I am a big flax seed oil advocate. I began taking it on a whim when my friend began taking it as a suggestion by her personal trainer. At the time, I was experiencing dry, itchy, flaky patches of skin all over my back and a little on my chest. My skin was also discolored in these areas. I visited a dermatologist and she diagnosed me as having eczema. She prescribed some medicated creams of which I was not at all fond of because of the potential side affects but I needed relief so I used it as directed for two weeks. It cleared up my eczema but as soon as I was done, my skin began to dry up and flake up again.
I didn't want to continue the cream medication at all. Luckily, during this time, I was also taking flax seed oil for a few weeks. My skin on my back was suddenly feeling smoother. It didn't hit me right away but I realized that it had to be the flax seed oil because it was the only thing I had changed in my diet. I looked up the benefits of flax seed oil and bingo! It helps skin problems like acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
Today, my eczema is cleared up and my skin is smooth and the discoloration has dissipated. Flax seed oil has a lot more benefits which I've listed below:
- A rich source of essential fatty acids (Omega 3, Omega 6, Alpha Linolenic)
- Omega 3 helps reduce cholesterol, blood pressure, & plaque formation
- Omega 3 has been found to help kill cancer cells
- Helps skin problems (acne, eczema, psoriasis)
- Soothes ulcers & irritable bowel syndrome
- Prevents toxic build up in the bowel
- Contains lignans which have anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, & anti-cancer properties
As you can see, there are a ton of benefits to adding flax seed oil to your diet. As with any new addition to your diet, you should always consult with your doctor to be sure it is safe for you. I'll be continuing to use flaxseed oil in my diet. It's inexpensive, doesn't taste too bad, and is easy to mix into your favorite protein shake, juice, etc.
Here is a great article which goes into further depth of what flax seed oil is made up of and more of its health benefits.
