The post was created in collaboration with Melrose Health.

Fortunately for everyone, the low fat trend is well and truly over. Dietary fat, the good kinds, are extremely beneficial and fundamental for human health. We’ve seen the spotlight turn to some of these incredible good fats like olive oil, celebrated thanks to the Mediterranean diet, and coconut oil, which rose to fame recently, being one of the only plant based saturated fats.

But did you know flaxseed oil has just as many, if not more, benefits?

Every oil has its place, and just as nature intends, each has a unique combination of different kinds of fats.

Flaxseed oil is one of the few plant based oils that contains anti-inflammatory omega 3 fats, specifically ALA or alpha-linolenic acid, giving it a unique nutrient profile that is partly the basis of its superfood status. Consuming flaxseeds may improve skin, promote heart health, enhance brain health and decrease inflammation in the body.

Let’s discuss the incredible benefits of this oil, as well as tips on how to use it to get the most out of it.

Benefits of Flaxseed Oil

Improves Skin

Dietary fat is fundamental for beauty from the inside out. Without it, skin looks dry, dull and lacklustre. But not all fats are created equal when it comes to skin appearance and health. Consumption of flaxseed oil in particular helps to keep the skin looking moisturized, smooth and hydrated.This may reduce the appearance of wrinkles and signs of aging. Additionally, flaxseed oil also has anti-inflammatory properties, which help to calm redness and soothe irritation in the skin.

Promotes Heart And Brain Health

Omega-3 fats are an essential component of a healthy diet, promoting heart and brain health, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, especially as we age. And flaxseed oil provides a great dose of specialised plant based omega-3s called ALA or alpha-linolenic acid. Just one tablespoon of flaxseed oil contains approximately 8.5g of ALA. Early studies even suggest that ALA may act on the brain to be protective against stroke and have antidepressant properties.

Decreases Inflammation

Chronic inflammation can lead to serious illnesses including arthritis, asthma, allergies, alzheimers, diabetes, cancer, and even mental illness. In fact almost all disease conditions are found to be correlated with an increased level of inflammatory markers in the body. Inflammation is not always a bad thing, and in many circumstances it is vital to our survival, for example if we are infected with a virus. But to give ourselves the best chance at feeling healthy, we should always be making an effort to consume anti-inflammatory foods, and avoid inflammatory foods that may lead to many, often unrelated, health problems. Nature has some incredible anti-inflammatory foods like dark leafy greens, sea vegetables like spirulina, berries and plant based fats like flaxseeds, making flaxseed oil a great addition to any healthy lifestyle.

How to Use Flaxseed Oil

Before using flaxseed oil, ensure you are keeping it in the fridge and using it in ways that don’t apply heat, as this will preserve the special nutritional value.

To use it in your diet, when making a salad dressing, use flaxseed oil instead of olive oil. You can also add it to pestos, salsas and chimichurris. Use it as a neutral oil when making nut butters and dips like hummus! And since it’s versatile in flavour, you can use it in sweet recipes too. Add to chia pudding, overnight oats and smoothies.

As you can see, flaxseed oil has a multitude of health benefits and can be used in a variety of ways. If you’re not already, find ways to incorporate more of this superfood oil into your routine and enjoy the health benefits it has to offer!

Check out Melrose Health Flaxseed Oil.

Citations

Balić, A., Vlašić, D., Žužul, K., Marinović, B., & Bukvić Mokos, Z. (2020). Omega-3 Versus Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Prevention and Treatment of Inflammatory Skin Diseases. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences, 21(3), 741. doi: 10.3390/ijms21030741

Neukam K, De Spirt S, Stahl W, Bejot M, Maurette J, -M, Tronnier H, Heinrich U: Supplementation of Flaxseed Oil Diminishes Skin Sensitivity and Improves Skin Barrier Function and Condition. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2011;24:67-74. doi: 10.1159/000321442

Mori TA. Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: epidemiology and effects on cardiometabolic risk factors. Food Funct. 2014 Sep;5(9):2004-19. doi: 10.1039/c4fo00393d. PMID: 25062404.

Thomas, J., Thomas, C., Radcliffe, J., & Itsiopoulos, C. (2015). Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Early Prevention of Inflammatory Neurodegenerative Disease: A Focus on Alzheimer’s Disease. Biomed Research International, 2015, 1-13. doi: 10.1155/2015/172801

Blondeau, N., Lipsky, R. H., Bourourou, M., Duncan, M. W., Gorelick, P. B., & Marini, A. M. (2015). Alpha-linolenic acid: an omega-3 fatty acid with neuroprotective properties-ready for use in the stroke clinic?. BioMed research international, 2015, 519830. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/519830