Low cholesterol: Fish oil vs. flax oil?

 High Cholesterol, Wellness  Add comments
Jul 242009
 

 

To lower cholesterol, there are a few excellent non-prescription items to use. One of the best is omega 3 fatty acids — this is naturally found in fatty fish and also in flax oil. Great! So I can get the omega 3 from the non-stinky flax, yes? Unfortunately, it seems you cannot. Recent research shows that the flax seed omega 3 does not have the same cholesterol lowering properties as fish oil. Too bad, I stocked up on flax at my last Costco run! By the way, whichever supplements you use, you need at least 1 gram a day of the omega 3 part — check your bottles. Also, it’s always best to get it naturally — by eating fatty fish at least once a week. That includes salmon, mackerel and sardines.



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  • http://intensedebate.com/people/CharlieThomson CharlieThomson

    In recent years the capsuled fish oil supplements don't have much of a fishy taste. At least while being swallowed. They are also manufactured in natural and kid friendly flavors such as lemon, strawberry, etc.

    There are some good discussions online about the fish oil supplements vs. increasing dietary intake of fish. High mercury and PCB content are a legitimate concern when trying to raise EFA level through eating more fish. This is especially true for women trying to raise DHA levels during pregnancy and while nursing.

    • Dr. Richard

      The fishy taste in some pills is not fun, that’s true. My personal favorite is the American superstore Costco’s enteric-coated fish oil . It’s well regarded among consumer groups as a safe choice, including the mercury issue. And the big bottles are really cheap! I just went back home and got a year’s supply.
      And the pregnancy and fish issue is also a big deal. There are a lot of online sources for the safest fish…

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