Flax seeds have turned out to be a fad among health enthusiasts for its umpteen health benefits and the same concentration of nutrients are found in the flaxseed oil, which has contributed to its increasing popularity.
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Not only are flax seeds one of the most splendid sources of plant-based dietary fiber — keeps you regular! — but flax seeds are also one of the only natural, plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
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In fact, flax seeds are mostly recognized for these high levels of lovely fatty acids. Flaxseed oil is extracted by crushing and pressing the flax seeds by using the cold pressed method. This oil is also known as linseeds oil. Both flaxseeds and its oil are rich in omega-3 fatty acid known as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).
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While some people turn towards plant-based sources of their omega-3 fatty acids, others may think that fish oil is a better source.
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Fish oil has been a popular dietary supplement, but you would be amazed to know that this oil has 3 times more omega 3 fatty acid composition as compared to the flaxseeds oil.
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But there are also a handful of unpleasant side effects from consuming fish oil on a regular basis, especially as a supplement.
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Fish oil also helps in improving cognitive skills and brain power along with reducing the risk of strokes and blood pressure related ailments.
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Weight loss: Much like flaxseeds, its oil has good laxative effects that help in flushing out toxins from the body easily. Apart from that, flax oil has a good amount of fiber, which helps in improving digestion and lubricates the colon. The regular elimination of toxins from the body helps in improving metabolism and leads to weight loss.
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On the other hand, studies have observed that fish oil helps in improving metabolism and fat oxidation, which further helps in burning calories. Fish oil also makes you feel satiated, which helps in weight loss.
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Heart health: Both fish and flaxseed oil are great for heart health, but fish oil remarkably improves cardiovascular health as it contains a combination of two different types of omega 3 fatty acids like EPA and DHA whereas flaxseed oil has just one type of omega 3 fatty acid, ALA. This further helps in reducing the bad cholesterol level by reducing the triglycerides, which also helps in reducing the blood sugar level in the body.
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Mental health: Omega 3 fatty acids help in improving mental health and cognitive skills. In this context also fish oil is a better option and this is due to the presence of DHA, which helps in improving cognitive skills and responses. Moreover, the presence of EPA helps in relieving stress and relaxing the nerves, which improves certain brain functions.
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Whereas flaxseeds oil is also a good source of omega 3 fatty acids, but when compared to fish oil it has less brain boosting properties. However, the anti-inflammatory properties of flaxseeds oil may help in improving the mood conditions in Bipolar disorders and ADHD.
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