Flax seed oil is a health supplement that has gained a large following over recent years. Up until a short while ago most health conscious people got their omega 3's from fish oils. You now have healthy organic alternatives to fish oil, and flax seed oil offers other benefits as well as supplying your body with essential fatty acids.
Flax oil naturally contains many vitamins which is an added bonus to your health rather than just providing your body with omega 3 oils. You'll get the benefit of many B vitamins that include...
Vitamin B12 - Necessary for the synthesis of red blood cells, this is a vitamin that is deficient in vegetarians as it is found mainly in meat. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause anaemia, and it can be given to you by your doctor via injection if your levels are too low. Deficiency signs of vitamin B12 include...
Anaemia
Loss of appetite
Hair loss
Mental confusion
Poor growth Fatigue
Vitamin B2 - An essential vitamin that converts carbohydrates into energy. This vitamin will keep you're your mucous membranes healthy, and it is also essential for normal tissue respiration. Deficiency signs include...
Cracks in skin at corner of your mouth
Soreness of tongue, mouth and lips
Conjunctivitis and watering of eyes
Increased sensitivity to light
Vitamin B1 - Like vitamin B2, vitamin B1 ( Thiamine ) also play an important role in converting carbohydrates into energy, and vitamin B1 also converts fat into energy. Signs of vitamin B1 deficiency include...
Anorexia nervosa
Loss of appetite
Constipation
Indigestion
Fatigue
Depression
Tender muscles
Nausea & vomiting
Beriberi (in excessive deficiency)
Pins & needles, numbness in legs
Vitamin B3 - This vitamin ( also known as Niacin ) helps DNA synthesis, and is also essential for releasing energy from carbohydrates, fats and protein. Deficiency signs of vitamin B3 include...
Mental imbalance
Skin lesions
Loss of appetite
Indigestion
Pellagra (gross deficiency
As you can see flax oil gives you more than your omega 3 oils, flax seed oil also gives your body some essential vitamins that play an important role in maintaining your good health.
When buying flax seed oil it's important to get one that is of high quality due to the speed in which it can go rancid once it has been opened. Refrigeration after opening will lengthen the shelf life of the bottle. This is important as the bottles are quite large and you only need a couple of teaspoons to a tablespoon of oil a day. On the other hand, you can buy capsules but these work out a bit more expensive, and you don't get as much oil a day in your diet.
