How can I incorporate flax into my diet?

There are many ways to incorporate flax oil into your diet. Flax oil is a delicate oil that is not appropriate for cooking because high heat will destroy the beneficial compounds of the oil. However, it is excellent when added to foods that have already been cooked, for example, drizzled over steamed vegetables, mixed in with rice, grains, potatoes or pasta, and even added to oatmeal and eggs.

Also try adding flax oil to your smoothies, yogurt or as a substitute for (or in addition to) other oils in salad dressing. You can also add it to natural nut butters or mix your own spread with half butter and half flax oil.

We find that adding a little bit of flax oil to just about anything is a great way to get flax into your diet. For the added benefits of flax fiber, try adding ground flaxseed as well.

 

How is the Ultra Enriched Flax Oil different from the Enriched Flax Oil?

The only difference is the amount of sliced flaxseed added back in to the flax oil. Our Ultra Enriched Flax Oil contains 15% added flaxseed, while our Enriched Flax Oil contains 8% added flaxseed. The more added flaxseed, the nuttier the taste!

 

I noticed that you no longer include the press dates on your bottles. Why?

Based on feedback that we received from our consumers who thought it was confusing to have two different dates stamped on the label, we decided to treat flax oil similar to milk. Our bottles are now stamped with a ‘freshness guaranteed by' date. We have conducted extensive stability tests on our flax oil and determined that the maximum freshness and health benefits of our flax oil are maintained within this guarantee date.

 

What are lignans?

Lignans are phytonutrients that exhibit strong antioxidant properties and can have a balancing effect on hormones. Flaxseed is nature's most concentrated source of lignans, which are found in the thin outer membrane of the seed. The main lignan found in flaxseed is secoisolariciresinol diglycoside (SDG) lignan, although flaxseed has many other beneficial lignans as well. To date, SDG lignans are used as the primary marker for measurement of lignan content due to their preponderance.

 

What are the amount of lignans in your Ultra Enriched Flax Oil?

Leading studies indicate that the amount of SDG lignans found in flaxseed can vary from 0.7% to 1.9% of seed weight, depending on variations in seed quality, growing conditions and climate. Spectrum Enriched Flax Oil has 8% added sliced flaxseed, which is equal to 8mg -- 21mg secoisolariciresinol diglycoside (SDG) lignans per serving. Spectrum Ultra Enriched Flax Oil has 15% added sliced flaxseed, which equates to 15 -- 40mg SDG lignans per 14g serving.

 

What are the benefits of taking flax oil?

Flax oil is the best source of vegetarian omega-3 in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). ALA has been shown to promote heart health, reduces inflammatory conditions and is great for hair, skin and nails.

 

Why doesn't Spectrum Flax Stable Oil require refrigeration until opening?

We offer a limited selection of filtered flax oils that are shipped without refrigeration. These "shelf stable" flax oils contain a proprietary extract of rosemary and mixed tocopherols that provides superior antioxidant protection.

 

Why don't I see much seed in my Enriched and Ultra Enriched Flax Oil with Lignans?

Did you vigorously shake the bottle? Our Enriched and Ultra Enriched Flax Oil with Lignans contain freshly sliced flaxseed that has been added back into the oil for the lignan health benefits and a delicious nutty taste. Over time, however, this flaxseed may settle to the bottom of the bottle. It is important that you shake the bottle vigorously upside down for at least 20 seconds before each use so that the flaxseed is well dispersed throughout the oil. This should eliminate the formation of a flaxseed "brick" or "clump" at the bottom of the bottle and allow the nutty taste of the seed to shine through with each use.

 

Why is there a clump of flaxseed at the bottom of my Enriched or Ultra Enriched Flax Oil with Lignans?

Our Enriched and Ultra Enriched Flax Oil with Lignans contain freshly sliced flaxseed that has been added back into the oil for the lignan health benefits and a delicious nutty taste. Over time, however, this flaxseed may settle to the bottom of the bottle. It is important that you shake the bottle vigorously upside down for at least 20 seconds before each use so that the flaxseed is well dispersed throughout the oil. This should eliminate the formation of a flaxseed "brick" or "clump" at the bottom of the bottle and allow the nutty taste of the seed to shine through with each use.

 

What's the difference between the omega-3s found in flax versus fish?

There are three primary omega-3's: ALA, EPA, and DHA. Flax contains ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), an omega-3 essential fatty acid that cannot be manufactured by the body. As a result, we must get it through our diet. Fish contains the pre-formed omega-3 long chain fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). However, because our bodies naturally convert ALA into EPA and DHA, these omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are not considered essential (although they are still very important). ALA conversion rates can vary from person to person, and more research is needed in this area. For that reason, health care practitioners recommend that pregnant and lactating women, as well as children, get most of their omega-3's from fish sources. ALA by itself has been shown to promote heart health, reduce inflammatory conditions, and is great for hair, skin and nails. EPA supports heart health, reduces inflammation and improves cellular integrity, while DHA supports memory and nervous system functioning.