For Omega-3s, Choose Flaxseed Over Fish Oil Study Shows

Omega 3 fatty acids have long been known as a super supplement that aids in everything from reducing heart disease to weight loss. However, a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggests that your source of Omega 3 fatty acids may be very important. The study shows evidence that getting your Omega 3s from fish oil supplements can lead to an increased risk of prostate cancer [study referenced in CNBC]. The data indicates that the high concentration of the fatty acids that can be found in the processed fish oil supplements is behind the detrimental effects.

The study showed a 71 percent higher risk of a certain form of prostate cancer for the individuals that had higher levels of Omega 3s from taking high doses of fish oil supplements. Luckily, fish oil is not the only source of Omega 3s – flaxseeds and other vegetable sources provide a less concentrated form and a more naturally balanced level of the fatty acids. What was also noted in this recent study was that this increased risk of prostate cancer was NOT found with people who were taking flaxseed. “Fatty acids found in vegetable oils, flaxseeds and other vegetable sources—including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)–did not affect prostate cancer risk, the researchers found.”

So while 240,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2013, the real dilemma for most men comes from the fact that Omega 3s still are one of the best ways to combat heart disease – a far more common and deadly ailment. Changing your source of Omega 3s from processed fish oil gelcaps to the natural and balanced source of Omega 3s found in flaxseed may be the key to tackling both problems.

What does this mean for Great Plains Flax and our flaxseed users, well in our opinion it confirms what we have suspected for a long time. The further you get away from the natural form of a supplement or healthy superfood the more likely its benefits start to disappear and problems start being discovered. The fish oil tablets are highly processed and in fact most of us probably have no idea what goes into taking fish carcasses and extracting the oils and then encapsulating it into a gel-like tablet which is likely then run through factory conveyor belts and sorted into bottles and then shipped to drug stores all over the country.

Compare this to our flax seeds which are harvested on North Dakota farms thoroughly washed and cleaned of impurities and extra chaff and then placed into containers to then be shipped directly to our customers. These seeds are never pre-ground and thus have a tremendous shelf-life and their health properties are not exposed to air or degraded until the customer grinds them prior to their use. So you get the full freshess and full healthy properties of our flax seeds the same day you use them. Is there any wonder why our customers are so loyal and continue to spread the word among their neighbors.

“In my opinion getting your nutrients from natural sources is always the best option. I hope this study gives people a nudge towards trying out flaxseeds as a source for their Omega 3s. They really are a natural way to get all the health benefits fatty acids can provide, and it’s a far more affordable option that fish oil supplements.” – John Schutt, owner of Great Plains Flax.

As the American Heart Association still recommends that people with heart disease eat fish twice a week and people with heart disease should consider fish oil capsules – it might be time for those recommendations to shift to non aquatic sources like flaxseeds.

Check out our golden flaxseed recipes on our site and see just how easy it is to get Omega 3s into your diet through healthy cooking with flaxseeds and not through taking a bunch of pills.

For more information on the study, check out this article.