Flax seed oil

[firedup]

Is flax seed oil a good source for ALA?

[YellowJacket]

Flax seed oil is a a source of EFA(Essential Fatty Acids). Omega-3, Omega-6 and Omega-9. Great for bulking.

[Buddha_Red]

hit the search tool. a great post about flax is around

look for flaxseed 101

[xzoomzx]

buhda i couldunt find that post

[Buddha_Red]

hmm neither can i now.. heres something i found tho until i locate the one i read

Reprinted from www.benourished.com:

Flax seed oil is our most reliable source of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Reliable because until recent times people obtained this essential nutrient by eating fish or animal parts that currently aren't served at McDonalds. Omega-3 is concentrated in the placenta, eye balls, testes, tongue, kidneys, liver and brain. To traditional peoples, these were the choicest tidbits. From direct observation, they saw how profoundly organ meat support overall health. Today, scientists name Omega-3 as the distinguishing nutrient in organ meats as well as in flax seed oil.

When Omega-3 is lacking, the whole body declines and eventually dies. These fatty acids are needed for healthy cell, blood and brain function and for healthy immune, digestive and nervous systems. And that's a partial list. By adding quality Omega-3s to our diet, maladies and chronic illnesses are ameliorated--from cancer to arthritis, from heart disease to multiple sclerosis.

Omega -3, incidentally is one of three essential fatty acids. It, along with Omega 6 and 9 are termed "essential" because they are indeed an essential nutrient. Like vitamins or the air we breathe, omega-3s are not optional. In the United States, we obtain an abundance of the more stable Omega 6s and 9s, but we lack the fragile Omega-3 fatty acids. They are fragile because they are easily destroyed by light, oxygen and heat. Once denatured, they contribute to the formation of free-radicals and therefore are a carcinogen.

Today, the best sources of omega-3-rich oils are flax, chia and pumpkin seed and walnut oil. (While soy and canola contain omega-3s they've several inherent problems including that they are highly refined and thus toxic.) Flax seed oil, at 53% Omega-3s, is, by far the most concentrated vegetable source.

Other Omega-3 sources are cod liver oil, salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, anchovies, trout, tuna and reputedly micro-algae such as spirulina and wild blue green algae. Historically, milk and meat provided some of this invaluable nutrient. Unfortunately today's commercial meat and dairy products no longer contain omega-3s. However, they remain present in wild game, range-fed beef and in the milk of range-fed sheep and goats.

I hope you'll favor quality foods that contain Omega-3s. And because they're less readily available in our food supply than they were in our grandmother's it's wise to get in the habit of taking flax seed oil daily. It's an easy habit to acquire. Allow 1 tablespoon per day for every 100 pounds of body weight. (In cases of pregnancy, chronic disease or severe illness, double the dose.) It's difficult to obtain adequate Omega-3 from the flax seeds themselves because of the large quantity you would have to consume and because they must be ground fresh daily.

Because of its fragility, never heat or cook flax seed oil. Rather, use it as a supplement or as a dressing for salads, baked potatoes or steamed vegetables. It is critical to purchase quality oil that has the following 5 guarantees on its label:

1. Pressing temperature (buy only if it is pressed under 115 degrees F.).
2. Pressed in the absence of light and oxygen.
3. Packaged with an inert gas to protect it from air.
4. Bottled in a black, opaque, inert plastic bottle to protect it from light.
5. Stamped with two dates: date of manufacture and date that it is "best if used by".