Dec 11, 2017 #FlaxFAQ: What is so beneficial about omega-3 fatty acids?

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Q. What is so beneficial about omega-3 fatty acids?
A: The majority of Western diets no longer contain the amount of omega-3 fatty acids needed for overall health and wellness. Today, we are consuming more than 10 times as many omega-6 fatty acids as we are omega-3 fatty acids because of the increase of highly processed foods in modern diets. Linoleic acid is an essential omega-6 fatty acid required by the body in moderate, not excessive, amounts. It is the primary fat in soybean and corn oils. Eating less omega-6 and more omega-3 fats, from foods like ALA-rich flaxseed, can help lower the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, and cancer, as well as lower LDL "bad" cholesterol. In fact, large scale studies confirm that plant-derived omega-3's offer unique heart-healthy benefits. Recently, scientists have discovered that flaxseed may play an important anti-inflammatory role in reducing immune system diseases. Flaxseed ALA has been shown to lower blood levels of a compound called C-reactive protein (CRP). Reducing this inflammatory compound appears to be as important as lowering LDL-cholesterol in lowering the risk of heart attacks and strokes.