Flaxseed oil sure makes the news a lot these days. Headlines tell us that it’s good for reducing the discomfort of dry skin, depression, cranky kids, heart ailments, constipation, and arthritis. Pet lovers shy of commercially manufactured dog and cat foods are urged to add some flaxseed oil to Fido or Fluffy’s raw or home-cooked meals every day.

   The widespread popularity of flaxseed oil is reflected in the plant’s botanical name, Linum usitatissimum, the latter part of which translates to “most useful,” as evidenced by its many uses. Flax has been used so long it’s even mentioned in the biblical books of Genesis and Exodus, when it was used to make cloth, rope, fishing net, and boat sails. Known also as linseed oil, another industrial application used until World War II was for making paints and varnishes; today’s artist’s paints still contain linseed oil.

   From a health-conscious perspective, flaxseed oil is prized for its high concentration of essential fatty acids. Two very important fatty acids found in flaxseed oil are alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) and linoleic acid (omega-6). More than sixty health conditions have been found to improve with the use of these fatty acids. Flaxseed oil is the richest source of omega-3 fatty acids in the world, containing a whopping 58 percent more omega-3 fatty acid per weight than fish oils.

   All good news aside, flaxseed oil doesn’t taste very good and it has a very short shelf life. Flaxseed oil in a bottle stored in a refrigerated case at your favorite health-food store is the most beneficial way to use this remarkable oil. Keep it in the refrigerator at home and use the dropper top to sprinkle a little oil on foods already cooked or eaten raw. Heat will quickly break down the oil, rendering it of no nutritional value, so never cook with it.

   Some "painless" ways to sneak this foul-tasting supplement into your diet are by sprinkling a bit on a salad or substituting it for some of the oil in your favorite salad dressing recipe. You’ll never notice it in a bowl of cereal or a smoothie, either.

   And don’t forget Fluffy and Fido. Stir a little flaxseed oil into their food every couple of days. This is one instance where what’s good for you is good for them, too.

Reference
The Complete Book of Natural & Medicinal Cures; Rodale Pres, Inc.; Emmaus, PA; 1994

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