Skip to main content

Should I Use Flaxseed Oil or Fish Oil?

Fish oil is known for its health benefits as it is packed with Omega 3 fatty acids that help promote heart and joint health. But is fish oil the best source of Omega 3s? Omegas 3s are commonly found in marine animals, such as fish, and also in plants. One plant based source of these essential fatty acids is flaxseed. So which is better?

Fish oil is harvested from the liver of fish, that's why the oil from cod fish is called cod liver oil. Since the liver filters the body's toxins, it is possible that taking fish oil can have a toxic effect. Although fish oil is supposed to be purified during the refining process, in rare cases metals such as mercury and PCBs can contaminate the product and make you sick. In addition, fish oil contains cholesterol and can negatively impact your bad cholesterol known as LDL. For individuals looking to improve their LDL, fish oil may not be the best option. So how can you get those essential fatty acids that your body needs? Try flax seed oil.

Flax seed oil is extracted from flax seeds and is 100% plant based. It has many of the benefits of fish oil as it also contains important Omega 3 fatty acids, but without some of the side effects. Because it is harvested from seeds, there is no danger of toxic contamination from metals. Also, only animal based foods contain cholesterol. Taking flax seed oil is preferable to fish oil in this capacity as it contains zero cholesterol, so can not raise your LDL. Flax seed oil is also cruelty free as no animals are needed to harvest the oil. This also makes flax seed oil conducive to vegetarian and vegan diets.

The verdict is still out on the overall benefits of flax seed oil compared to fish oil. Some argue that the short chain fatty acids in flax seeds do not contain the same health benefits as the long chain fatty acids present in fish oil. Flax seed oil also has the potential to effect the digestive system and may impact hormone levels. For these reasons, it is always best to talk with your doctor about the supplements you plan to take, as they can give you advice that is best for your specific health condition. Either way, for those who want enjoy the benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids, flax seed oil may be a healthier option.

Related Articles:
The Benefits of Eating Garlic
The Benefits of Eating Dark Chocolate
Health Benefits of Red Wine and Resveratrol
Exercise and Joint Health
The Benefits of Juicing 


Photo permissions: PD-USGOV-USDA
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Zero Calorie Foods

But how am I suppose to lose weight? I don't want to feel hungry all the time, and healthy food is bland! Dieting is sooo hard. Blah, blah, blah, I know. Boring diets can make weight loss seem impossible. But, if you feel that dieting is difficult or that you are restricting yourself too much, you may be relieved to know that there are ZERO calorie foods, beverages and condiments you can add to your meals to help spice up your menu without bursting your belt. Each of these items either have no calories, or so few calories that your body burns more calories digesting them than it gains from eating them. Choosing these items can help you lose weight, since they can fill you up while helping keep your calories low. Food: Lettuce A cup of lettuce will only add a few calories to your meal, but it's full of nutrients. It contains a tiny amount of fat but loads of vitamin A and vitamin C. Beef up a sandwich by adding lettuce or make a hefty salad. But remember that salad...
Post a Comment
Read more

How Many Calories Can I Burn During Exercise? Calories Calculator

Burning calories is the key to losing weight.  When you burn more calories than you eat, you lose weight.  The more calories you burn, the faster you can shed pounds.  Exercising is one of the best ways to burn fat and get in shape.   Find out how many calories you burn doing basic exercise like running, walking, biking, swimming and skiing.  Not only do these exercises burn calories and help you lose weight, they also improve your cardiovascular health and lower blood pressure.  Learn more about the benefits of aerobic exercise here . Not only is it important to know how many calories you burn, but you must also know how many calories you are eating.  If you are exercising but not counting the amount of calories you eat, how can you know that you are truly creating a calorie deficit and working toward weight loss?  Use the calorie counter to find out how many calories are in the foods you are eating.  You can also try these gre...
Post a Comment
Read more

Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator

Your body mass index (BMI) is the percentage of body fat you carry.  Improving your fitness through cardio exercise and strength training can help reduce your body fat as well as your risk for certain illnesses such as high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, high cholesterol and diabetes. Your BMI is based on your weight and height.  This calculator provides an estimate, but is not 100% accurate since it cannot account for muscle mass, bone density and other factors outside of your weight and height.   Use the BMI calculator to get an idea of how much body fat you have.  This can be used to set goals for weight loss or improving your health.  This can also be used to monitor your progress as you diet and exercise.   Use the body fat percentage chart to see if you need to lose weight, gain weight, adjust your goals, or if you are on the right track.   So you understand how much body fat you have, now you need to figure out how t...
Post a Comment
Read more