Heart HealthDoes flaxseed have to be ground?
I had an individual just send me the following message:
I was just on your web site and was reading about Omega-3’s. I am a little confused. Does flaxseed have to be ground in order for it to work? Are gel capsules a waste of time and money?
In case you are wondering too, here’s the answer:
Yes, in order for the body to access the omega 3’s within the flaxseed, the seed must be ground. Otherwise it passes through the system as dietary fiber. Dietary fiber has it’s own benefits, but if you are wanting the omega 3 benefits of flaxseed it must be ground.
Flaxseed oil (gel capsules) provide the omega 3’s without the fiber. If you are going to purchase an omega 3 supplement, my first choice would be fish oil instead of flaxseed oil. They provide different types of omega 3 fatty acids. Greater benefits linked to omega 3’s in fish oil.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
https://lisanelsonrd.com
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The four supplements I’d start with
Food first, always. When a supplement is worth considering, my dispensary carries practitioner-grade products, most of which aren’t sold direct to consumers, with the reasoning behind each one.
View the Heart Health Foundation protocol
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