Common Questions About Flaxseed Oil

Because of the almost unbelievable healing potential and the increased popularity of unrefined, organic plaxseed oil, numerous questions are often raised about this remarkable food. Many misconceptions can surround nutritional supplements and super foods (foods unique for their extraordinary nutrient content or incredible healing potential). This appendix is devoted to answering some of the most common questions raised about flaxseed oil.

1. What is flaxseed oil?

Flaxseed oil is classified as a polyunsaturated vegatable oil. While polyunsaturated vegatable oils are relatively common, most of these oils have been damaged by processing methods. Flaxseed oil is unique to polyunsaturated fatty acids because it is the richest source of both essential fatty acids.

2. What are essential fatty acids and why are they important?

Essential fatty acids are two of forty-nine known "essential nutrients" that must be consumed in foods and cannot be manufactured (biosynthesized) by the human body. The essential fatty acids found primarily in vegatable oils are the most susceptible to destruction caused by manufacturing methods. Much of the pupularity surrounding unrefined and organic flaxsees oil is based on the fact that it suppplies ample amounts of boty the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

3. With all the hype surrounding a number of dietary supplements on the market, why should I consider adding flaxseed oil to my nutritional regimen?

Evidence now exists to suggest a widespread deficiency of the essential fatty acids that flaxseed oil supplies. Essential fatty acid are directly and indirectly responsible for and involved with countless important life-sustaining biological functions. A lack of essential fatty acids in the diet has been associated with numerous diseases and health complicationd, including heart disease, strokes, and cancer. Unlike many commercially available foods and nutritional supplements, the essential fatty acids found most abundantly in flaxseed oil are truly "essential" to life.

4. Who can benefit from taking flaxseed oil?

Because of the virtual elimination of essential fatty acids from our food chain, and the fact that flaxseed oil contains both of the essential fatty acids required for optimal health, almost everyone can benefit from taking flaxseed oil.

5. How is flaxseed oil found in a health food store different from other less-expensive vegatable oils that I might find in my local grocery store?

Oil products found in your local grocery store have commonly been subjected to a very harsh refinement process that either eliminates the essential fatty acids or transforms them into toxic compounds. The majority of flaxseed oil products found in health food stores have been prptected from harsh refinment and thus preserve the vital essential fatty acids they contain.

6. How can flaxseed oil have such profound effects with so many health problems?

This is because of the extreme lack of the essential fatty acids in our modern diet. Once the essentials are returned to the diet, the body is equiped to carry out the biological functions the essential fatty acids are prerequisite to performing. For this reason numerous diseases and health probems are improved or alleviated. To date, over sixty illnesses and health problems are related to fatty acid abnormalities.

7. Has flax been found to be effective in the treatment or prevention of cancer?

There have now been numerous studies conducted on flaxseed and flaxseed oil to attest to the therapeutic and preventive properties against cancer. Most notable are the ability of the lignans, contained in the shell matrix of the flaxseed, to prevent colon and breast cancer. Other studies conducted with flax have found as great as a 50 percent reduction of tumor size in animal studies. Significant groundbreaking work regarding flaxseed oil and cancer has been done by German biochemist and Nobel Prize nominee Dr. Johanna budwig.

8. What are "lignans" and are they found in flaxseed oil?

Lignans are a class of highly researched pant chemicals (phytochemicals) that have been found to have anticancer, antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Their greatest attribute is in the possible prevention of breast and colon cancers. The highest concentration of lignans, compared to any other food, is found in the hull of flaxseeds. Generally, flaxseed oil does not contain lignans because of the fragmented hull settles out of the oil during processing. The exception to the rule is a "High in Lignan" flaxseed oil product marketed by Barlean's Organic Oils, where the fine flaxseed hull particulate has been retained in the oil.

9. How much flaxseed oil should one take on a daily basis?

For most people 1 tablespoon every 100 pounds of body weight is the rule. Generally, individuals who are ill should begin by taking as little as half a tablespoon a day in order to develop a tolerance for essetial fatty acid-rich oil. Within two or three weeks they should be able to easily tolerate a full tablespoon.

10. Can you take too much flaxseed oil?

All food, nutrients and elements including water and ozygen, when consumed, ingested, or breathed at excessive levels become toxic to the humen organism. With flaxseed oil a safe guideline is the recommesation in the preceding answers. However, flaxseed oil has been used in much larger dosages in the treatment of cancer and other diseases. In these instances it is strongly advised that you are under the guidance of a qualified naturopathic or holistic medical doctor.

11. Can I expect to get the same benifits from flaxseed oil found in gelatin capsules as I would from the straight liquid oil?

