Flaxseed Oil Reviews
Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) such as Flaxseed oil play an crucial role in thousands of biological functions, in particular hormone production, vitamin absorption and the structure of cell membranes. For overall health, muscle gain and weight loss, it’s a big mistake trying to eliminate fat from your diet. True, saturated fat and trans fat is harmful and should be limited in your diet, but EFA’s are different, they are classed as unsaturated fat and more specifically, polyunsaturated fat.
Unlike saturated and trans fat, polyunsaturated fat is not linked with heart disease and is not stored by the body in the way saturated fats are. In fact EFA’s must be derived from your diet as they cannot be produced by the body. What these “Omega” fatty acids we hear so much about?
According to Dray et al (1980) Omega-3 fatty acid prevents muscle breakdown by reducing cortisol levels, increases HDL (the good form of cholesterol), assists in hormone production, increases metabolism, increases insulin sensitivity and is overall cardio-protective. Dieticians have advocated the consumption of oily fish such as mackerel for years now simply because it’s rich in Omega-3.
So how does Flax Seed Oil fit into the equation? Firstly, a bit more about EFA’s…
For our purposes EFA’s can be classed as Linoleic Acid (converts to Omega-6 in the body) or Alpha-Linoleic Acid (converts to Omega-3). Flax Seed Oil is one of the few oils to contain high amounts of both as opposed to cod liver oil that just contains Alpha Linoleic acid.
Taking Flax Seed oil regularly is a convenient way to get all the benefits of essential fatty acids and the acclaimed Omega-3 fatty acid. That’s why thousands of athletes, bodybuilders and health conscious individuals take it every day.
From a weight gain or bodybuilding perspective, Flax Seed oil (in the correct amounts) is a healthful way to increase your caloric intake without the bulk and burden of consuming yet more food. Two tablespoons a day amounts to an extra 250kcals or so almost as much as a Myoplex meal replacement shake.
I’ve used Flax Seed oil for the last 3 years and the best brand I’ve found so far is Organic Liquid Gold by HFS. Flax tastes pretty awful (which is why it’s best mixed in a drink or shake!) but Liquid Gold is bearable even on its own.
It’s a high grade product and it needs to be because EFA’s can easily be spoiled by heat and sunlight (always store Flax Seed oil in your refrigerator). Liquid Gold costs around $11 for a 16oz bottle and will last a month at the recommended dose of 1 tablespoon per day - pretty good value for money in my book.
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July 4th, 2008 at 4:48 am
[...] you want to enjoy the benefits of flaxseed oil, it is important to ground the seeds before you eat them or use pure flax seed oil from a bottle. [...]