Flax seeds are high in alpha-linolenic acids, a type off omega 3 essential fatty acid, which the body usually converts into EPA and DHA, two other omega 3 fatty acids. Flax seed also contains some omega 6 essential fatty acids. There is a much higher level of omega 3 essential fatty acids in flax seed than omega 6 essential fatty acids and this is important as our bodies usually contain a level of omega 6 that is too high and an omega 3 level that is too low, so flax seed may help to bring the omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acid levels back to a more normal level which will provide many benefits.
The first fatty acid we are going to look at that is contained in flax seed is alpha-linolenic acid. This omega 3 essential fatty acid as we mentioned before is also converted into two other omega 3 fatty acids in a healthy body, these two are DHA and EPA.
Alpha-linolenic acid (or ALA) is known to reduce risk of heart disease, and lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides in people with a high cholesterol problem. ALA also helps to reduce blood pressure and ALA from flax seed oil is generally consider a better option in this case to fish oil as fish may contain high levels of mercury which could be dangerous. The body also uses ALA to manufacture EPA and DHA.
DHA is an omega 3 fatty acid produced from ALA that is essential for proper brain functioning. A deficiency in DHA is associated with mental and visual impairment, ADD, Alzheimer's, and depression.
EPA is the other omega 3 fatty acid produced from ALA. EPA supplementation has been found to be useful for heart disease, high blood pressure, inflammation and arthritis. It also has positive effects on "lung and kidney diseases, Type II diabetes, obesity, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, anorexia, burns, osteoarthritis, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and early stages of colorectal cancer," according to the University of Maryland Medical School (http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/EicosapentaenoicAcidEPAcs.html)
Flax seed also contains some omega 6 fatty acids. Omega 6 is also essential for proper brain functioning and children with ADD tend to have lower levels of omega 6 than children who do not have ADD. Omega 6 may also help the nerve disorders found amongst diabetics, some skin diseases; allergies as well as helping people fight tuberculosis.
Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids are essential for proper functioning of the body and brain and for overall wellbeing. Normally our diets are too heavy in omega 6 and so we need to restore the balance between omega 3 and omega 6. Flax seed has elements of both in it while maintaining the balance of more omega 3 compared to omega 6 in order to help bring our bodies more into line with the required balance of these fatty acids.
Flax seed oil supplementation as well as taking flax seeds and flax seed oil in our diets should therefore be a part of everyone's life who wants to maintain optimum health and reduce the risk of diseases such as heart disease, lung and kidney diseases and diabetes as well as improving overall mental health and avoiding depression and Alzheimer's.
Glossary:
Omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids: fatty acids vital for proper physical and mental wellbeing that cannot be made by the body alone.
Triglycerides: levels of fat found in the blood