The Health Benefits of Flaxseed Oil
By Sara Butler
Flaxseeds have become quite popular and for good reason! They’re full of benefits to your health, such as providing a dose of fiber and protein, aiding the maintenance of a healthy weight, and reducing your appetite. Given all that, it stands to reason that flaxseed oil is just as good for you! Here are some of the benefits of flaxseed oil and how you can work it into your diet easily!
What is Flaxseed Oil?
Flaxseed oil is also known as linseed oil. It’s made from grinding up flaxseeds and then pressing them to extract their natural oils. The oil can then be used for a variety of things, from skin care to cooking!
It Has Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are really good for your heart and one tablespoon of flaxseed oil has over 7,100 milligrams! The alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in flaxseed oil is also noteworthy. ALA is a form of omega-3 that is very good for you eye health.
Overall, omega-3 fatty acids are important for your heart and brain health, they also help to reduce inflammation, which may lower your risk of certain chronic disease that can be made worse by inflammation.
Improved Heart Health
Speaking of heart health, incorporating flaxseed oil into your diet can help to make your heart healthier due to an increase in the elasticity of the artery walls, which helps to lower blood pressure. The elasticity of the arteries tends to decrease with age, which causes the heart to work harder and blood pressure to increase. So fight back against aging with some flaxseed oil!
Improved Skin Health
Your skin is your largest organ and flaxseed oil may help you to improve its health. In some studies, flaxseed oil was found to improve the hydration and smoothness of skin. Remember, your skin is impacted by what you eat, so adding flaxseed oil to your food may just be the key to keeping it healthier.
How to Use It
So, what on earth do you do with flaxseed oil? The good news is that this oil is incredibly versatile. You can easily swap it out for other oils in your favorite dips, sauces, and salad dressings. It’s also easy to add to smoothies or shakes.
Don’t use flaxseed oil for cooking, though. It doesn’t have a high smoke point, so when it’s heated too high it can give off some harmful compounds you don’t want to ingest.
Now go out and get some flaxseed oil to add to your kitchen staples!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Woodbury, Minn.