Q I'm confused. A story in your newspaper flaunted the health benefits of flaxseed. But I understand that as far as omega 3's go, the chemical composition of flax oil is a few carbons short to be any good for humans. Other animals can add the missing carbons, but we can't. So what's the deal?
A Flaxseed and fish oils are good sources of omega 3 fatty acids. They help reduce LDL cholesterol (the "bad cholesterol") and triglycerides while increasing HDL cholesterol ("good cholesterol"). Omega 3 fatty acids also help reduce inflammation and free radicals implicated in cancer risk.
The problem is that people cannot digest whole flaxseed, which can lead to some adverse gastrointestinal effects. Ground or milled flaxseed and flaxseed oil do increase blood levels of omega 3 fatty acids, including alpha linolenic acid. Salmon, tuna and sardines also are good sources of omega 3 fatty acids.
Source: Joanne Larsen, dietitian, www.dietitian.com Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488, or call 612-673-7032, or e-mail fixit@startribune.com. Past columns are available at www.startribune.com/fixit. Sorry, Fixit cannot supply individual replies.
