There has been a debate on which one is better to one’s health – flaxseed oil vs. fish oil. There are many who prefer the benefits of fish oil for various reasons and there are also those who prefer flaxseed oil. Which one is really better? Let us take a closer look into this.
Both flaxseed and fish oils contain omega – 3 fatty acids which are important in the proper functioning of our body systems, organs and tissues. The main thing though is that the kind of omega -3 fatty acids in flaxseed oil differ from the ones found in fish oil.
Omega – 3 fatty acids are known to have good benefits to the health of a person’s heart and brain. The omega – 3 acids found in flaxseed oil can also be beneficial to one’s health but in a different way than that of the acids found in fish oil.
For a healthier heart condition, there shouldn’t be any flaxseed oil vs. fish oil debate anymore. If one is concerned in promoting a healthy and stable heart, fish oil supplements are recommended by experts. Fish oil releases the omega 3 acids called DHA and EPA which are both essential in maintaining a healthy heart. The omega 3 acid found in flaxseed oil is called ALA and for it to be beneficial to one’s body, it has to be transformed into DHA and EPA first, which is not usually possible or is difficult for people who are not in good health like the elderly ones or those who are already afflicted with diseases.
For brain health, DHA is highly important to avoid depression and promote better memory and concentration. Thus, fish oil is still recommended over flaxseed oil because it can supply DHA directly without having the need to convert ALA to DHA. A large amount of DHA is required for the brain to continue functioning at its optimum performance which is one of the primary reasons we all hear so much about fish oil benefits.
Flaxseed oil on the other hand has some good benefits for moody people and those who are undergoing menopause. It can help minimize bad moods and promote better state of body and mind. In addition, flaxseed oil is a source of ALA, which is then used by the body to develop all the other omega 3 acids that it needs to function properly. It can also be an alternative source of omega 3 fatty acids to people who are strictly vegetarians and who refuse to take fish oil supplements as well as those who have a hard time with fish oil side effects.
In conclusion, it has been proven by many people that fish oil pills are still the best when it comes to promoting better cardiovascular and brain health; however, we also cannot deny the fact that flaxseed oil has some good benefits. Therefore, it is could be best to have both in order to ensure we are getting enough of all the omega 3 fatty acids that our body needs.
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