Generally, one should be wary of oil products sold in gelatin capsules. The only way to test encapsuled oils for quality is to puncture the capsule and taste the oil. If the oil has a rich, robust, and nutty flavor without a bitter aftertaste,chances are the oil is unrefinedand relatively fresh. If there is an off-flavor followed by a stinging sensation, you have swallowed rancid oil. If there is little or not taste, you have just sampled a refined oil product. Oil products found in gelatin capsules are not as high quality because of the extra manufacturing step taken to encapsulate them. In assition, the pure liquid oil is far more economical, especially when you conseder that you have to taje at least nine 1000 mg flaxseeed oil capsules just to get 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil. On the other hand, for someone who would not otherwise take oil or for convenience during traveling, capsules are the solution. Rely on only manufacturers of high-quality oil products whan purchasing flaxseed oil capsules.

12. What is the preferred material for packaging flaxseed oil-plastic or glass?

An opaque plastic container made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is the preferred material for packaging and protecting flaxseed oil from light. HDPE plastic is fully approved by the U.S. and Canadian governments for these purposes and has an untarnighed record of health and safety. Independent laboratory analysis conducted by responsible organic oil producers have resulted in absolutely no migration of the HDPE plastic into the oil. Even amber pharmaceutical-grade glass allows over five different light frequencies to penetrate the bottle, potentially destroying the benefits of the oil.

13. Are there any side effects common to taking flaxseed oil?

Because flaxseed oil is simply a food source, side effects from supplementing with flaxseed oil are highly uncommon. The possibility does exist however, just as with any food source, that someone may react unfavorably to the oil. For some individuals this may be a transitory effect where simply reducing the dosage should relieve any problem. For others, simply discontinue usage or seek the advice of a nutritionally oriented practitioner.

14. Is there a preference for taking flaxseed oil alone or with food?

There are several advantages to taking flaxseed oil with another food source. Mixing flaxseed oil with yogurt, for example, helps to emulsify the oil, aiding in optimal digestion, absorbtion, and utilization of the essential fatty acids. Based on the work by Dr. Budwig, adding flaxseed oil to foods rich in sulfated amino acids, such as vegatables of the cabbage family and cultured dairy products, helps in incorporatingthe essential fatty acids into cellular membranes.

15. Because flaxseed oil is a polyunsaturated vegatable oil and susceptible to damage from heat, does transit time from the manufacturer to the health food store degrade the oil?

Either high heat or sustained heat over a long perios of time can cause a degradation of unrefined flaxseed oil. The relatively short transit times and variable temperatures experienced in delivering flaxseed oil to healthfood stores has been found via testing to be insignificant. Part of the reason for this is because of the extremely low beggining levels of lipid peroxides (measure of rancidity in oils) in unrefined flaxseed oil products. Despite the unsaturated bonds flaxseed oil possesses, unrefined products are much more stable than most people think.

16. Why is it important to refrigerate flaxseed oil?

Although limited exposure to room temperatures has virtually no effect on flaxseed oil, prolonged exposure can begin to break down the product, eventually leading to rancidity, Better than refrigeration, consider placing your flaxseed oil in the freezer. Because of the many polyunsaturated bonds flaxseed oil possess, the product will not usually freeze unless you have an extremely cold freezer.

17. Why should I consider using flaxseed oil over fish oil supplements?

A significant body of evidence exists to attest to the numerous therapeutic benefits of fish oils. Unfortunately, there are also some hazards associated with fish oil supplementation. Encapsulated fish oil products have been associated with having extremely high levels of lipid peroxides that at least one study equated as a possible contributor to some forms of cancer. The high level of lipid peroxides found in fish oils also requires that people take extra measures in the form of antioxisant nutrients to protect themselves against free-radical destruction. Studies conducted on unrefined flaxseed oil has not exhibited thge same antioxidant wasting effect. However, supplementing your diet with addition antioxidant protection is always a good idea when taking any highly polyunsaturated fatty acid.

18. Is flaxseed oil expensive, and where can I find it?

Flaxseed oil is the most health-enhancing oil product on the market, yet bears a significant price advantage when compared to other nutritional oil products. However, it must be pointed out that refined flaxseed oil is more expensive than refined oil products found in your grocery store. You can generally expect to pay between $6.50 and $8.00 for an 8-ounce bottle. Most health food stores keep high-quality flaxseed oil products stocked either in a refridgerator in their supplement department or near their dairy products. Flaxseed oil can be obtained through mail order with some companies, and at least one reputable network marketing company offers high-quality flaxseed oil.

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