Flaxseed oil comes from the seeds of the flax plant. According to the Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute, a flaxseed is about 40 percent oil by weight. 55 percent of the oil is alpha linolenic acid (ALA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid required as part of our daily diet. We must obtain it from an edible source, because numerous tissues and functions in the body depend on it.
What is Flaxseed Oil Good For?
Research has shown that many consuming a Western diet have a deficiency in this oil. Nutritional Scientists are taking a serious look at what we should not be doing, and what we should be doing to protect our health, especially concerning a nutrient we may be deficient in.
Consuming too much salt, fatty foods and alcoholic beverages leads to less elasticity of the vessels of the heart and brain. ALA may trigger numerous diverse responses, resulting in neuronal protection and stimulation of neuroplasticity. It seems to have helped open blood vessels and the artery of the brain.
Supplementation of ALA to animals’ daily diets showed remarkable protection to their brains and cerebral areas. This is an important dietary ingredient we need to be supplementing daily in our own diets. Cell membranes, neurons, liver cell membranes and other structures depend on ALA in its most natural form to be beneficial to health. It is being reported that flaxseed oil also has important functions supporting both male and female organ functions.
Flaxseed is somewhat cumbersome to eat, as it comes with a fairly hard shell and must be ground to obtain the essential oil. After grinding and exposure to air, it can become oxidized (rancid), quickly losing its optimal functions as a fatty acid. Flaxseeds often cause gas and bloating,whereas flaxseed oil is unlikely to cause such side effects.
DIGESTIVE+++ - A Simple Way to Get Flaxseed Oil
Two DIGESTIVE+++ supplements contain more than 1.1 grams of flaxseed oil. LifePharm provides a top of the line, exclusive, cold pressed flaxseed oil. It is pressed gently from flaxseeds using no heat.
Many oil processing methods use heat to increase yield which is less expensive. Heat processing can alter the fatty acid structures. Cold processing preserves the oil’s integrity. ALA and other valuable components of the oil such as lignans, should be in an unaltered form for maximizing their functions in the body.
Omega-3 fatty acids are also highly necessary for healthy liver function. A clinical study showed a group of 27 subjects given flaxseed oil and a fish oil supplement improved the vessels and arteries of the heart, helped maintain normal blood pressure, better triglyceride values and had better cardiovascular health. What was of much interest is that the tissues of the liver had improved upon examination.
According to Naturopathic Physician and Alternative Medical Practitioner Dr. Edward Group, several studies have found that flaxseed oil seems to be able to calm the inner lining of the inflamed intestines. The flaxseed oil may help lubricate the intestinal walls, allowing the toxins to be absorbed by the oil and eliminated by the body.
LifePharm provides quality flaxseed oil and the other multifunctional ingredients in DIGESTIVE+++ (full range of digestive enzymes, and the prebiotic and probiotic blend). DIGESTIVE+++ is a formula specifically designed with the most carefully selected, quality ingredients to maximize their health benefits for you. Read more about LifePharm’s products at our website.