We all know about the health benefits associated with fish oil. It is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids that is beneficial to the body. Despite this information, people are still looking at a substitute for fish oil. The reason people are looking for something different from fish oil is that some people do not like the fishy aftertaste, while others are worried about mercury contamination.
Flaxseed oil is an effective alternative to fish oil. Many doctors, scientists and individuals have stated that it is an excellent source for omega-3 fatty acids. Research has shown that flaxseed oils can help treat a wide range of health conditions such as heart disease. As stated earlier, flaxseed oils are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, especially ALA (alpha linolenic acid). Even though flaxseed oil has important omega-3 fatty acids, it is not as good a source as fish oil.
Flax seed oil provides the body with short-chain ALA. These short-chain ALA are sometimes converted into the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, similar to what is found in fish oil.
There is evidence to suggest that the conversion of these fatty acids found in flaxseed oil may differ from individual to individual. This is particularly true for DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which is vital for the protection against aging as well as the development of the brains of infants.
Research related to flaxseed oil showed that it could be a very limited supply for long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, especially in men. The reason for this is that men are usually not suitable to be able to convert the flaxseed oil to DHA or EPA.
In the end flaxseed oil is a good alternative to fish oil. Fish oil still wins out and to get the best of both worlds it is recommended that the both of them are combined together into an individual’s daily diet.