6 February 2010
Anonymous asked: What are your thoughts on flaxseed oil? I read it is great for fat loss.
Flaxseed and flaxseed oil are great for a lot of reasons. I dedicated a whole post to flax here.
In a nut shell, just two tablespoons of flaxseed has 146.3% of your daily omega-3 needs (in the form of alpha linolenic acid, or ALA) and 20% of your required daily fiber intake. Omega-3 fatty acids, though they sound kind of gross, are actually great for you. They’re anti-inflammatory (they can reduce inflammation in conditions like asthma, arthritis, migraine headaches, etc.) and they protect bone health. Flaxseed has also been used to produce substances that reduce the formation of blood clots and can help prevent and control high blood pressure.
The seeds also have about 20% of your recommended daily amount of fiber, as well as some protein. It’s important to note that whole flaxseeds aren’t digestible, so you need to grind them or, like this reader suggests, use it in oil form. I actually recommend grinding whole flaxseeds (or buying them pre-ground) so you get the fiber you wouldn’t get from the oil.
