Re: Flaxseed questions

Why eat Omega-3 fatty acids from flax seeds?
Dietary deficiency of Omega-3 fatty acids can cause long term damage to human health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized the importance of Omega-3 to the public’s health and their importance to coronary health.
Here is a problem:
The Omega-3 in American diet has decreased gradually over time with the increased consumption of processed foods. On the other hand dietary levels of Omega-6 fatty acids have increased due to consumption of oils that are rich in Omega-6 fatty acids. This dietary imbalance of the omega fatty acids has created an unfavorable ratio of Omega 3 to the Omega 6 in our bodies.
It is not just the amount of Omega-3 consumed but the amount of Omega-3 in relation to the amount of Omega-6 oils consumed that is important to keep the ratio to a favorable level of 1:4 (Omega 3 to Omega 6).
Solution:
Flaxseed provides one of the only non-animal sources of Omega-3 that contains significantly more Omega-3 than Omega-6. About 57% of the total oil in flax seeds is in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an Omega-3 fatty acid that is essential for human health. To improve Omega-3 levels and ratio between Omega 3 and Omega 6, it is important to consume foods that contain significantly higher levels of Omega-3 than Omega-6. There are very few foods that do that – flaxseed is one of them.
The ALA is converted by the body into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Omega-3s like those that are found in fish oils. The EPA and DHA are also essential Omega-3 fatty acids for human health. The conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA is not a very efficient process in body but remember a diet rich in flax seed, will provide all three Omega-3 fatty acids that are essential to healthy human health.
For those who do not eat fish or wish to take fish oil supplements, flaxseed oil does provide a good alternative. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that flaxseed oil capsules providing 3 grams of alpha-linolenic acid daily for 12 weeks-an amount that would be provided by 3 tablespoons of flaxseed oil a day-increased blood levels of EPA by 60% in a predominantly African-American population with chronic illness. http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/136/1/83




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