possible to get vegetarian Omega three capsules that come from marine sources that do not include fish. These marine sources are primarily algae and it is actually from eating algae that the fish get their Omega 3 fats from in any event.
So it is possible to get vegetarian Omega three capsules that our marine-based not land plant based.
So, in answer to the question about the benefits of flaxseed oil, yes there are benefits. But these benefits are derived from the DHA and EPA that the body gets from converting the ALA in flax seed oil. So why not take that DHA and EPA directly?
There is no doubt that flax seeds are good for you. Eat them by all means, but it is not as successful taking flax seed oil supplements as it is taking fish oil supplements.
Visit my website to find out where to source the best Omega 3 fish oil supplements.
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Want to know more about Fish Oil Benefits? Or more about Flaxseed Oil Benefits? Visit Peter's Website Healthy Omega 3 Fish Oil.
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