What Are the Benefits of Taking Flax Seed Capsules?

Flaxseed capsules are capsules of flaxseed oil. Although more conclusive research is needed, there is some evidence suggesting that flaxseed oil may hold numerous health benefits. While flaxseed oil is also available in liquid form, taking the oil as a capsule offers a few advantages.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid

• As flaxseed oil contains the essential omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, taking flaxseed oil capsules is an excellent way to increase your omega-3 intake. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, early humans likely ate omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids at a ratio of one to one, but the typical modern American diet contains about ten times as many omega-6 as omega-3 fatty acids.

Health Benefits

• Although more research is needed, according to the Mayo Clinic preliminary evidence suggests that flaxseed oil may offer benefits such as preventing and treating heart disease, improving cholesterol levels, lessening menopausal symptoms and treating ADHD.

Vegetarian

• Flaxseed oil capsules provide a way for vegetarians to obtain essential omega-3 fatty acids without eating fish or taking fish oil supplements.

Taste

• Some find the taste and consistency of flaxseed oil unpleasant; taking flaxseed capsules saves you from having to taste or feel the oil in your mouth.

Convenience

• While flaxseed oil’s taste can often be hidden in foods such as smoothies or salad dressings, taking the oil in capsule form means you aren’t pressed to think up and prepare foods in which to hide your flaxseed oil.